Have you been feeling scared, overwhelmed or confused? If yes, these common mental concerns can impact your quality of life. Life experiences like accidents and trauma can increase your risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The condition can be devastating and frustrating as some people with post-traumatic stress disorder Flowood struggle to adjust and cope. However, with effective treatment, your provider can lower symptoms and improve function. Keep reading this article to learn about common warning signs of post-traumatic stress disorder you should tell your doctor.
Nightmares
Nightmares concerning a traumatic event cause individuals struggling with PTSD to feel that they are back to their trauma. Although the connection between PTSD and a recurring nightmare is not conclusive, nightmares create scary cycles. In most instances, PTSD-linked nightmares happen in a scenario of the trauma, worsening the symptoms of PTSD. In turn, you will experience sleeping difficulties or attempt to avoid sleep completely. Hence, you should report recurrent nightmares to your doctor to confirm if PTSD might be responsible for the nightmares.
Shame or Guilt
PTSD can make you in a recurrent emotional state of shame or guilt. The terms are used together, but they refer to varying feelings. Usually, shame is internalized, meaning you feel shame about something that happened to you. Sometimes you may feel inferior or think of being different. Alternatively, guilt occurs whenever you have negative feelings concerning an action or behaviour, making you blame yourself. Logically, shame and guilt are associated with PTSD; thus, you need to see a doctor.
Depression
PTSD comes together with an increased rate of depression in the future. Moreover, individuals with PTSD mainly disengage with other individuals near them or have declined interest in activities they used to like. Sometimes you can also feel happiness is impossible, and nobody cares about you. Due to what happened or what you saw, you may feel guilt. As a result, you may develop negative beliefs about yourself, including it was your fault, leaving you depressed.
Chronic Pain
Usually, not everyone with chronic pain has PTSD, and not everyone with PTSD has chronic pain. However, the two conditions overlap. For example, around 15%-35% of individuals with chronic pain report PTSD. Trauma can lead to pain, such as headaches from a brain injury or spine pain from a spinal injury. Even when you eliminate the physical causes from the equation, people with PTSD are more likely to experience chronic pain. You should consult your doctor because if you have PTSD and chronic pain, you will be susceptible to other conditions like anxiety, opioid use and depression.
Memory Loss
Nightmares and flashbacks can force an individual with PTSD to relieve their trauma repeatedly. You may find yourself unable to recall some aspects of your experience. If your memory loss does not result from head injury or substance, it is known as dissociative amnesia. You will struggle to remember events or periods. Besides, you may be unable to recall an aspect of an event. Sometimes you may be unable to remember your history and identity.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an overwhelming condition that can hamper your quality of life. You may be unable to study or remember different concepts, making it hard to carry out activities such as using machinery. You may also develop suicidal thoughts, increasing your chances of death. Therefore, if your encounter signs and symptoms such as nightmares, shame, depression, chronic pain and memory loss, you should talk to your doctor. Your provider will help you with the best support to reduce the effects of these symptoms.
