Post-traumatic syndrome is a rather serious condition, which is the result of some severe mental or emotional trauma. Such states of the human psyche are very dangerous both for the life of the victim himself and for the state of the people around him. That is why such deviations require the immediate assistance of a specialist.
Post-traumatic syndrome: the main causes and development mechanisms
As a rule, such a violation occurs in response to severe psychological trauma. These may be events that are difficult to come to terms with or realize. Quite often, post-traumatic syndrome is caused by cruelty, violence, death, rape. In most cases, traumatic events are accompanied by intense fear and even horror, a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.
For example, the so-called “Afghan syndrome” is precisely a post-traumatic stress disorder. Military actions sadly affect the state of the psyche - constant nervous tension, fear and anxiety for one’s life, reaction to murder - all this cannot but leave a definite imprint.
As a rule, post-traumatic syndrome does not appear immediately. The latent period can be from six to nine months. After this time, the first symptoms begin to appear . It is believed that post-traumatic stress is activated using a specific trigger. It can be a loud sound, a crying child, some text or image, in a word, everything that causes the patient painful memories or associations.
Quite often, this stress disorder is confused with shock. In fact, post-traumatic shock is a physiological reaction of the human body to severe trauma or blood loss and has nothing to do with the emotional state .
Post-Traumatic Syndrome: Major Symptoms
This violation is characterized by a number of clinical signs:
- A person becomes overly alert, it constantly seems to him that someone is watching him, something is threatening him;
- The reaction of the injured person to some events is too quick, explosive. For example, a patient may rush to the ground at the slightest harsh sound.
- Post-traumatic syndrome is characterized by a certain emotional dullness - it is difficult for him to make new acquaintances, keep in touch with friends, express feelings.
- Sometimes a person has difficulty concentrating or remembering.
- The victim is characterized by increased anxiety, depression, and sometimes paranoia.
- Quite often there is a spontaneous appearance of unwanted memories. A sound, smell or image can evoke vivid, violent memories of a traumatic event. Such processes are almost impossible to control.
Post-traumatic syndrome and its serious consequences
Of course, such an activity of the psyche cannot continue without serious consequences. Quite often, unsolicited memories of terrible events come to a person during sleep in the form of terrible nightmares. As a result of this, insomnia occurs - a person is simply afraid to fall asleep. The dream is intermittent and is accompanied by nightmare dreams. Such a rest has no effect. The victim sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, not even realizing what he dreamed.
But memories of tragic events are not limited to sleep time. Sometimes they can go into hallucinations. Suddenly, the victim faces some situations from the past, and they are so bright that they seem to be reality. Accordingly, hallucinations cause a storm of emotions in a person.
Another grave consequence is guilt. Quite often, it is observed in a person who has survived, while other people (friends, family) have died. The victim begins to believe that he should not enjoy life, while those close to him are deprived of such pleasure.
Against the backdrop of these difficult experiences, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, thoughts of suicide often arise. That is why such a mental disorder needs appropriate treatment.