Following five years of struggling with depression and frequent nightmares, receiving a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the end of last year was a "great relief" for Louise.
"I was initially informed by a doctor that I had bipolar disorder and situational depression," she says.
But I was just saying, 'something isn't correct'.
The 41-year-old woman's symptoms began following a domestic violence incident.
"The nightmares were ongoing, not something that happened once a year, but rather once a week," she explains.
Louise, using a pseudonym, mentions that it wasn't until she started collaborating with fresh mental health practitioners last year that they connected her symptoms to her traumatic experiences.
"They told me, 'this is PTSD,'" she says.
I hadn't really considered that possibility, I was just thinking, 'oh, I'm just going through a phase'.
What are the indicators of post-traumatic stress disorder?
A condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder involves a range of symptoms that can occur following a traumatic event.happen following a distressing event, states Professor Alain Brunet, head of the National PTSD Centre at the Thompson Institute of the University of the Sunshine Coast, situated on Kabi Kabi territory.
"Individuals experiencing PTSD find it difficult to avoid thinking about the traumatic incident," states the mental health professional.
"Therefore, it will resurface as intrusive thoughts, dreams.
"They will also avoid places, people or conversationswhich could bring back those memories, andtheir entire body is in a state of fight or flight."
Symptoms can include:
- Re-experiencing the trauma
- Steering clear of cues related to the incident Not thinking about the occurrence Keeping distance from triggers of the situation Avoiding anything that brings back memories of the event Staying away from reminders of what happened Not engaging with anything connected to the event Maintaining a mental barrier against the incident Keeping thoughts away from the occurrence Avoiding stimuli that evoke the event Not allowing oneself to be reminded of the incident
- Unfavorable shifts in thinking and emotional state following the incident
- Feeling "nervous" and excessively stimulated
"Following a traumatic experience, individuals are clearly impacted by these events, but for some people, these symptoms persist without improvement," Professor Brunet states.
If you have experienced a large number ofsymptoms lasting for more than 30 days,you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Alexander "Sandy" McFarlane, a retired professor of psychiatry from the University of Adelaide, states regarding PTSD cases,the distressing incident becomes lodged in an individual's memory.
"Usually, memory is clear right after a significant event, but as time goes by, it tends to become less sharp," he states.
The challenge for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is that these memories remain highly vivid.
And they are frequently not expressed in words, but rather through scents, noises, and powerful feelings that individuals experience.
What kinds of traumatic experiences lead to PTSD?
The disease has emerged as one of the most commonly identified mental health disorders in Australia,impacting 1 in 20 individuals within the last 12 months, as stated by Professor McFarlane.
He mentions that there are various kinds of traumatic experiences that may result in PTSD.
The leading factor contributing to PTSD in Australia isinterpersonal violence," he says.
"Sexual assaultis another highly significant concern within the civilian population, [as well as]motor vehicle accidents.
And then there are those sporadic, major events such as theBondi terrorist attack or bushfires and natural disasters."
Professor Brunet highlights a key element that sets PTSD apart from other typical mental health disorders.
If someone has post-traumatic stress disorder, they must have experienced or seen a life-threatening situation.
It's the distinguishing feature that separates PTSD from other conditions such as depression, anxiety, or adjustment disorder.
How to determine if you suffer from PTSD
The National Centre for PTSD provides afree online screening toolregarding PTSD, however, Professor Brunet states that any diagnosis would still require a certified medical professional.
He recommends arranging a meeting with your general practitionerif you have had symptoms for over a month.
"Numerous individuals will attempt to assist themselves and believe they can manage this on their own, which is a typical response," he states.
But it's time to tackle the stigma surrounding seeking help from a mental health professional.
This ought to be a completely ordinary situation, and we shouldn't have to handle traumatic stress by ourselves.
Louise says she attempted to manage the symptoms by herselfbefore ultimately seeking assistance again.
"It can be quite difficult, but locate someone who is willing to listen and find the [health practitioner] you feel comfortable with, and just keep communicating," she says.
What options are available for addressing PTSD?
Professor McFarlane suggests that the advised therapies involvecognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
"Those therapies really concentrate on the individual reconnecting with the memory of the trauma and examining the internal mechanisms," he states.
That could prevent the individual from keeping it in their thoughts for sufficient time to transform it into a spoken expression.
He says standard antidepressants can also assist in lowering "reactivity", which can make it "considerably simpler" for the individual to manage the trauma.
Professor Brunet mentions that the National PTSD Research Centre is also testing a promisingnew approach known as reconsolidation therapy, which aims to interfere with the reprocessing of traumatic memories by administering a drug that assists the brain in processing and modifying trauma-related recollections.
"And that's the positive aspect, as there are many actions that can be taken and individuals should definitely look for assistance, since effective therapies are available," Professor Brunet states.
He mentions other experimental therapies such asmicrodosing psychedelicsstill have a long way to go.
"A limited number of studies, occasionally featuring poor methodology, small participant numbers, and conflicting results, have not yet provided sufficient evidence to advocate for the expansion of this treatment method," he states.
The affordability of this highly costly therapy has yet to be proven.
Louise mentions that although it was challenging for her to revisit the trauma during her therapy, she is beginning to notice beneficial outcomes.
"I haven't experienced a nightmare ... since beginning the therapy, I'm sleeping more soundly," she states.
I have a more positive connection with my kids.
for the first time in many years, I feel hopeful.
This is broad information only. For individual guidance, you should consult a certified healthcare professional.
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