Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Trauma is an emotional damage caused by, for example, an exceptionally shocking event. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a prolonged reaction that develops after a traumatic experience, but you can recover from it with the right kind of support.
A traumatic situation or event causes a normal reaction to an abnormal situation in a human. Unreasonable and shocking experiences can undermine anyone’s mental health, and no one needs to cope with such things on their own.
In some cases, the traumatic experience reminds you of itself long after it happened. For example, things that have happened in childhood may still have a post-traumatic effect on an adult’s life.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is also known as PTSD. It’s a prolonged reaction that develops after a traumatic experience and may have been caused by, for example, severe anxiety caused by a threatening or destructive situation or experience.
The cause of post-traumatic stress disorder may be a long-term or individual experience. A more significant factor in traumatisation than duration is the mental or physical load of the experience for the person themself. Even an individual traumatic event can cause a type I trauma that a person cannot combine with their own world of experience. A repeated and long-term traumatising factor, such as domestic violence, incest or bullying violence, may cause type II trauma. In an overwhelming traumatising situation, people are unable to deal with what has happened and include it as part of their life story.
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma arises in a situation that is exceptionally shocking or involves an experience of uncontrollability or being in mortal danger. Such a traumatic situation may include the suicide of a friend or family member, serious illness, being bullied, an accident or becoming the victim of violence. Similarly, psychological trauma occurs when a person is left without something essential in their life. In other words, psychological trauma may be caused by, for example, having not received care and closeness as a child or having had to live in a family overshadowed by alcoholism.
Above all, the shock of the event but also personal factors affect how stressful the event is. Such factors include possible previous traumatic events and a lack of psychological resources. The experience of trauma is also influenced by personal factors, such as resilience, that is, the ability to cope with and recover from difficult experiences.
Trauma sometimes has a hiding character. Despite functioning daily life, the person may feel like an outsider, and there may be chaos in their mind. Connecting thoughts, emotions, observations and memories may be difficult. Sometimes, the trauma may emerge in adulthood, even if you don’t remember exactly what happened during childhood.
A distant memory and trauma can suddenly be brought back in a certain situation. These are called triggers, that is, trauma triggers and flashbacks. In this case, it often feels like repeating something from a previous traumatic situation or event. For example, punishment for crying and showing emotions experienced as a child may cause a deep feeling of terror and paralysis when your child cries – without you understanding why that happens. Emotions can also go into hiding for a while. A strong emotional reaction can only follow several days later and completely paralyse your functional capacity.
Traumas can be seen as a variety of symptoms at the physical, mental, emotional or interpersonal level. They do not go away on their own, but they can be helped.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder may include flashbacks of what has happened, such as recurring thoughts, images, nightmares and bodily reactions. Some, on the other hand, have a persistent state of over-alertness, which may appear as problems concentrating, sleep disorders, startlement reactions or irritability.
Somatic symptoms, avoidance of events reminding of the trauma and dissociation may also be symptoms of PTSD. Dissociation refers to a general, normal defence mechanism in a traumatic situation. In this case, in a sense, the mind divides into several parts, one of which aims to live life as normally as possible while the other bears the emotional memory of the trauma.
What helps with post-traumatic stress disorder?
If the symptoms are prolonged, you should seek help if you feel bothered by flashbacks, severe anxiety and the need to avoid matters remind you of the trauma. The primary treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy. The most effective forms are trauma-centred cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma therapy and the EMDR method, more information on which can be found on the website of the Finnish EMDR Association (in Finnish).
In treatment, it’s important to first practise regulating emotions and bodily reactions and to strengthen the sense of safety by anchoring to the present. After this, it’s safer to face the trauma. Traumatic memories are at least partially recorded in a non-linguistic format: visually, scents, emotions, sounds and bodily sensations. In the treatment, the trauma experience is verbalised.
It’s also important to validate the situation. It’s no wonder that hard experiences give rise to certain kinds of emotions, and there is every right to them. It’s a good to learn compassion for yourself. Trauma is never your fault nor caused by you. It’s particularly important to look at the situation from the perspective of hope – you can and are likely to recover from the trauma. After tremendously heavy experiences, post-traumatic growth takes place alongside suffering.
