Trauma to this degree is frightening, overwhelming, and causes a lot of distress – it is often unexpected, and many people say that they felt powerless to stop or change the event. Those emotions and loss of control take hold and won’t let go.
Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging, earlier death
Researchers at the Center on Healthy Aging and Senior Care at the University of California in San Diego have revealed a link between the disorder and long-term systemic effects on a person’s basic biological process – aging.
A review of PTSD studies focused on three potential signals of faster-than-normal aging, including biological signs like shortened telomeres (the caps at the end of each DNA strand that protect the chromosomes) or markers of inflammation, higher rates of medical conditions linked to advanced age, and early death. They found medical conditions associated with advanced aging were more common in people with PTSD, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia.
Results of all the data crunching revealed that post-traumatic stress disorder increased the risk of dying by 29 percent.
70 percent of U.S. adults experience trauma at least once
Post-traumatic stress disorder in adults is more common than you think. PTSD United, a non-profit organization to support and connect people with the disorder, reports that 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. This equates to approximately 223.4 million people.
Up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop PTSD. Which means an estimated eight percent of Americans − 24.4 million people − have PTSD at any given time. That is equal to the total population of Texas. Interesting, too, roughly one out of every nine women develops PTSD, making them about twice as likely as men.
Common causes of PTSD
While PTSD was once considered a psychological condition only of combat veterans who were “shocked” by and unable to face their experiences on the battlefield, medical professionals now recognize PTSD as a psychobiological mental disorder than can affect survivors not only of combat experience, but also terrorist attacks, natural disasters, serious accidents, assault or abuse, or even sudden and major emotional losses. These are well-documented post-traumatic stress disorder causes.
Warning signs and symptoms of PTSD
People with PTSD have among the highest rates of healthcare service use, according to the National Institutes of Health. They present with a range of symptoms, the cause of which may be overlooked or misdiagnosed as having resulted from past trauma.
The annual cost of anxiety disorders is estimated at $42.3 billion, often due to misdiagnosis and under treatment. This includes psychiatric and non-psychiatric medical treatment costs, indirect workplace costs, mortality costs, and prescription drug costs.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within three months of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms don’t appear until years after the event. These symptoms can disrupt social or work situations and relationships.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms include:
- Recurring distressing memories of the traumatic event or reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
- Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event
- Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
- Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event
- Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior
- Always being on guard for danger and easily startled
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Negative feelings about yourself, other people, or the future
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
The point is, these symptoms can be debilitating – and get worse if left untreated. If disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event continue for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your healthcare professional.
There is a post-traumatic stress disorder test evaluation. To be diagnosed with PTSD, you must meet criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. This manual is used by doctors to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
Natural remedies and coping strategies to manage post-traumatic stress disorder
What’s the best way to get a handle on PTSD? The primary treatment is psychotherapy, often combined with medication. But prescription drugs are toxins in the system, setting you up for dependency and harmful side effects. You want to improve your symptoms, feel better about yourself, and learn ways to cope if symptoms arise again, of course, but there is a natural approach to consider.
Several types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can be used, including the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:
Cognitive therapy. This type of talk therapy helps you recognize the ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that are keeping you stuck — for example, negative or inaccurate ways of perceiving normal situations. For PTSD, cognitive therapy often is used along with exposure therapy.
Exposure therapy. This behavioral therapy helps you safely face what you find frightening so that you can learn to cope with it effectively. One approach to exposure therapy uses “virtual reality” programs that allow you to re-enter the setting in which you experienced trauma.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories and change how you react to traumatic memories.
A healthy diet of fresh, whole foods can help calm the nervous system and boost your immunity. There are also a number of calming, restorative herbs to supplement your diet.
One to try is Holy basil. This common herb supports the adrenal glands, protecting them from the stress of surviving a violent, traumatic event.
People with chronic illness also are turning to homeopathy, a form of holistic medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” – a plant substance taken in small amounts will cure the same symptoms it causes if it was taken in large amounts. Speak with a qualified practitioner about the following options that may help with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder: Stramonium, mancinella, gelsemium, staphysagria, and chamomilla.
Other coping strategies include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:
Don’t self-medicate. Turning to alcohol or drugs to numb your feelings won’t help and can lead to more problems down the road and prevent real healing.
Break the cycle. Be mindful about your symptoms. When you feel anxious, distract yourself and re-focus by taking a brisk walk or working on a hobby.
Talk to someone. Stay connected with supportive and caring people. You don’t have to talk about what happened – just spending time with loved ones can offer healing and comfort.
Consider a support group. Ask your health professional for help finding a support group, or contact your community’s social services system. The stronger your support network, the better.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms take a serious toll on your health, leading to faster aging and even early death. Don’t let the disorder linger untreated. Take back control with these natural approaches to feeling like yourself again.