Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be a normal response to an abnormal event. PTSD is a complex mental health disorder that can result from exposure to an overwhelmingly stressful event or series of events. These events are usually sudden, unexpected and dangerous that threatens one’s life both physically and emotionally. They include, war, natural disaster, violence, death, serious injury and sexual abuse. Trauma can feel so overwhelming that it can easily impair one’s ability to adequately cope and respond.
Not all individuals exposed to trauma develop PTSD. Only a minority of trauma survivors develop PTSD. Many factors are at play as to which trauma survivors develop PTSD and which ones do not. Some of the many factors that contribute to developing PTSD are:
- Premorbid personality characteristics
- Poor childhood experience
- Vulnerable due to lack of sleep, stress and physical health
- Lack of social support
- Poor stress response
- Insecure attachment
- Lack of resiliency
- Poor coping skills
- Negative schema and distorted thinking patterns
The cause of PTSD is due to these pre-trauma vulnerabilities than the severity of trauma. Also, it is quite common for survivors of trauma to develop other disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic pain, suicidality, psychosis, conversion disorder etc.
PTSD can be treated by a qualified and knowledgeable therapist who has extensive experience and relevant training in trauma. Begin Your Healing Journey Now.