INITIAL ASSESSMENT FOR PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that you may develop after experiencing a life-threatening event, natural disasters, car accidents or sexual assaults. After these traumatic events, it’s normal to have some upsetting memories, feelings of being on edge or trouble sleeping. At first, day-to-day activities like going to work or school may be difficult. If these feelings do not subside after a few weeks or months, you may have PTSD.
It’s important to remember that PTSD does not mean weakness. A number of factors can increase your chance of developing PTSD, many of which are not under your control.
SYMPTOMS OF PTSD
PTSD symptoms will usually start soon after the triggering event, though in some rare cases they may not appear until months or even years later. They can also come and go over many years. There are four types of symptoms of PTSD.
- Type 1 - Flashbacks: reliving the event through bad memories or nightmares, feeling as though you’re going through the event again.
- Type 2 - Avoidance: you may avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event, even avoiding thinking about the event.
- Type 3 - Increased negativity: you’re feelings of self-worth and the way you view others may change because of trauma, you may also feel increased feelings of guilt and shame, finding it hard to be happy.
- Type 4 - Hyperarousal: you may have feelings of jitteriness or always on the alert, looking out for danger. This may cause trouble concentrating or sleeping, getting suddenly angry or irritable.