We all deal with “stressors” throughout our lives whether they are related to physical threats or social/emotional events.
When stress occurs, it triggers the “stress response” consisting of physical, psychological, and behavioral “flight or fight” reactions. Once the threat is gone, our bodies and minds calm down.
However, in traumatic situations, it becomes more difficult to recover from the stress which can lead to a condition called Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
What is PTSD?
PTSD refers to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition experienced after a traumatic, frightening, or dangerous event. Scary or dangerous situations or “stressors” cause us to go through the flight or fight response, a normal stress response that helps us avoid harm.
When our stress response is heightened, we can’t recover from this reaction once the danger is gone, causing ongoing symptoms that continue to trigger the stress response. As a result, people living with PTSD experience physical and mental distress even when stressors aren’t present.
What Causes PTSD?
There are several stressors likely to lead to PTSD, including:
- Severe trauma
- Personal injury such as car accidents
- Interpersonal violence
- Witnessing violence or death
- Childhood emotional issues related to trauma before the age of 6
- Experiencing feelings of helplessness or extreme fear during a traumatic event such as being abducted, held hostage, etc.
- Exposure to more than one traumatic or emotionally difficult event
- Dissociation during the traumatic event
How Does the Flight or Fight Response Work?
Fear is detected in the area of the brain’s amygdala, which assists in emotional processing. When stressed or afraid, the amygdala sends a distress signal via the hypothalamus to the sympathetic nervous system.
This allows our bodies to summon up the extra energy we need to either run away to avoid danger or have the strength to fight by releasing large amounts of hormones including adrenaline and cortisol.
Once the danger is gone, the parasympathetic nervous system allows the body to calm down by reducing these hormonal levels.
What is a Normal Stress Response?
When we encounter stressors, we experience physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms which typically include the following:
Physical
These symptoms occur as our bodies release hormones that provide the extra energy we need to deal with dangerous situations. The more dangerous we perceive the situation, the more heightened the following symptoms become:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension/pain
- Fatigue
- Digestive upset
- Accelerated respiration and heart rate
- Goosebumps
Psychological
The effects on the brain are triggered at the same time as the physical response, making us hyper-aware to increase our reaction time. These symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Improved focus and attention
- Insomnia
- Moodiness
Behavioral
Abnormal behavior can occur temporarily following a stressful situation such as:
- Ongoing anxiety
- Mood changes
- Strained relationships
- Self-medication and substance use
- Overeating
For people dealing with a normal stress response, the behavior will stop once they overcome their stress.
What are Symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms are grouped into the following four types:
- Intrusive memories including flashbacks, nightmares, and distress caused by reminders of the event.
- Avoidance of people, places, activities or thinking or talking about the event.
- Negative changes in thinking and mood regarding themselves, people, emotions, former interests, etc.
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions such as being easily startled, overly alert to danger or demonstrating self-destructive behavior.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms for more than a month, it’s important to speak to a mental health professional.
You might also notice these symptoms in a loved one who might be in denial of the event or who has not shared the event with you. Recognizing the symptoms can help you take the necessary steps to seek care for your loved one before their symptoms worsen.
The Chicago Mind Solutions Difference
Chicago Mind Solutions works with individuals, offering neuropsychological testing and non-invasive treatment for many mental health conditions. For more information about our treatments and teletherapy options, please contact us at (224) 723-5050 or email info@chicagomindsolutions.com.
