By Madeline Gelmetti

According to MayoClinic.com, PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a negatively life altering event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Many people who go through traumatic events have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with time and good health, such traumatic reactions usually get better. In some cases, the symptoms may get worse or last for months and even years. When something happens this drastic in life, the negative effects show it to be post- traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a mental health disorder that can effect anyone.

There is no one set cause for post-traumatic stress disorder just like most mental disorders. Doctors do believe that some possible causes could be:  Inherited mental health risks, such as an increased risk of anxiety and depression  Life experiences, including the amount and severity of trauma you've gone through since early childhood  The inherited aspects of children's personalities — often called your temperament  The way a brain regulates the chemicals and hormones released in response to stress

Any event that is life-threatening or greatly affects a person’s emotional well-being can result in PTSD. This includes:  rape  war  natural disasters (hurricane, tornado, etc.)  abuse  serious accidents  captivity

There are three different types of symptoms that come with PTSD. 1.) Intrusive memories  Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time  Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event 2.) Avoidance and numbing  Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event  Feeling emotionally numb  Avoiding activities you once enjoyed  Hopelessness about the future  Memory problems  Trouble concentrating  Difficulty maintaining close relationships

3.) Increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyper-arousal)  Irritability or anger  Overwhelming guilt or shame  Self-destructive behavior  Trouble sleeping  Being easily startled or frightened  Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

In order to be diagnosed with PTDS, a specific experience of a traumatic event(s) must have occurred. Experiences must fall under intrusive memories, avoidance/numbing, hyper-arousal along with two subtypes must match symptoms. There are also requirements around duration and the impacts of their ability to function. Diagnoses can only be done by a licensed professional.

Two main types of treatment are: 1.) Psychotherapy (such as cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization, and reprocessing 2.) Medications (such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and prozosin)

What it is: When a therapist helps understand and change thoughts about the trauma and its aftermath. How it works: Teaches to replace these thoughts with more accurate and less distressing thoughts. It also teacher ways to cope with feelings such as anger, guilt, and fear. Goal: To understand how certain thoughts about your trauma cause you stress and make your symptoms worse. Main Idea: Cognitive therapy helps understand that the traumatic event a person may have lived through was not their fault.

What it is: Exposure therapy is a specific type of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy technique that is conducted within a psychotherapeutic relationship by a trained and experienced therapist. How it works: The person talks about the traumatic event over and over, in a safe place, until there is have less fear. Goal: Help the patient face and gain control of the fear and distress that was overwhelming in the trauma.

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