What Secondary Conditions Can Come From PTSD?
PTSD means post-traumatic stress disorder and, as the name implies, is a condition where an individual experiences stress based on previous traumatic incidences. Depending on the severity of the condition, it can completely change how the affected person lives their life and can bring about other causes of mental illness.
Over 9 million people in the United States suffer from PTSD. Some of them might not even know what it is and have gone undiagnosed all their lives. For people who have been diagnosed and are getting treatment, it is not always easy.
The condition in itself is challenging, and now experts have found that it often triggers secondary conditions that make it worse to manage. Here, we will highlight four secondary conditions that often affect people with PTSD and also how they can handle their treatment even better.
By definition, PTSD is a mental condition that happens after a person experiences trauma like domestic and sexual violence, accidents, or war. The symptoms often present themselves in various ways. Anxiety, for one, is a frequent companion to PTSD.
People with PTSD often feel like they are always on edge and have a fight-or-flight response every single time. This leads to feelings of anxiety about when they will have a breakdown and the PTSD symptoms come up.
The generalized anxiety disorder is one of the commonly seen conditions in PTSD. The symptoms show up as constant worry, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. Many people with PTSD also suffer from social anxiety disorder. They feel extreme discomfort in social settings and are very afraid of experiencing judgment or humiliation.
They also always experience panic attacks. They are sudden, intense episodes of fear and physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat or breathlessness.
Depression follows PTSD like a shadow. When a PTSD patient relives their trauma constantly, they are more likely to feel depressed. They feel overwhelmed, helpless, and emotionally drained. Depression symptoms include persistent sadness, fatigue, and even thoughts of self-harm.
Sleep should be a time to recharge, but for many people who have PTSD, it’s anything but restful. If anything, it is the time when their symptoms even become worse. They usually experience very bad nightmares that replay their trauma and also have strong insomnia.
Some studies even show that they can develop obstructive sleep apnea. These sleep disorders rob patients of rest and amplify the other symptoms of PTSD.
Lastly, unsurprisingly, substances like alcohol or drugs become a way for patients to cope with PTSD’s relentless symptoms. Unfortunately, this self-medication often leads to substance abuse and addiction. While these drugs temporarily dull the pain or block intrusive memories, they create more physical and mental health problems. They also cause an extra strain on their relationships and life.
The ripple effects of PTSD can touch nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and substance abuse are not stand-alone issues. They all feed into one another to create a cycle that is super hard to break.
This nuance is what requires a service that offers integrated care. At NuLife Behavioral Health, we treat both mental health and addiction. We know these issues are often intertwined. So, our integrated approach gives each patient a personalized care that handles PTSD and all the secondary conditions head-on, even the ones that are not mentioned here.
If you or a loved one is battling with PTSD, we’re here to help. Visit NuLife Behavioral Health to find out how we can support you on your journey to healing. And register to get help with us today.
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