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How Does Ptsd Affect You Physically

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Ptsd Includes Physical Symptoms Here Are Some Of Them

PTSD and the Brain

Our society tends to talk a lot about the ways that post-traumatic stress disorder impacts mental health. But the illness has profound effects across peoples well-being including their physical health.

According to The Body Keeps the Score, a book on trauma by psychiatrist and trauma specialist Bessel Van Der Kolk, physical symptoms with no clear cause are pervasive in traumatized children and adults. Among other physical manifestations, they can include chronic back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, digestive problems, spastic colon/irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue and some forms of asthma, Van Der Kolk wrote.

In order to understand how PTSD manifests physically, its important to understand how PTSD is diagnosed. John Krystal, chief psychiatrist at Yale Medicine and a national expert on PTSD, said that the condition occurs when exposure to extreme life events causes persisting and significant levels of distress and impairment in the ability to engage fully in meaningful relationships and work.

Krystal explained that clinicians look for specific symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and feelings, avoidance in thinking about or addressing the trauma, depression, shame and other negative feelings related to the trauma, feelings of hopelessness and difficulty sleeping, concentrating and relaxing.

Here are some of the ways PTSD affects people physically:

Roland Bals Approach To Treating Complex Trauma And Ptsd

Roland Bal uses a cognitive and somatic based psycho-therapeutic approach to effectively treat complex trauma and PTSD. His approach focuses on regulating, processing and containing the processes of dissociation, the fight-flight-freeze-please responses and relearning boundaries and vulnerability. He works both online, using audio and video, and offline in his practice in Barcelona. Additionally, his website provides e-books, trauma care guided meditations and online courses.

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The Relationship Between Acute Stress Disorder And Ptsd

The relation between acute post-traumatic symptoms and the emergence ofPTSD is an issue of considerable theoretical and clinical importance. Thereis now a significant body of research documenting that the majority of peoplewho develop PTSD do not initially meet the diagnostic criteria for an acutestress disorder 8. In contrast, themajority of those who have an acute stress disorder are likely to displaysubsequent PTSD.

A number of longitudinal studies of accident victims have demonstratedthat it is only with the passage of time that the level of symptoms crossesa threshold sufficient to warrant a clinical diagnosis 913.A similar phenomenon was found in a study of severely injured US troops whowere assessed at one month, 4 months and 7 months. This study demonstratedthat 78.8% who had a disorder at 7 months did not attract a diagnosis at onemonth 14. Further support for the delayedemergence is the finding from the screening of military populations that symptomsincrease in the first six months following deployment 1516. Additionaladversity, conflict or stress plays a role in the later emergence of psychopathology 17. Hence, in a significant number of individuals,PTSD is a disorder that is not initially manifest in the aftermath of thetrauma. Rather, there is a progressive escalation of distress or a later emergenceof symptoms, particularly in military and emergency service personnel. A relatedconstruct is delayed onset PTSD.

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Physical Morbidity Associated With Traumatic Stress

There is longstanding interest in the effects of stress on health, dueto the strain that it places on the adaptive capacity of individuals, whichthereby leads to an increased risk of disease.

The effects of stress on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system have long been studied and the regulationof these systems has been referred to as allostatic load. Thisrefers to the wear and tear on the body in response to repeated cycles ofstress. This phenomenon has the potential to be manifest in various ways,influenced by the interaction with other personal and environmental risk factorsfor disease. Hence, the physiological dysregulation that underpins allostasisrepresents a final common pathway to disease that can be manifest in variousways.

Particularly in the context of postdeployment syndromes, the link to musculoskeletalsymptoms has become a focus of increasing interest. Equally, the role of allostaticload has come to be seen as an important risk for coronary arterial diseaseand its antecedent risk factors. However, the intermediary role of PTSD hasnot been the focus of particular interest in explaining these relationshipsuntil recently. The emerging body of evidence, which coincides with the realprevalence of PTSD in studies such as the National Comorbidity Survey Replication 46, suggests that physiological dysregulationassociated with PTSD may play a central mediating role in a range of conditions.

The Relationship Between Ptsd Symptoms And Coronary Heart Disease

PTSD affects millions of Americans every year  including here in ...

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has conducted a normativeaging study 84. The sample, includingmen who had completed two scales for PTSD, was recruited in 1990. The menwere followed up and the incidence of coronary heart disease occurring upto May 2001 was assessed. For each standard deviation increase in the levelof post-traumatic symptoms, the men had an attributed relative risk of 1.26for non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease combinedand 1.21 for all coronary heart disease outcomes. The importance of this studyis that it indicated that the level of post-traumatic symptoms, rather thanthe PTSD diagnosis itself, is associated with an increased risk of coronaryheart disease. These results were maintained after controlling for depressivesymptoms.

While hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and obesity are risk factor associationsthat could link PTSD to heart disease, this could also relate to the exaggeratedcatecholamine response to trauma related triggers. It has been demonstratedin a variety of settings that catecholamines may lead to injury of the liningintimal endothelium of the coronary arteries, leading to the development ofatherosclerosis 8586. Kubzansky et al 84 concludedthat exposure to trauma and prolonged stress not only may increasethe risk of serious mental health problems but are also cardiotoxic.

In summary, the evidence from prospective studies is suggestive of a linkbetween heart disease and PTSD.

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Physical Effects Of Ptsd

The physical effects of PTSD can be felt anywhere in the body and can include, but arent limited to:

  • Eating problems and digestive troubles
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Increased heart rate/pounding heart/heart palpitations
  • Worsening of existing medical problems
  • Feeling alone, abandoned

The emotional and physical effects of PTSD can be intense and wearing, making one feel as if he or she is living in a nightmare. The DSM-5 criteria for PTSD warn that it is associated with suicidal ideation and attempts. Therefore, understanding PTSD effects and watching for them in yourself or a loved one can be crucial in getting the necessary help, support, and treatment .

Who Is At Risk For Post

You can develop PTSD at any age. Many risk factors play a part in whether you will develop PTSD. They include:

  • Your sex women are more likely to develop PTSD
  • Having had trauma in childhood
  • Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
  • Going through a traumatic event that lasts a long time
  • Having little or no social support after the event
  • Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
  • Having a history of mental illness or substance use

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Ptsd And Physical Health

Kay Jankowksi, PhD

Exposure to traumatic events such as military combat, physical and sexual abuse, and natural disaster, can be related to poor physical health. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is also related to health problems.

This page provides information on the relationships between trauma, PTSD, and physical health specific health problems associated with PTSD health-risk behaviors and PTSD mechanisms that help explain how PTSD and physical health could be related and a clinical agenda to address PTSD and health.

Continuing Education Course

Understanding Pathways from Traumatic Exposure to Physical Health

Learn about research findings from both civilian and military populations to illustrate physical health effects of trauma.

Before addressing these topics, it is necessary to provide some basic information about how existing studies have measured physical health. The most common way to measure physical health is by having people report about their own health conditions, symptoms, and overall physical health. Self-report measures of physical health can be valid indicators of actual illness, but they should be interpreted with caution because they may be influenced by psychological health. The most reliable measure of physical health involves a physician’s diagnosis or laboratory tests.

In This Article

Are There Different Types Of Ptsd

6 Hidden Signs of Complex PTSD (cPTSD) | MedCircle

Three different types of post-traumatic stress disorder exist. If symptoms last less than three months, the condition is considered acute PTSD. If symptoms last at least three months, the disorder is referred to as chronic PTSD. If symptoms manifest at least six months following a traumatic event, the disorder is classified delayed-onset PTSD, according to the National Institute of Health .

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Take Good Care Of Yourself

It is crucial to look after your well-being and health. You can take a break and go someplace to relax and process the traumatic experience in your mind. Likewise, you should look to adopt a healthy diet and refrain from doing drugs or drinking alcoholic beverages.

These things may seem to help at the moment, but they actually only make the problem worse in the long run.

Arousal And Reactivity Symptoms Include:

  • Being easily startled
  • Feeling tense or on edge
  • Having difficulty sleeping
  • Having angry outbursts

Arousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic events. These symptoms can make the person feel stressed and angry. They may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

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What Are The Treatments For Post

The main treatments for PTSD are talk therapy, medicines, or both. PTSD affects people differently, so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. If you have PTSD, you need to work with a mental health professional to find the best treatment for your symptoms.:

  • Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, which can teach you about your symptoms. You will learn how to identify what triggers them and how to manage them. There are different types of talk therapy for PTSD.
  • Medicines can help with the symptoms of PTSD. Antidepressants may help control symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb inside. Other medicines can help with sleep problems and nightmares.

When Should You Contact A Professional

PTSD

You should seek professional help if symptoms persist and interfere with day-to-day activities, school or work performance, or personal relationships.

Experiences with traumatic stress can appear much different for children. Signs that a child may need professional help to cope with a traumatic event include:

  • emotional outbursts

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Cognitive Therapy For Ptsd

A therapy originally developed by American psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck, this approach to treating PTSD follows the cognitive model and involves working with a therapist on an ongoing schedule to help identify patterns in the beliefs of the individual, becoming aware of these beliefs, and actively working to rewire how these beliefs affect us on an emotional level.

What Are The Symptoms Of Post

There are four types of PTSD symptoms, but they may not be the same for everyone. Each person experiences symptoms in their own way. The types are:

  • Re-experiencing symptoms, where something reminds you of the trauma and you feel that fear again. Examples include
  • Flashbacks, which cause you to feel like you are going through the event again
  • Frightening thoughts
  • Avoidance symptoms, where you try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. This may cause you to
  • Stay away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience. For example, if you were in a car accident, you might stop driving.
  • Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event. For example, you might try to stay very busy to try to avoid thinking about what happened.
  • Arousal and reactivity symptoms, which may cause you to be jittery or be on the lookout for danger. They include
  • Being easily startled
  • Cognition and mood symptoms, which are negative changes in beliefs and feelings. They include
  • Trouble remembering important things about the traumatic event
  • Negative thoughts about yourself or the world
  • Feeling blame and guilt
  • No longer being interested in things you enjoyed
  • Trouble concentrating
  • The symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event. But sometimes they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years.

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    Avoidance And Emotional Numbing

    Trying to avoid being reminded of the traumatic event is another key symptom of PTSD.

    This usually means avoiding certain people or places that remind you of the trauma, or avoiding talking to anyone about your experience.

    Many people with PTSD try to push memories of the event out of their mind, often distracting themselves with work or hobbies.

    Some people attempt to deal with their feelings by trying not to feel anything at all. This is known as emotional numbing.

    This can lead to the person becoming isolated and withdrawn, and they may also give up pursuing activities they used to enjoy.

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    When To Seek Medical Advice

    12 signs you might be suffering from PTSD

    It’s normal to experience upsetting and confusing thoughts after a traumatic event, but in most people these improve naturally over a few weeks.

    You should visit your GP if you or your child are still having problems about 4 weeks after the traumatic experience, or the symptoms are particularly troublesome.

    Your GP will want to discuss your symptoms with you in as much detail as possible.

    They’ll ask whether you have experienced a traumatic event in the recent or distant past and whether you have re-experienced the event through flashbacks or nightmares.

    Your GP can refer you to mental health specialists if they feel you’d benefit from treatment.

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    Treating Trauma And Ptsd

    Treatment for PTSD requires a comprehensive approach dedicated to processing trauma in a healthy way. Victims often find relief using a combination of medications and cognitive behavioral therapy .

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , commonly used to treat depression, are effective in treating some PTSD symptoms. CBT has also been known to help.

    CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy. A PTSD sufferer works with a therapist to identify the thoughts that make his or her feelings worse and then process the negative emotions associated with his or her traumatic experience. CBT helps a PTSD sufferer have less fear about his or her memories, while additional group and family therapy can help establish a support system.

    How Ptsd And Physical Health Are Related

    There is something unique to having PTSD that puts people at risk for developing physical health problems. A number of theories have been proposed to explain this connection. It has been suggested that a variety of factors interact to increase the risk for physical health problems among people with PTSD.

    People with PTSD may engage in more risky and health-compromising behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use. The hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD may also put someone in a constant state of stress and anxiety. Factors like these combine to put tremendous strain and stress on a person’s body, increasing the risk for physical health problems and illness.

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    Unexpected Physical Symptoms Of Ptsd

    Cortisol is a vital element in our bodies as it converts proteins into usable energy its what gets us out of bed in the morning, and its also used by our bodies for balancing insulin effects to maintain normal sugar levels, regulating the bodies immune system, and regulating blood pressure.

    Produced in the adrenal cortex, cortisol plays a big role is the bodys stress response by shutting down unnecessary functions like reproduction and the immune system, in order to allow the body to direct all energies toward dealing with the stress at hand.

    These functions of cortisol are supposed to be short-lived, just long enough to deal with the offending stressor.Unfortunately, with PTSD, the system remains in a stressed state, and so do the deranged levels of cortisol. People with PTSD and C-PTSD almost always have altered cortisol levels: too high in some people, and too low in others.

    The mind and body connection is very much real, and when you start to suffer mentally, your physical wiring also starts to short-circuit.The prolonged exposure to these unbalanced levels hormones can cause some unexpected, and very inconvenient physical problems.

    Allergies May Flare Up Or You May Develop New Ones

    Ptsd Without Combat

    Just over 60% of your immune system is located in your digestive system. If your digestive tract is full of inflammation from increased cortisol levels, your immune function will be severely compromised. An Ohio State University study found an increase in allergy flare ups based on this. The founder of PTSD UK, Jacqui, developed a dairy allergy during the peak of her PTSD, It was obviously something that Id always had, but it wasnt enough of an issue to show itself. During my worst times of PTSD I couldnt have any dairy products without having an allergic reaction.

    As the extra cortisol from PTSD surges through your bloodstream, it dulls your bodys defences and can also potentially turn things like previously acceptable soaps and creams into irritants triggering skin issues like eczema flare-ups or other sensitivities and allergies.

    The Relationship between Traumatic Stress, PTSD and Cortisol By Eileen Delaney, PhD, Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control,

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    Why Do Some People Develop Ptsd And Other People Do Not

    It is important to remember that not everyone who lives through a dangerous event develops PTSD. In fact, most people will not develop the disorder.

    Many factors play a part in whether a person will develop PTSD. Some examples are listed below. Risk factors make a person more likely to develop PTSD. Other factors, called resilience factors, can help reduce the risk of the disorder.

    Some factors that increase risk for PTSD include:

    • Living through dangerous events and traumas
    • Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
    • Having little or no social support after the event
    • Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
    • Having a history of mental illness or substance abuse

    Some factors that may promote recovery after trauma include:

    • Seeking out support from other people, such as friends and family
    • Finding a support group after a traumatic event
    • Learning to feel good about ones own actions in the face of danger
    • Having a positive coping strategy, or a way of getting through the bad event and learning from it
    • Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear

    Researchers are studying the importance of these and other risk and resilience factors, including genetics and neurobiology. With more research, someday it may be possible to predict who is likely to develop PTSD and to prevent it.

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