Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric or a mental health condition in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. PTSD may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence, human trafficking or serious injury. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. 

1. Violent crimes: being a victim of or seeing violent crimes, such as a mugging, shooting, physical abuse, or sexual assault
2. War: being exposed to war or combat, either through military service or as a civilian
3. Accidents: car accidents, plane or train crashes, or other types of serious accidents
4. Natural disasters: hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, or fires

Many other types of trauma can increase the risk for PTSD, but being physically or sexually assaulted, the effects of natural disasters, and a military spouse after learning about or otherwise being exposed to trauma their partner faced are the most common events that lead to PTSD in women in India. According to the Cleveland Clinic, to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder, your doctor will likely: perform a physical exam to check for medical problems that may be causing your symptoms. Perform a psychological evaluation that includes a discussion of your signs and symptoms and the event or events that led up to them. 

With PTSD a lot of people experience trauma. Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after a traumatic event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. After surviving a traumatic event, many people have PTSD-like symptoms at first, such as being unable to stop thinking about what’s happened. Fear, anxiety, anger, depression, guilt are all common reactions to trauma.

The most important symptom of PTSD is there needs to be a traumatic event. The reason why this symptom is important is because the DSM-5, has criteria that needs to be met in order to diagnose an individual with PTSD. The first criteria in the DSM-5 states that a person who experiences a traumatic event has been exposed with sexual violence, war, natural disasters, car accidents, or any event experienced as deeply frighteningand upsetting. According to Cleveland Clinic, these following symptoms of PTSD varies from people to people: 

1. Avoiding things: You  may avoid people or situations that remind you of the event. For instance, the part of town where you experienced the trauma, or crowds in general. Some people with PTSD try to stay so busy that they don’t think about the event.
2. Being on edge: The disorder can make it hard for you to relax or enjoy the things you used to. You may feel jittery or anxious. Maybe you’re easily startled or always expect something bad to happen. You also may have trouble sleeping or concentrating.
3. Having negative thoughts and feelings: PTSD can make you feel negative, angry, sad, distrustful, guilty, or numb.
4. Reliving or re-experiencing the traumatic event: This can take the form of flashbacks or nightmares/dreams. 

Women may experience PTSD differently from men. For instance, women with PTSD may be more likely than men with PTSD to: be easily startled, have more trouble feeling emotions or feel numb, avoid things that remind them of the trauma, and feel depressed and anxious. 

Anyone who has been through an experience that was intensely scary, dangerous, or life threatening is at risk of PTSD. However, women are about twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. Women who have gone through trauma, including women in the military/a military spouse, or who have experienced sexual assault are more likely than men who’ve experienced trauma to develop PTSD. 

PTSD occurs at different times for different people. Symptoms of PTSD may start immediately after a traumatic event and then continue. However, people may develop new or more severe PTSD symptoms months or even years later.

Management and Treatment for PTSD: (Cleveland Clinic)

A doctor, nurse, or mental health professional who has experience in treating people with PTSD can help you. Treatment may include therapy or counseling, medicine, or both.

1. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): is a type of talk therapy that was developed specifically to treat PTSD. CPT helps you pay attention to and change your upsetting thoughts.
2. Prolonged exposure therapy is another type of talk therapy: A therapist will help you talk about and slowly remember the traumatic event repeatedly over time. Over time, the therapist will guide you through the difficult feelings and memories. By confronting the trauma, you may become less sensitive to the memories and related situations.
3. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: is another type of therapy used to treat PTSD. During EMDR, you will be asked to remember and talk about the trauma while also focusing on a specific visual item, like the therapist’s hand, or listening to a specific sound, like beeps.
4. Medicines to treat PTSD symptoms may include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine as prescribed by your doctor

Holistic Treatment:

Yoga offers a widely available, structured mindfulness practice combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques. According to the “Trauma Sensitive Yoga as a complementary treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive analysis”, published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH) in 2016 by Jennifer West, PhD, Belle Liang, PhD, and Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, states that trauma sensitive yoga (TSY) which is a form of hatha yoga is effective addresses the PTSD symptoms associated with traumatic exposure. Trauma-sensitive yoga helps you to learn to calm your minds and regulate your physical responses and, thus, your emotions.

*You can consult with a certified yoga therapist for in-depth information on yoga for PTSD symptoms. 

No one can necessarily prevent a traumatic event. However, you can ask for help and support. Focus on positive emotions and laughter, practice positive thinking, and think of yourself as a survivor instead of a victim. Getting proper treatment for PTSD and any other mental health conditions will help you get better. Treatment for PTSD works best when you and your doctor know about the effects of other mental health conditions and take steps to treat them at the same time. If you ever experience PTSD symptoms, please consult with your doctor before the symptoms start getting worse.