Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that arises after suffering a traumatizing event. Research shows that an estimated 24.4 million people in America — 8% of the population — experience PTSD at any given time, equivalent to the entire population of Texas. Considering how common PTSD is, it’s no surprise there are a number of common causes of PTSD.
Although so many people live with PTSD, not everyone knows the harrowing facts.
Symptoms
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder happens when the feelings after a shocking event last for more than one month. Sometimes, these symptoms emerge months, even years later, but usually occur within three months of the event. The causes of PTSD can be extremely stressful of traumatic events. Therefore, the symptoms of PTSD cause a great deal of distress and often interfere with the ability to deal with daily life.
There are four types of PTSD symptoms:
- Reliving the Event: Flashbacks or nightmares, often triggered by specific smells, sounds, or sights; scary thoughts related to the event.
- Avoidance: Blocking out the event; avoiding places, things, or events that are a reminder of the trauma; not wanting to talk about the trauma.
- Arousal and Reactivity: Difficulty sleeping, being easily startled, experiencing anxiety, outbursts of anger, feeling tense or on edge.
- Cognition and Mood: Trouble remembering key features of the event, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, feelings of mistrust, negative thoughts about oneself or the world, suicidal thoughts, disassociation, panic attacks.
Common Causes of PTSD
Anyone can develop PTSD at any point in life. Here are a few instances that have been known to cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Military Combat
Experiencing combat is not an everyday occurrence for most. Constantly feeling that your life is in danger, seeing others die, or having to take someone’s life are very traumatizing events.
In addition, the “on-off switch” of a person’s physiological fight-or-flight state that helps humans react to harm can become stuck in the “on” position, leading some to constantly experience this feeling as PTSD.
Violent Personal Assault
A mugging, rape, physical abuse, childhood abuse, or any other violent personal assault can damage a person’s psyche, leaving them with lasting trauma. With PTSD, this trauma can also trickle over into other relationships and can cause people to be overly cautious with their trust in others.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, or floods can literally sweep away a person’s entire identity. In these events, you can lose your home, car, clothes, job and any other things that have made up your daily life. PTSD can cause you to constantly relive the event itself or live with fear that it will happen again.
Unexpected Dangerous Events
Terror attacks, car accidents, or even witnessing similar unexpected dangerous events happen to others can cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The September 11th terrorist attack is a perfect example of such an event. Many people who witnessed the attack, as well as those who experienced it firsthand, still — almost 20 years later — have profound trouble processing their emotions about that day.
When a person experiences a traumatic event, alcohol or drugs help the brain release feel-good endorphins to help cope with the trauma. Unfortunately, once the substance wears off, people are left with the same issues to deal with as before, and for many, that’s where the cycle of addiction can become a tailspin.
The Link Between PTSD and Addiction
For many people, alcohol and drugs provide what seems like an easy escape from the symptoms of PTSD. However, in reality, these substances compound the problem.
When a person experiences a traumatic event, alcohol or drugs help the brain release feel-good endorphins to help cope with the trauma. Unfortunately, once the substance wears off, people are left with the same issues to deal with as before, and for many, that’s where the cycle of addiction can become a tailspin.
According to one report, up to 66% of those who suffer from PTSD are also battling addiction at the same time, and another study found that people with PTSD are between two and four times more likely to also battle addiction than their peers.
Do You Need Specialized Help for PTSD and Addiction?
For many people, PTSD seems like a recurring nightmare never ends. At Morningside Recovery, we offer personalized mental health treatment and addiction treatment services to help you press the reset button on life.
Our state-of-the-art inpatient rehab facility is fully capable of helping achieve a lifetime of sustainable sobriety, and whether you need to detox from drugs or alcohol or need specific types of addiction therapy services, we work with you to help you find what works for you in the long run.
The causes of PTSD are more common than you might think. For more information about our PTSD treatment and how we can help you achieve sustainable sobriety, call us at 855-631-2135. Our helpline is open 24/7 and our specialists will work with you to help find the treatment option that works for you.
