The Physical Symptoms of PTSD

Medical professionals are increasingly recognizing the connection between the body and the mind. When someone is experiencing mental distress, it can negatively impact their body, causing pain, breathing changes, sickness, and more. 

Those who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly face psychological symptoms, but this mental health condition can present physical symptoms as well. Without intervention, these symptoms can have negative long-term effects, eventually becoming chronic and potentially leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Treating PTSD can help keep both mental and physical symptoms under control, preventing issues from worsening or further problems developing down the road.

PTSD

PTSD is a mental health condition that is caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. The condition was officially named in 1980 and was primarily associated with the psychological impact of war among military personnel. 

The classification quickly expanded to include civilians who have experienced a traumatic event. Experiencing physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, serious accidents, and witnessing trauma can cause this condition.

The Psychological Symptoms of PTSD

The psychological symptoms of PTSD can cause significant distress, hindering a person’s ability to function normally and leaving them in a constant state of fear.

There are four main psychological symptoms of PTSD:

• Intrusion symptoms: These are distressing memories of the event. They can include nightmares, where the content or effect of the dream relates to the traumatic event, as well as flashbacks, where the person feels as if the event is happening again.
• Avoidance: This is when the individual with PTSD avoids certain people, places, activities, or even conversations relating to the traumatic event because of the potentially triggering effect. Avoidance also involves making attempts to avoid painful thoughts and feelings about the event. 
• Negative alterations in cognition and mood: The event can negatively impact a person’s cognition and mood. It can be directed at the external world or others (“the world is a bad place”), at the self (“I am a bad person”), or at both. It commonly manifests as feelings of guilt or shame and can reduce the person’s ability to experience positive thoughts and feelings. 
• Heightened arousal: Heightened arousal refers to the “on edge” feeling that people with PTSD experience. It can present itself as irritability, angry outbursts, hyper-vigilance, self-destructive behavior, and difficulty concentrating. 

These symptoms often lead a person to feel trapped in the past long after the trauma is over. For example, a person who has survived a house fire might suffer from PTSD. Even if they know rationally that they are no longer in danger, they might feel as though they still are, even in their everyday life.

Being near any small fires may be difficult, as those could act as triggers. Further, vivid flashbacks and nightmares of the fire might leave the person in a state where they feel like they are reliving the incident. The person might feel guilty for surviving the fire, on edge being near one, or even avoid instances where there are fires entirely.

Physical Symptoms

The psychological effects of PTSD are the key indicators of the presence of PTSD, but the condition also frequently provokes physical symptoms. These are called secondary symptoms.

These symptoms may be explained by the body’s reaction to the traumatic effect. When a person feels threatened, their body releases hormones as part of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. Researchers believe that, for people with PTSD, these hormones may stay at an elevated level. 

The most common physical symptoms of PTSD are:

• Chest Pain
• Heart palpitations
• Chills
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Changes in appetite
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Insomnia 
• Panic Attacks

PTSD Treatment

PTSD can be challenging to live with, but effective treatment solutions are available to help with symptoms of various types. PTSD treatment solutions include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This talk-based therapy helps uncover and manage the underlying thoughts and emotions related to the trauma. Over time, one can develop coping skills for managing negative thought patterns. 
• Prolonged exposure: This treatment helps patients face their fears in a safe space, helping them regain control. Prolonged exposure helps to expose people to experiences that are related to their trauma to show them that they have nothing to fear.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR treatment was specifically designed to help people with PTSD and focuses on helping people to process their emotions and thoughts from their trauma so that they can move forward from it.
• Medication: Medications such as selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Sertraline, Fluoxetine, and Paroxetine can be prescribed to manage symptoms during treatment.  

Treatment at Jackson House

At Jackson House, we’re committed to helping our patients overcome their PTSD and live their lives to the fullest. Our expert trauma treatment programs are personalized to meet the unique requirements of our patients.

Group therapy, one-on-one therapy, and clinically-proven techniques with a track record of success help everyone who walks through our doors achieve the best possible outcome for their symptoms. 

PTSD Support in Oregon City

Jackson House offers support from various locations across Oregon and California. At Jackson House Oregon City, our compassionate team of professionals can help equip you with the tools you need to work through your trauma. Our personalized treatment can help target both the physical and psychological effects of PTSD, helping you reach a place of thriving.

Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how our PTSD treatments can help you get back on track and live life to the fullest.