According to a study published in the Lancet medical journal in 2020, nearly one in three adults (aged over 18 years old) in Hong Kong reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With such a huge number of people having PTSD in the city, do you know if you have PTSD? Are there any online tests that you could do for self-evaluation?
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it whether in person or on TV. After a traumatic experience, it is normal to feel frightened, sad, anxious and stressed. As a self-protection mechanism, your nervous system reacts with the fight-or-flight response, causing symptoms such as sweating, nausea, pain, and shivering. If the symptoms do not fade and become severe, you may have PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
According to the National Institute of Mental Health of the State, symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with relationships or work to be considered PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Flashbacks (reliving the trauma over and over)
- Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Bad dreams
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event
- Physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, pain and nausea
Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic or complex PTSD.
Risk Factors of PTSD
People of different ages who experienced violence, sexual abuse, disasters or other serious incidents ay develop PTSD.
It is important to remember that not everyone who lives through a dangerous event develops PTSD. Many factors play a part in whether a person will develop PTSD, such as the details of the event and the post-event social support. The National Institute of Mental Health of the State lists the risk factors of making a person more likely to develop PTSD.
- Living through dangerous events and traumas
- Getting hurt
- Seeing another person hurt or seeing a dead body
- Childhood trauma
- 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
Self-Evaluation for PTSD
There are various reliable online sources to conduct a PTSD self-evaluation for yourself. For example, the Hong Kong Mood Disorder Centre of CUHK designed 5 simple questions for the public to assess if they have PTSD.
- Did you feel upset, helpless, and frightened over a month after witnessing or experiencing traumatic incidents?
- When someone or something reminds you of a stressful experience, do you feel worried?
- Do you frequently experience the following situation?
- Being anxious
- Having insomnia
- Having bad dreams
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling jumpy or easily startled
- Repeated, disturbing dreams or thoughts of a stressful experience
- Avoiding activities or situations because they reminded you of a stressful experience
- Being “super alert” or watchful or on guard
- Feeling distant or cut off from other people
- Feeling emotionally numb or being unable to have loving feelings for those close to you
- Does the above situation(s) cause trouble for you?
- Does the above situation(s) pose negative impacts on your study, work or social life?
If most of your answer is ‘yes,’ we highly suggest you undergo a detailed evaluation done by a doctor or a therapist.
The Youth Mental Health Initiatives of the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong also designed a mental health recognition tool, called HK FLOW Tool, to allow the public to understand their mental health conditions in 5 minutes with refreshing graphics.
The above tools indeed are not professional diagnosis and treatments. Please seek help from your doctor or therapist if needed.
Treatments of PTSD
Psychotherapy and medication are both effective treatments of PTSD.
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive therapy is a talk therapy that helps patients recognise the ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that keep them stuck, such as negative beliefs about themselves and the risk of traumatic things happening again. The negative thoughts, such as guilt and worry, are weakened by re-evaluating the traumatic incidents.
- Medication: The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are a proven treatment for PTSD, helping symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Besides, some patients may use drugs and alcohol to get good nights of sleep, but they can make your symptoms worse, delay your treatment and recovery, and cause abuse or addiction problems.
Can You Recover From PTSD On Your Own?
The symptoms of PTSD vary among different people. While many showing initial signs may recover on their own, some may have symptoms persisting for over a month. Please seek help from your doctor or therapist if needed.
PTSD Beyond Treatment: How Can I Help Myself?
Taking the first step of recovering from PTSD is challenging but essential. There are healthy steps you can take by yourself to help you recover and stay well. Discover which ones help you feel better and add them to your life.
- Connect with friends and family: Talking to your friends and family about your problems or symptoms can help you get the support you need.
- Stay active: Mild physical activities, such as housework and regular exercises, can relieve stress.
- Take time: Understand the symptoms of PTSD clearly. Recovering from PTSD is an ongoing process that takes time.
- Pursue happiness in life: Search for and enjoy the moment, environment, and every little thing that makes you happy.
- Practice mindfulness: Yoga and meditation can help you focus on the moment and stay positive.
Support from family and friends are crucial for those with PTSD on the road to recovery. Listening to their feelings and showing your love and care can significantly impact their health and healing.
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