EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event- either through experiencing it or witnessing it.

Most people have experienced a certain form of trauma, this varies from person to person. However, persons with PTSD may experience extreme symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, PTSD does not only occur among soldiers who have experienced disturbing events in war. PTSD also occurs in children and adults who have seen or experienced traumatic events unfold.

Events such as natural disasters, a serious accident, war, rape, mugging, robbery, plane crash, torture, terrorist attack, toxic work environment and other extreme or life-threatening events.

According to Mukuhi Ng’ang’a, some of these life events are not universally traumatic but can be challenging, simply put, different people can experience the same terrifying event but only one or two will develop PTSD.

The symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hyper-vigilance (being overly vigilant) and severe anxiety.

Case in point

David Opati Etale who is a British war veteran soldier found out he had PTSD in a rather unexpected way.

“I realised I had PTSD through my friends. They noticed I had started doing drugs and heavy drinking which wasn’t normal. So, one of my friends went to a doctor we had at the military base and shared some bit of my story. They called me and I later on went in to see the psychiatrist and I was diagnosed with PTSD,” He said during an interview.

David along with his fellow combatants had gone to a Taliban stronghold and they were in a firefight for hours on end.

The armored vehicle they were in was attacked and when he drove on, he drove over an improvised explosive device. That was the whole experience that made David develop PTSD.

Intensity of symptoms

PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time, you may have intensified symptoms when you bump into reminders of what you went through.

Such reminders further aggravate the condition. Incidentally, victims of sexual assault can experience freezing, avoidance, hypervigilance, and flashbacks or intrusive thoughts as well as other symptoms as a result of the assault

What to do if you have PTSD

It is important to remember that you are not alone in your battle with PTSD, and you are not defined by the trauma that has happened to you.

There is always a way out. Reach out to a counsellor, psychiatrist or psychologist- they will help you with a strategy to deal with your trauma.

In extreme cases where there are concerns of overwhelming depression or anxiety, you may have medication prescribed in your journey to battling PTSD.

Reach out to family and friends and let them know what you are experiencing and ask them to accompany you to counselling sessions.