Mar 22 2024 This Week in Cardiology

signs of post traumatic stress disorder :: Article Creator

5 Silent Signs Your Spouse Is Suffering From PTSD

Traumatic events can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD symptoms, a debilitating mental health disorder. It not only affects the victims, but it affects their loved ones, first responders on the scene, and the general public watching it all unfold on the television screen. The signs of PTSD can also affect survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and other more personal traumatic events. So, how do you know that your partner was severely impacted by a traumatic and terrifying event?

1. They suffer from flashbacks

One of the typical PTSD symptoms is that the victim will relive the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time. Perhaps they're haunted by nightmares that play over and over again like an endless reel in his/her mind.

2. They're an insomniac

Your significant other may have a hard time falling or staying asleep after a nightmare. But this kind of sleep deprivation will only weaken his/her already fragile state of mind, so try to encourage your partner to fall back to sleep.

3. They randomly lash out

Everyday activities may cause drastic mood swings without prompting. Maybe your husband is easily frustrated by small mishaps or your wife is more controlling when she's usually laid back. Curbing this sudden change in mood in your significant other is very important since it can lead to more harmful behavior in the future.

4. They have lost interest in their favorite pastimes

Watch out for a sudden loss of interest or avoiding activities he/she once enjoyed. This may serve as an indicative of a deep depressive state and could lead to major problems down the road in your relationship.

5. They're always, always tense

Living in a constant state of panic is very stressful for your significant other. Loud noises or even a car backfiring can set off a panic attack. Over time, this kind of anxiety can lead to health problems, which are sometimes irreversible. These signs of PTSD are normal (to some extent) right after a tragic event. However, if your loved one exhibits these signs for longer than a month, you should encourage him/her to speak with a healthcare professional. Seek treatment as soon as possible, just for some guidance and assurance before self-diagnosing. Support groups are also a good idea, especially in the most extreme cases.

If you or somebody that you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, there is a way to get help. Call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or text "HELLO" to 741741 to be connected with the Crisis Text Line.

5 Signs You Are Grieving An Invisible Loss

When we think about grief, most of us immediately think about tragic losses like death, divorce, or illness—these are traditional losses. Traditional grief is described by the Psychological Association in their Handbook of Bereavement Research and Practice as "the primarily emotional or affective process of reacting to the loss of a loved one through death."

In recent years, the DSM-5 has labeled prolonged grief as a disorder if it takes place longer than what is traditionally expected. Sources indicate that a characteristic feature of prolonged grief disorder is:

"Distressing, disabling yearning that persists a year or more after the loss. Other characteristic symptoms include disbelief and lack of acceptance of the loss, emotional detachment from others since the loss, loneliness, identity disturbance, and sense of meaninglessness."

Since expressing suffering even within the traditional parameters of grief can be perceived as a disorder and not a common human experience, it is especially difficult to express grief over less tragic—but still valid—forms of loss. One can imagine the obstacles we have to overcome as a society to even consider grief outside of traditionally accepted life tragedies.

Understandably so, this recent focus on grief as a disorder has inadvertently led us away from creating a world of acceptance and validation. But we must push back. It is essential to recognize that expressing sadness is not only socially acceptable but also a crucial step toward healing and growth. According to researchers Tedeschi and Calhoun, the benefits of expressing sadness include:

"A greater appreciation for life or positive reevaluation of life, better relationships, appreciation of newer possibilities, increased personal strength, and a greater sense of spiritual development from coping with a traumatic experience."

The first step toward a more expansive acceptance of grief is to understand the different forms of loss—so let's begin to understand what it feels like to experience grief that has yet to be given language.

What Is Invisible Loss?

Invisible loss is a profound yet frequently neglected form of grief that arises when we perceive ourselves to be overlooked, misinterpreted, or discounted by the world. This subtle and persistent emotion defies easy definition, manifesting as pervasive feelings of anxiety, sadness, angst, or restlessness. In essence, it is a type of loss, a result of encounters that alter our self-perception.

The concept of an invisible loss challenges the traditional notion of trauma as something immediately recognizable and tragic. It suggests that individuals might experience significant life-changing events that, at the time, they may perceive as ordinary or unremarkable. These "moments of impact," as they are referred to, can subtly and gradually alter a person's self-perception and their understanding of how others view them, often without conscious awareness.

For example, have you ever felt misunderstood during a work meeting and unable to convey your thoughts effectively to your colleagues? This experience can be frustrating and embarrassing, leading to feelings of self-consciousness and avoidance of similar situations in the future. Invisible losses can masquerade as any form of public or private rejection in professional or personal settings.

The chronic dread and anxiety you experience could be a result of unrecognized invisible loss. Consequently, you may not be aware of when or how your survival mechanisms were activated. That old version of yourself ceased to exist when your survival mechanism was triggered, and you were left to endure that flash of shame, abandonment, or rejection. These painful, invisible setbacks, which we term "moments of impact," occur throughout your life, often without recognition.

Here Are Five Signs That You Are Grieving an Invisible Loss

Stepping Back vs Showing Up: Sometimes, you may find yourself retreating from activities at which you used to excel. Initially, grief from an invisible loss might manifest as anxiety, shame, or embarrassment instead of sadness. These feelings may stem from self-doubt or questioning your abilities and worth. For instance, you might experience nausea before a meeting or heart palpitations during a conversation. These symptoms indicate that you've survived a significant moment of impact in the past and have unconsciously remained in survival mode after it subsided.

"Just Fine" Appearance: As we become preoccupied with maintaining the appearance of being "fine," we tend to suppress our feelings. Without realizing it, we revert to our well-known coping mechanisms and self-soothing techniques to navigate this challenging period of our lives.

The "What Ifs": When faced with pain or loss, the mind can shift from rational thought to a persistent fear of abandonment and rejection. It's common for individuals to believe they are experiencing this for the first time, but it's likely rooted in an early childhood experience of feeling abandoned. This fear stems from the perception that relationships hold the power to cause significant emotional pain.

The People-Pleasing: Perhaps a sense of obligation led you to take on a subservient role, like the person who tried to keep everyone happy, ignoring your needs and desires to be accepted by a group, community, or family. Conforming felt like imprisonment, but you believed you had no choice but to change yourself. Your survivor-based mindset persuaded you that this was the only way to belong.

The Establishing of Threat: In daily scenarios devoid of obvious conflicts or significant threats, you might find yourself unduly concerned about making decisions. For instance, you might worry that expressing your true thoughts could result in negative reactions from others. You act out the worst-case scenario, convincing you that the action you are considering is not going to end well. You don't even try to say anything; you know better than that.

To uncover your personal invisible losses, begin by reflecting on your daily life. Consider situations where you hold back from sharing your thoughts with others. Examine your routine behavior during family dinners, social events, and one-on-one time with your partner. It's important to find a trusted friend with whom you feel comfortable sharing your intimate moments.

Moreover, we need to establish safe environments, both at work and in our personal lives, that encourage authenticity. By acknowledging and validating these invisible losses, we can initiate the healing process and leave behind the stagnant state of a metaphorical waiting room. This is the path to a more fulfilling and authentic life.

7 Signs Of A Mental Health Condition

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (ABC 4)- The numbers are staggering. The National Alliance of Mental Illness reports nearly 50 million Americans experience a mental health condition every year—that's about one in five adults. The events of the last two years have led to even greater concerns over mental health and increased awareness. The increased demand and need for services has brought to light just how important it is that individuals and communities have improved access to quality mental health care.

Mental health affects everything. It is an essential part of our overall health impacting how we think, feel and act. When something feels out of whack, it can pose issues to your day-to-day routine and wellbeing.

Mental illness disorders include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and many others. The two most common mental health illnesses are depression, affecting more than 16 million Americans, and anxiety, which impacts over 42 million Americans. There is no single cause for mental illness—genetics, environment and lifestyle can all play a role.

Unlike illnesses of the rest of the body, mental illness has been swept under the rug for many years because it hasn't been as widely accepted as a serious medical issue.

It's important to remember that everyone will experience anxiety and sadness at some moment in their life. However, when that anxiety and sadness is overwhelming and occurs regularly, a mental health condition may be the cause and you are encouraged to seek help. You don't have to live with the symptoms; there are resources available to feel better.

While every mental illness is different, here are seven common signs to help determine if you or a loved one may be suffering:

1. Change in feelings or demeanor

When a person is suffering from a mental health condition, they may experience increased feelings of worry, panic, sadness or hopelessness.

2. Loss of interest

They may start avoiding friends, family and activities that used to once bring pleasure.

3. Change in sleeping habits

Sleeping patterns may change to sleeping too much or too little, especially when compared to previous sleep routines.

4. Low energy

This can manifest itself as either sleeping too much or the inability to carry out everyday activities and tasks such as work, social activities, or even self-care.

5. Difficulty interacting

Many people with a mental health condition will find it hard to understand or relate to others. This may also present as extreme irritability with others or themselves.

6. Appetite or weight changes

Dietary changes, whether it is excessive eating or little to no eating, can be an indicator that someone is depressed.

7. Uncontrollable emotions

A distinct, rapid mood swing from sadness to happiness, or similar emotions on opposite ends of the spectrum, may be an indicator of mental health struggles.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? The best thing to do is to ask for help. A family doctor or mental health clinic can provide you with great options to help you get started. By getting help, you can take control of your symptoms and in many cases, recover completely.

Behavioral help resources

Here are some options if you've decided you could use some help:

Your health insurance company. Check with your health plan to see which resources are available. For example, Priority Health provides members with information like what kind of help is available, what your plan will cover and how to find counselors or behavioral health care providers to meet your needs. An on-staff behavioral health team is available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the number on the back of your member ID card (your call is completely confidential) or log in to your online account. Priority Health has also partnered with a digital health specialist to offer free access Teladoc Health Mental Health, formally called myStrength, a self-help mental wellness tool with a variety of focus areas including but not limited to depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use disorders. Learn more here.

Disaster distress helpline. A 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Online or virtual care. Try an online therapy session through a website such as 7 Cups, an online emotional health service provider. The app enables users to select listeners based on their preferences/experiences and anonymously chat via the platform 24/7. In times of emotional turmoil or stress, it is highly beneficial to talk to someone and this app offers a safe space to do that.

Community resources. For Michiganders in need of free or low-cost mental health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has a county map of community mental health service programs.

Whatever tools you use for help, take the time to make your mental health a priority. Your mind and health are well worth it.

Search This Blog

Hypertension