If you are a frontline worker, a COVID-19 survivor, or just trying to survive each day, everyone has probably experienced some low emotional moments during the coronavirus pandemic. But how can you tell if your feelings are a case of sadness or a signal to seek professional help for PTSD or PTSD?
Dr. Luana Marques, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and clinical psychologist explains that post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder that occurs after one experiences a traumatic event such as a serious car accident, combats stress or any other threat to life.
Marques says that it is normal to feel stressed and depressed in these circumstances.
“After a traumatic event, biologically, we are actually connected to have a stress response,” Marques tells Yahoo Life. “That stress can lead to symptoms like difficulty sleeping, nightmares, difficulty concentrating. [and] be on guard all the time. ”
Marques says that when we put all those symptoms together it could seem like a case of PTSD, but he warns against jumping to conclusions.
“It is really important to remember that immediately after traumatic events, no matter how difficult it is, you cannot be diagnosed with PTSD,” she says. “Only about three months later is when we start talking, is that person developing PTSD symptoms?”
According to Marques, the data shows that front-line workers are experiencing an increase in depression, stress and anxiety, but there is little or no data related to COVID-19 stressors that lead to the disorder.
While we are all at risk of developing PTSD, Marques points out certain factors that make frontline workers more vulnerable. “If you had emotional health issues before and now face this really high threat, day after day [and] day out, your brain is constantly in this ‘fight or flight’ [response]. It could increase your chance of actually developing PTSD, ”says Marques.
She goes on to say, “We know that women are more likely to develop PTSD. [and] people who had a history of depression and physical pain are also more likely. ”
Whether you are diagnosed with PTSD or not, Marques wants everyone to be aware of the warning signs and symptoms.
PTSD warning signs
Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms
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Re-experience traumatic events
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Avoid signs related to trauma
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Negative thoughts and feelings related to trauma.
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Trauma related excitement
If you’re having emotional difficulties, Marques says to do the following to decrease your chance of developing PTSD. She also recommends seeking professional help.
How to decrease the probability of developing PTSD
If he is diagnosed with PTSD and wonders if it will ever go away, Marques says he should treat it like any other infection. If you don’t treat it, it won’t go away. Seek psychotherapy and use only FDA-approved medications. “It is not easy to improve,” says Marques. “[But] the reality is that there is a lot of hope and a very good treatment for post-traumatic stress. “
June is PTSD Awareness Month and PTSD Awareness Day is Saturday, June 27. Dr. Marques encourages everyone to take care of their mental health throughout the year.
For more information on taking care of your mental health, visit the following websites.
For him coronavirus latest news and updates, follow along https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and immunocompromised people continue to be the most exposed. For questions, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s and From the WHO resource guides.
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