After a particularly traumatic event , be it an assault, an accident, domestic violence, a sexual assault, some kind of terrorism … The person who has suffered it may have problems to overcome it. This is what is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder , and it is a type of anxiety-related disorder. People who suffer from this type of disorder suffer some trauma that prevents their life from being as natural as possible, and that does not allow them to regain their previous rhythm.

There are times when the event in question does not seem serious enough, neither in the eyes of others nor in the eyes of the person who has experienced it; but the moment symptoms begin to appear, it is obvious that the trauma is there. It is similar to when a hard surface is struck, and it takes a while for it to return to its normal state; During Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, we would be talking about that moment in which the surface is trying to return to its usual state . But you may not be able to do it on your own, and need help from a specialist; In the case of this disorder, like everyone else , what you will need is the help of a psychologist to overcome any trauma, turn the page and see that event as another part of your life.

When a natural catastrophe happens, the most normal thing is that the people who have lived it suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder , and that this can develop again if they suffer such a situation. Daniela Soto, a psychologist, explained to Verne that ” the brain has an impressive memory and a situation can trigger anxiety for experiences that happened a long time ago .” The most important thing in this type of situation is to know that after such an event, trauma is not impossible, and that if certain symptoms occur, the best thing to do is to go to a specialist.

What are the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

We must not forget that, like any type of disorder that affects the mind, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can have different symptoms depending on the person in question . It may be that one person generates all the symptoms, while another only has two, or that someone does not react so obviously in the days after the event but ends up exploding in the end. We are completely different people and as such our reactions are different.

In general, the most common symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are hypersensitivity to anything reminiscent of the event in question, extreme anxiety, and negative thoughts at all times . It depends a lot on the event that triggered the trauma; for example, if it has been an earthquake, as Francisco Martínez León (head of the remote psychological care program at UNAM) explains to Verne , any movement that until then seemed normal to the person ” now seems to us to be a earthquake, or we have the sensation of movement “. If we were talking about a sexual assault, it would probably react in this way to any hint of danger.

Anxiety, on the other hand, can manifest as anger, irritability, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty concentrating , or a general startle. It is one of the symptoms that can be seen more clearly, since it will be noticed directly in the character of the person; anyone who develops with it will be able to see it more or less clearly. Although, let’s remember: not everyone shows their disorder in the same way, so you should not be overconfident.

The most important thing is that, when you notice any type of possible symptom, you go quickly to the psychologist to tackle any problem . Only then will we ensure that we return to our previous life, and even with new lessons learned. 

Elle Mcdonald

I am Elle Mcdonald Specializations in Psychology . Graduated in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2000. Diploma of Advanced Studies in the Department of Personality, Evaluation and psychological treatments with excellent results.

First Level of Master in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Behavioral Therapists (recognized with a scientific-professional nature by the College of Psychologists)

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