By Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Wilmington Journal 

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - There have been many events within the past decade that have brought certain mental health conditions, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to the forefront of Americans' discussions about health. With wars being fought in the Middle East and Afghanistan, devastating natural disasters striking the gulf coast and other areas of the country, and violent acts occurring all around the country and the world, it is no surprise that the numbers of persons diagnosed with mental illness continues to increase.

The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) definition of PTSD is: an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

Most often, persons who are involved in traumatic events have a brief period of difficulty coping with the event, but with proper treatment and time, they usually get better. However, sometimes the effects of the event can last for months or years, and make it very difficult for a person to live a normal life.

What are the symptoms of PTSD? NIMH states that symptoms of PTSD commonly appear within the first three months of the traumatic event, but sometimes they may not occur until weeks, months or even years after the event. There are three common categories of PTSD symptoms: re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal (extremely heightened emotions). According to NIMH, re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person's everyday routine, can start from the person's own thoughts and feelings, and words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing. Avoidance symptoms often cause a person to largely change their personal routine. Hyperarousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind a person of the event.

Common symptoms include: Re-experiencing; Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time; Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event; and avoidance/numbing.

Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may include: Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event; feeling emotionally numb; avoiding activities you once enjoyed; hopelessness about the future; memory problems; trouble concentrating; difficulty maintaining close relationships; hyperarousal; rritability or anger; overwhelming guilt or shame; self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much; trouble sleeping; being easily startled or frightened; and hearing/seeing things that aren't there.

What is the treatment for PTSD?

The most common treatments for PTSD are talk therapy (also known as psychotherapy) and medications - sometimes both. It is important to remember that while one type of treatment works for one person, it may not work for another, so it is essential to be treated by a mental health professional who can determine what is best for an individual.

It is also important to remember that it is normal to have experience many different feelings after you have experienced a traumatic event. These feelings may cause you anxiety or fear, affect your sleeping or eating patterns, or even cause nightmares or crying, among other feelings.

Traumatic events affect everyone differently. However, if you notice that you or a loved one have symptoms that persist for more than a month, the symptoms are severe, or you are having difficulty being able to return to your normal life, you should talk to a mental health professional. If you think you or a loved one are in danger of hurting yourself/themselves or others, you should call 911 immediately. If you need help finding mental health providers in your area, please call our toll free number below.

Do you need further information or have questions or comments about this article? Please call toll-free 1-877-530-1824. Or, for more information about the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity please visit our website: http://www.wfubmc. edu/MACHE