Why ptsd occurs

Rothbaum BO. Psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. What is posttraumatic stress disorder? American Psychiatric Association. Lifestyle changes recommended for PTSD patients. Krieger CA expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Sawchuk CN expert opinion. Raskind MA, et al. Trial of prazosin for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. The New England Journal of Medicine. Hall-Flavin DK expert opinion. June 27, Related How trauma can affect memory Post-traumatic stress: How can you help your loved one?

Associated Procedures Acupuncture Cognitive behavioral therapy Psychotherapy. News from Mayo Clinic Acute stress disorder: How can you help a loved one? June 02, , p. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Some examples are listed below. Risk factors make a person more likely to develop PTSD.

Other factors, called resilience factors , can help reduce the risk of the disorder. Researchers are studying the importance of these and other risk and resilience factors, including genetics and neurobiology. With more research, someday it may be possible to predict who is likely to develop PTSD and to prevent it.

Everyone is different, and PTSD affects people differently, so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. Some people with PTSD may need to try different treatments to find what works for their symptoms.

If someone with PTSD is going through an ongoing trauma, such as being in an abusive relationship, both of the problems need to be addressed.

Other ongoing problems can include panic disorder, depression, substance abuse, and feeling suicidal. The most studied type of medication for treating PTSD are antidepressants, which may help control PTSD symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb inside.

Other medications may be helpful for treating specific PTSD symptoms, such as sleep problems and nightmares. Doctors and patients can work together to find the best medication or medication combination, as well as the right dose. Check the U. Food and Drug Administration website for the latest information on patient medication guides, warnings, or newly approved medications.

Psychotherapy can occur one-on-one or in a group. Talk therapy treatment for PTSD usually lasts 6 to 12 weeks, but it can last longer. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of recovery. Many types of psychotherapy can help people with PTSD. Some types target the symptoms of PTSD directly.

Other therapies focus on social, family, or job-related problems. Effective psychotherapies tend to emphasize a few key components, including education about symptoms, teaching skills to help identify the triggers of symptoms, and skills to manage the symptoms.

One helpful form of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT can include:. There are other types of treatment that can help as well. People with PTSD should talk about all treatment options with a therapist. Treatment should equip individuals with the skills to manage their symptoms and help them participate in activities that they enjoyed before developing PTSD.

Based on this general goal, different types of therapy may:. It may be very hard to take that first step to help yourself. It is important to realize that although it may take some time, with treatment, you can get better. If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor. An emergency room doctor can also provide temporary help and can tell you where and how to get further help.

Caring for yourself and others is especially important when large numbers of people are exposed to traumatic events such as natural disasters, accidents, and violent acts. In the last decade, progress in research on the mental and biological foundations of PTSD has lead scientists to focus on better understanding the underlying causes of why people experience a range of reactions to trauma.

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Avoidance is a coping strategy for PTSD survivors. Staying out of situations that trigger overwhelming stress is one strategy. This can happen to a degree that some PTSD survivors cannot even describe sensations going on. This coping strategy prevents many people with PTSD from living in the present and moving toward what they want in life.

It denies them the right to feel safe and to pursue what is healthy and meaningful to them. Some PTSD survivors experience hyperarousal — a feeling of always being alert and on edge. They may feel anxious — become busy all the time or seem unable to say no. There is intensive energy — a foot is shaking whenever the person tries to relax — or they may overreact at a sound like a balloon popping.

However, this return to baseline does not always occur, which contributes significantly to the problems with hyperarousal that are characteristic of the traumatized person. Recent studies in neuroscience reveal new connections between brain, body, and the processing of severe trauma.

These findings have enabled therapists to develop more effective approaches that help PTSD survivors better manage and resolve hyperarousal. One of the most difficult symptoms of PTSD is a negatively altered mood. Some people with PTSD may lose interest in things that they want to enjoy, be unable to concentrate, or feel that they are wandering through life like a ghost.

These altered states differ from the dark moods that it is normal for people to fall into at times. With PTSD treatment, it is possible to learn new ways to cope and observe the waves of emotions without getting lost in them. No matter how grim things look, know that these symptoms are part of the disorder. This information helps explain why emotions and other symptoms occur the way they do.

It also leads to treatments that can help PTSD survivors manage symptoms and even strengthen brain structures for the better. Neuroimaging studies have revealed important structural and functional differences between the brains of people with PTSD and the brains of individuals without PTSD. Research has studied changes in three particular parts of the brain and their role in the stress response: the hippocampus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex ventromedial PFC and amygdala.

The hippocampus may change the most after severe traumatic stress. But certain factors appear to make some people more likely to develop PTSD. Who's at risk If you have had depression or anxiety in the past, or you do not receive much support from family or friends, you're more susceptible to developing PTSD after a traumatic event. Why does it develop? Survival mechanism One suggestion is that the symptoms of PTSD are the result of an instinctive mechanism intended to help you survive further traumatic experiences.

High adrenaline levels Studies have shown that people with PTSD have abnormal levels of stress hormones. Changes in the brain In people with PTSD, parts of the brain involved in emotional processing appear different in brain scans.

One part of the brain responsible for memory and emotions is known as the hippocampus.