post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) is the label given to a number of symptoms that people experience after a traumatic event. The symptoms are exactly the same the only difference is that psychiatry now refers to these symptoms as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) so don't be confused by the two different terms, they are the same thing.

Post traumatic stress syndrome /PTSD is classed as an anxiety disorder and some common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares and a generalised feeling of anxiety or alertness. There are lots of different ways that sufferers experience PTSS symptoms some may include

Bad dreams/Nightmares about the event

A feeling that you are reliving the event/Flashbacks

Major feelings of distress when reminded about the event such as a pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension or sweating.

Triggers to these events really can be anything. If the event was a car accident then the smell of petrol/gas can trigger the memory, for a soldier it may be the sound of a helicopter, for a rape victim it could be a certain nationality of person.

Triggers really can occur at any time which is why a lot of PTSS sufferers also heave a heightened sense of awareness or anxiety.

This heightened anxiety is a learned response to dealing with PTSS and is different to biological explanations of anxiety.

Because there can be reminders of events absolutely anywhere sufferers of PTSS can find themselves avoiding anything that might lead to triggering off a memory related to the incident. For those that are aware of nightmares they can find it very hard to get to sleep at night, can find it hard to concentrate and my have seemingly unexplained outbursts of anger. Although these symptoms can seem out of the norm for people without knowledge of PTSS they are perfectly normal responses given the circumstances.

The main treatments for PTSS/PTSD are medication and trauma counselling. Both of these methods have some widely discussed negative side effects and a lot really depends on what medications you are given and who the counsellor is. There are some new treatments that show some very promising results but they are still being researched and proven under a clinical setting.

One very important discovery relating to the treatment of PTSS/PTSD is that of the Amydala. This is a part of the brain that stores and triggers traumatic events and memories. The research has proven beyond doubt that the reasoning/logical part of our brain has very little if any influence over traumatic memories. This explains for the first time why as humans we can understand and have insight into why we have problems but the problems don't go away, it explains why we can, on one hand know we shouldn't be afraid of certain things but we still are.

Living with PTSS/PTSD can be like living in a constant bad dream, it is also very difficult for carers and friends who want to support those suffering with ptsd. From my experience of having worked with hundreds of PTSS/PTSD sufferers one of the best things that carers and friends can do is ask the simple question "How can I help you". A lot of the time the subject is either swept under the carpet or carers and friends just assume what is helpful. Everyone likes to be helped in different ways and some don't want to be helped at all, begin with that simple question, it will make life a lot easier.

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