5 Different types of PTSD: Symptoms and cures

Post-traumatic stress disorder – PTSD was originally thought to be associated with those individuals, who were in the military service. But with the passage of time, PTSD has affected many people across the world. People who suffer from PTSD tend to experience extreme stress levels.

Stress can affect anyone badly and can be life-threatening in most cases. As far as PTSD is concerned, it slightly differs from the acute stress illness, and can last for a long time. It affects your routine life. Different types of PTSD have been recognized which will be discussed later in this article.  

With reference to a recent study, approximately, 7.7 million people are suffering from PTSD across the United States and the other 8% population is eventually heading towards the disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5), PTSD is an extreme anxiety disorder that can trigger on account of severe injuries, exposure to sexual violation, the threat of death, or the loss of a loved one.

Indicators can be seen right after the stress episode or can occur even after years. PTSD is a multivariate disorder resulting in a variety of outcomes. Researchers have categorized different types of PTSD according to their symptoms and treatments. The types of PTSD include:

Normal stress response

In cases where people are not exposed to worse conditions of the traumatic attacks, the normal stress response occurs. People experience normal stress before the beginning of PTSD. It occurs when people witness a stressful event or a death of a loved one, which causes tension and an augmented level of stress. Generally, normal stress can be treated with the support of the community, by joining therapy sessions, and by focusing on good things in life.

Individuals with the normal stress response show a quick recovery – under the course of few weeks – if the below-mentioned stress reliever therapies are taken continuously.

Comorbid PTSD

As described by the physicians, people having comorbid PTSD disorder are also diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders. Comorbid disorders patients are often found coupled with substance abuse or other drug-related issues. People generally face issues while working in the military forces. Due to the experience of continuous brutality in the field, watching dear friends die, or the trauma of destruction, often affects the brain badly, eventually compelling them towards the substance abuse to simmer down the experience of trauma.

Acute stress disorder

This type of disorder is different from the original PTSD. It may also transform into a life-threatening disorder. Loss of job or loved one, risk of death, or a horrific accident can trigger acute stress disorder. People suffering from acute stress disorders can be treated with the custom designed treatments by psychiatrists only. But if left unaddressed, it can lead you to develop symptoms of PTSD.

Complex PTSD

People diagnosed with complex PTSD are most commonly antisocial and demonstrate behavior issues including anger, substance abuse, aggression, impulsivity, panic, and depression. Complex PTSD is the result of continuous exposures to war, sudden loss of a loved one, or guilt of losing someone. 

Complex PTSD does not occur after a one-time event, but back to back multiple issues tend to trigger the symptoms to intensify leaving the person with complex PTSD.

Uncomplicated PTSD

Unlike the other types, the uncomplicated PTSD is connected to a single major stressful event. Uncomplicated PTSD can be treated through medications and therapies, or combination of both. The other indicators may include irritability, nightmares, trauma reminders, flashbacks of the connected events.

How different types of PTSD can be treated?

If you have not been the victim of an incident directly, then to be a witness of such a traumatic event can be shocking and traumatizing. Also its flashbacks can affect your normal life. But if you are a PTSD patient, then the scenarios can be more dangerous. You might get unremitting flashbacks of the event that may lead you to have continuous nightmares that eventually affect your memory in the long run.

The two therapies you can undergo to treat PTSD or its types are: cognitive and prolonged exposure therapy. These therapies usually have three main goals:

• Help you handle your symptoms carefully
• Regain and rebuilt your self-confidence
• Improve your symptoms

Therapies are based on the condition of a primary victim. In most cases, family group therapies are quite useful for people suffering from the normal stress response, or uncomplicated PTSD type.  For instance, if you are blaming yourself for any unpleasant event, then sorting it out by accepting it in front of the family can be a stress reliever, and can take you out from the trauma.