PTSD – POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Do You Have PTSD Or Have You Experienced Major Trauma?

PTSD Statistics:

0
out of 10 adults have atleast one traumatic occurence in their life
0
in 5 people develop PTSD after a traumatic event
0
%
of women will have PTSD during their lifetime.
0
%
of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans have developed PTSD.
0
%
U.S. female rape victims develop PTSD within 2 weeks post-attack
0
%
of severely physically assaulted victims get PTSD
0
%
of men will have PTSD during their lifetime
0
%
of U.S. adults have PTSD in any given year
0
%
of Americans will experience PTSD during their lifetime
Sources: National Center for PTSD, World Population Review, HelpGuide.org, The Recovery Village

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

PTSD is prevalent mental health condition strikes individuals following the occurrence of profoundly traumatic events. It’s a complex issue that requires extensive understanding, empathy, and nuanced care. what PTSD involves, its significant impact on individuals’ lives, and the various therapeutic approaches available for managing its symptoms.

Historical Context: PTSD and the Therapeutic Revolution

It wasn’t until the aftermath of the Vietnam War that PTSD was formally acknowledged as a disorder. This recognition catalyzed a surge in pertinent research and therapeutic advancements. Fast-forwarding to June 2014, a landmark decision by The Israeli Ministry of Health illuminated new hope for PTSD patients. The authorization of medical cannabis for PTSD intervention mirrored initiatives in numerous Western nations, underscored by comprehensive studies validating its efficacy, particularly among war veterans and terror attack survivors.

Military veterans aren’t the only people that struggle with PTSD. Anyone that has had a major traumatic experience may suffer from PTSD.

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You are not alone

6 out of every 100 people (6% of the US population) get PTSD during their lifetime.

12 million adults

Have PTSD during a given year which only represents a fraction of people with trauma.

PTSD in Women vs Men

8 of 100 women (8%) develop PTSD compared to 4 of every 100 men (4%)

12 Common Causes of PTSD: A Closer Look

Combat Exposure: Veterans or individuals in the military often witness or engage in intense warfare and violence, which significantly contributes to PTSD.
Physical and Sexual Assault: Survivors of rape, sexual abuse, mugging, or other forms of physical assault often endure psychological trauma manifesting as PTSD.
Natural Disasters: Cataclysmic events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and fires not only cause immediate danger but also long-lasting emotional turmoil.
Serious Accidents: People involved in plane crashes, car wrecks, or similar accidents may develop PTSD from their harrowing near-death experiences.
Terrorist Attacks: Individuals who experience, witness, or are in close proximity to terrorist activities often suffer from severe emotional aftereffects.
Sudden and Severe Loss: The unexpected or traumatic death of a loved one, whether through a fatal accident, homicide, or unexpected illness, can precipitate PTSD symptoms.
Childhood Neglect and Physical Abuse: Early life experiences, particularly consistent neglect or physical, emotional, and sexual abuse during childhood, are potent precursors of PTSD.
Serious Health Problems or Medical Procedures: Undergoing invasive or intensive medical procedures, especially at a young age, or experiencing severe health problems can sometimes lead to PTSD.

1. Combat Exposure:

Veterans or individuals in the military often witness or engage in intense warfare and violence, which significantly contributes to PTSD.

2. Physical and Sexual Assault

Survivors of rape, sexual abuse, mugging, or other forms of physical assault often endure psychological trauma manifesting as PTSD.

3. Natural Disasters:

Cataclysmic events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and fires not only cause immediate danger but also long-lasting emotional turmoil.

4. Serious Accidents:

People involved in plane crashes, car wrecks, or similar accidents may develop PTSD from their harrowing near-death experiences.

5. Terrorist Attacks:

Individuals who experience, witness, or are in close proximity to terrorist activities often suffer from severe emotional aftereffects.

6. Sudden and Severe Loss:

The unexpected or traumatic death of a loved one, whether through a fatal accident, homicide, or unexpected illness, can precipitate PTSD symptoms.

7. Childhood Neglect and Physical Abuse:

Early life experiences, particularly consistent neglect or physical, emotional, and sexual abuse during childhood, are potent precursors of PTSD.

8. Serious Health Problems or Medical Procedures:

Undergoing invasive or intensive medical procedures, especially at a young age, or experiencing severe health problems can sometimes lead to PTSD.

9. Domestic Violence:

Chronic exposure to, or victimization by, domestic violence often results in significant psychological trauma.

10. Kidnapping or Prisoner of War:

Survivors of kidnapping or those held as prisoners of war face unique, intensive traumas that can lead to the development of PTSD.

11. Bullying or Cyberbullying:

Continuous, aggressive behavior directed at an individual, either in person or via electronic platforms, can result in severe emotional damage.

12. First Responders’ Trauma:

Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic situations that place them at high risk for PTSD.

Domestic Violence: Chronic exposure to, or victimization by, domestic violence often results in significant psychological trauma.
Kidnapping or Prisoner of War: Survivors of kidnapping or those held as prisoners of war face unique, intensive traumas that can lead to the development of PTSD.
Bullying or Cyberbullying: Continuous, aggressive behavior directed at an individual, either in person or via electronic platforms, can result in severe emotional damage.
First Responders’ Trauma: Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic situations that place them at high risk for PTSD.

17 Signs of PTSD You Need to Know

Agitation
Depression and crying spells
Flashbacks
Headaches
Hypervigilance
Mood swings
Nervousness and anxiety
Nightmares
Obsessive-compulsive tendencies

Panic episodes
Paranoia
Problems with concentration or thinking
Problems with memory
Shakiness
Sleep disturbances
Substance abuse
Suicidal thoughts or attempts

How Is PTSD Diagnosed?

PTSD isn’t merely a single reaction but a series of emotional responses that can disrupt daily life for an extended period

To be diagnosed with PTSD a healthcare practitioner must confirm that the patient has experienced symptoms of at least one re-experiencing symptom, one avoidance symptom, two arousal and reactivity symptoms, and two cognition and mood symptoms for a minimum of one month.

Mental Disturbances: Nightmares, flashbacks, frightening thoughts
Avoidance: Places, events, objects, thoughts, or feelings that serve as a reminder of the traumatic event.
Reactive symptoms: feeling startled, easily agitated, angered, or restless.
Mood and cognitive symptoms: misremembering the event, having negative thoughts, guilt, loss of interest in having fun.

These reactions extend beyond general distress; they’re specific behaviors and experiences that intertwine with the individual’s thoughts, interactions, and feelings.

PTSD isn’t merely a single reaction but a series of emotional responses that can disrupt daily life for an extended period

Mental Disturbances: Nightmares, flashbacks, frightening thoughts
Avoidance: Places, events, objects, thoughts, or feelings that serve as a reminder of the traumatic event.
Reactive symptoms: feeling startled, easily agitated, angered, or restless.
Mood and cognitive symptoms: misremembering the event, having negative thoughts, guilt, loss of interest in having fun.

These reactions extend beyond general distress; they’re specific behaviors and experiences that intertwine with the individual’s thoughts, interactions, and feelings.

Life With PTSD: A Psychiatric Disorder

PTSD emerges in the aftermath of encountering or witnessing events that imprint a level of fear and anxiety that is hard to shake. These life-altering episodes can cause chaos in the lives of people living with PTSD.

Such traumatic incidents shake the foundation of the individual’s sense of security and stability, often resulting in profound emotional, physical, and psychological reactions.

Re-Experiencing Symptoms: The Past as the Present

Flashbacks, nightmares, and frightening thoughts constitute this category. These are moments where individuals relive the trauma, blurring the lines between past and present. A car backfiring could catapult a veteran back to the battlefield, or a simple touch could drag a survivor back to their assault. It’s a visceral and involuntary recall, placing the person squarely back in their moment of horror.

Avoidance Symptoms: The Art of Steering Clear

This involves the deliberate evasion of reminders of the trauma. Individuals find themselves steering away from places, events, and objects associated with the distressing experience. It could be as drastic as changing one’s route to work avoiding a particular building, or as subtle as suppressing thoughts or emotions that could trigger memories of the event.

Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms: On Constant Alert

People with PTSD may appear on edge, exhibiting heightened startle responses, tension, restlessness, or anger. They’re in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight, their bodies taut with the anticipation of a threat. This constant alertness can be exhausting, fraying their nerves and straining their relationships.

Cognition and Mood Symptoms: The Shadow Over the Psyche

These symptoms involve changes in emotional well-being and thought patterns. It may manifest as difficulty remembering aspects of the traumatic event, harboring negative beliefs about oneself or the world, relentless feelings of guilt or blame, or a disinterest in previously enjoyed activities. It’s as if a cloud settles over the person’s perceptions and feelings.

Do You Struggle With Any Of These Symptoms?

Unveiling the Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Alleviating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms

PTSD manifests as a complex cluster of psychological symptoms following an individual’s exposure to traumatic life altering circumstances. These harrowing experiences imprint themselves on the person’s psyche, often triggering a cycle of intrusive recollections, emotional turmoil, and disruptive behavior patterns. This profound impact not only impedes daily functioning but also permeates the interpersonal dynamics of those surrounding the affected individual.

Does PTSD Qualify For A Medical Marijuana Card?

Yes, it is one of a long list of medical conditions that qualify you for a medical marijuana card. If you’re looking for an alternative to prescription meds, there are a variety of cannabis products on the market that may help.

Medical Cannabis: A Paradigm Shift in PTSD Management

The incorporation of medical cannabis in PTSD treatment transcends mere symptomatic relief, addressing the very epicenter of traumatic recollections. Contrary to the common perception of its role in tension reduction and sleep regulation, its influence is far more nuanced and transformative.

The ongoing evolution of regulatory frameworks parallels the academic vigor in this realm, striving to optimize the intersection of medical cannabis with PTSD recovery. This dynamic landscape reinforces the commitment to enhancing life quality for PTSD sufferers through medical cannabis, a modality lauded for its heightened effectiveness and minimized adverse aftermaths.

How Does Marijuana Help PTSD?

Neuroscientific Underpinnings of Cannabinoids in Trauma Mitigation

The brilliance of medical cannabis lies in its rich cannabinoid content, targeting the neural substrates of learning and memory. By interacting with cannabinoid receptors in the brain, specifically CB1 receptors, medical cannabis facilitates a dampening of traumatic memory resurgence. This neuro-chemical intervention alleviates anxiety episodes and attenuates the symptomatic expression of PTSD, thus emancipating individuals into a life unshackled from traumatic subjugation.

Traditional treatment modalities, albeit beneficial, often fall short of holistic success, marred by partial efficacy and a spectrum of undesirable side-effects. In contrast, burgeoning research, including a pivotal study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, presents a decrease in PTSD symptoms in chronic combat treatment-resistant PTSD patients.

Holding a farmer holding a cannabis leaf

Neuroscientific Underpinnings of Cannabinoids in Trauma Mitigation

Navigating the Medical Cannabis Authorization Landscape for PTSD

While medical cannabis heralds a new era in PTSD therapy, it necessitates a highly individualized approach. Its suitability is contingent upon several patient-specific factors, excluding individuals with antecedent psychiatric conditions, certain physiological contraindications, and specific vulnerable populations.

The Prerequisites for Medical Cannabis Accreditation

The acquisition of a medical cannabis card for PTSD is governed by state law and anchored by psychiatric provider endorsement. It is imperative that this therapeutic avenue is only explored following the inadequacy of conventional interventions or if the consumer is against prescription narcotics and wants to experience plant medicine. The healthcare provider certification process is followed by recommendations of strains, dosage, consumption method, and potency tailored to each patient’s unique medical narrative.

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Envisioning a Trauma-Informed Future

The journey from the trenches of trauma to the liberation of recovery is fraught with challenges. Medical cannabis represents a beacon of hope in this therapeutic odyssey, offering a scientifically substantiated, patient-centric approach. As we stand on the cusp of this medical revolution, continuous research and nuanced understanding of cannabis’s role in PTSD are paramount. It is through this lens of innovation, empathy, and scientific rigor that we can envision a future where the shackles of trauma are unbound, and the human spirit is free to thrive in its full potential.

The Journey Through Trauma: More Than a Checklist

The path to recovery begins with understanding that PTSD is more than a checklist of symptoms; it’s a complex interplay of memory, emotion, and survival instinct. Recognizing the signs is the first step toward seeking help. From therapy to medication, treatment is multifaceted, offering a beacon of hope to those grappling with the disorder.

For the friends and family of those suffering, empathy and support can be a lifeline. Being informed about PTSD dissolves stigma, paving the way for open conversations and healing. Ultimately, understanding PTSD heralds a message of resilience: though the journey may be steeped in struggle, every step forward is a triumph over the past’s shadows.

When Convential PTSD Treatment Options Fail: Consider Medical Marijuana

Each individual’s experience with trauma is unique, and not everyone exposed to these events develops PTSD. The development of PTSD depends on a multitude of factors, including the individual’s emotional resilience, the presence of a support system, past experiences with trauma, and biological factors. Regardless of the origin, recognizing the signs and seeking timely and appropriate professional help is crucial to managing the symptoms and improving the quality of life for those afflicted with PTSD.
If you decide you’re ready to give cannabis a try, you can get your Medical Marijuana Card easily with a PTSD diagnosis.
Call the doctors at 1Body1Life to learn more.

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