Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health problem and living with PTSD can be stressful & overwhelming, as it impacts all aspects of life.
However, the initial question here is whether you have PTSD or not. So, if you get flashbacks and nightmares of past traumatic events, constantly worry about being judged, hypervigilance, feel numb, and have panic attacks, then you are likely to have PTSD.
You don’t have to worry about it, as I will guide you with helpful practices. Remember, the first step in recovering from trauma is to identify the root cause of PTSD. Yes, by nature PTSD makes it difficult to be around people. The constant feeling of all eyes on you indeed aggravates paranoid and hypervigilant symptoms of PTSD. Usually, diagnosis can take up to one month and treatment varies from person to person.
If you are needing advice on coping with flashbacks then I am here to guide you. I will be the first person to admit that dealing with PTSD is really difficult. Hence, the first and foremost thing you can do to relax your nerves and senses is to focus on your breathing. Believe me, this is very effective, breathe slowly in and out while counting to five. Another tip is to keep a diary and take notes of everything that happens. Furthermore, try the grounding techniques where counting objects really helps.
If nothing helps then many have found great comfort in becoming a part of the online mental health community and talking to an online doctor. Finding a licensed therapist to talk to is easier now. If necessary, an online primary care doctor can refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
Suffering from PTSD may make it hard to believe that the sun will rise again but with a good support system, medication and treatment, one can beat PTSD.
For further help with any of your concerns, speak with one of our experienced doctors at a time that is 100% convenient for you, and in the comfort of your own home.