What are the 4 Major Clusters of PTSD?
Trauma touches our lives more than we know. An untimely death of a parent or loved one, a car accident, a natural disaster, a life-threatening health diagnosis, an assault, or combat exposure—these are examples of traumas that happen every day around the world. While most people fully recover from trauma, some do not. In some people, trauma-related symptoms persist—or show up months or years later—and develop into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But PTSD is not one single disorder. There are four groups or “clusters” of symptoms that indicate a problem. Gaining a basic understanding of them may help you or someone you love get treatment sooner.
PTSD is not one single disorder. There are four groups or “clusters” of symptoms that indicate a problem. Gaining a basic understanding of them may help you or someone you love get treatment sooner.
BASICS ABOUT PTSD
PTSD is defined as a psychiatric disorder that involves intense distress and disruption in one’s life after exposure to a traumatic experience. Anyone, including children, can be exposed to trauma and potentially develop PTSD, whether they experience the trauma themselves, personally witness it happen to someone else, or learn that a loved one had a traumatic event. First responders (firefighters, police, and EMTs) and combat veterans, who are routinely exposed to trauma, are at the highest risk of PTSD. Immediately following a traumatic event, most people experience any number of stress-response symptoms, including sadness, anxiousness, agitation, fatigue, numbness, confusion, physical arousal (high adrenaline), and more. Normally, these feelings subside with time. The body slowly comes down out of its heightened arousal in the days and weeks following the event. The internal alarms turn off and the body can reset itself to a normal state of balance. However, with PTSD persistent symptoms or clusters of symptoms can occur for a month or longer—or they can appear sometimes months or years later. PTSD can develop in anyone as a response to traumatic events; it is not a sign of personal weakness. Research indicates that women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD, in part, due to a higher likelihood of being victims of adult and child sexual abuse. People who struggle with depression or anxiety, or who have little social support may be more likely to develop PTSD—and some may be genetically predisposed.HOW COMMON IS PTSD?
It’s estimated that 70 percent of people worldwide will experience a trauma in their lifetime, according to one published world survey. In the U.S., the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) estimates that roughly 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives. It’s estimated that roughly 6% of Americans suffer from PTSD. When PTSD goes untreated, it can affect all aspects of an individual’s functioning causing a wide array of serious symptoms and even leading to suicide.CONSEQUENCES OF PTSD
PTSD is a serious disorder with far-reaching consequences. Indeed, studies have shown that PTSD puts one at greater risk for substance use disorder, anxiety, suicidal behavior, high-risk behaviors, depression, and a number of serious health issues and mental health disorders. Work performance and social relationships in the family, workplace, and community can also be adversely affected, according to research. It can affect loved ones too. It’s not uncommon among spouses of veterans with PTSD, to experience PTSD symptoms as well. It’s vital to be able to recognize the symptoms of PTSD.THE FOUR SYMPTOM CLUSTERS OF PTSD
With PTSD diagnosis, individuals typically experience one or two or more of the symptoms listed in each group or cluster listed below for one month or longer (and not as a result of medication, substance use, or illness). The symptoms are usually pronounced enough to cause considerable distress or difficulty in multiple areas of one’s life.1. Intrusive Thoughts or Memories
An individual with PTSD will experience one or more of the following symptoms:- Involuntary, reoccurring, intrusive, and distressing memories of the trauma
- Upsetting dreams or nightmares related to the event
- Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
- Intense emotional or physical reactions to a “trigger” (a reminder of the traumatic event)
2. Avoidance
An individual with PTSD will show at least one avoidant-type symptom such as:- Actively avoiding people, places, conversations, activities, objects, physical sensations (like smells or sounds) or situations that stir up memories of the trauma
- Avoidance of thoughts or feelings that trigger memories of the event
3. Negative Thought Patterns and Mood
An individual with PTSD will show at least two of the following negative thought patterns or moods:- Having a persistent negative emotional state such as having feelings of shame, anger, or fear—and having negative feelings about others and the world in general
- Feeling hopeless about the future
- Experiencing memory issues related to the event, unable to recall significant aspects of the trauma
- Trouble maintaining close relationships
- Being emotionally “numb”
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Difficulty feeling positive emotions such as love, joy, and humor
- Feeling detached from others
4. Changes in physical and emotional reactions
An individual with PTSD will have at least two of the following changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called “arousal” systems):- Being “jumpy,” easily startled, or frightened
- Always on guard for danger (hypervigilance)
- Exhibiting self-destructive or impulsive behavior
- Being irritable, or exhibiting angry or aggressive behavior or outbursts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame
