The Five Kinds of PTSD

Statistics vary, but as many as half of car crash survivors may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This figure is much more certain. Car wrecks are the leading non-combat cause of PTSD in the United States. PTSD symptoms, such as depression, anger, and flashbacks, make it practically impossible to function on a daily basis.

PTSD is a brain injury, just like a blow to the head. Extreme dress, such as a car crash, creates a chemical imbalance in the brain. That imbalance causes the aforementioned symptoms.

A Carlsbad personal injury lawyer can obtain compensation for head injuries and other car accident-related injuries. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are available as well, in a few extreme cases.

Normal Stress Response

Usually, NSR is a pre-PTSD injury.. However, it does not always lead up to the full-blown disorder. For example, events like accidents, injuries, illnesses, surgeries and other sources of unreasonable amounts of tension and stress can all lead to this response. Typically, normal stress response can be effectively managed with the support of loved ones, peers and individual or group therapy sessions. Individuals suffering from normal stress response should see a recovery within a few weeks.

Acute Stress Disorder

ASD isn’t very common among car crash victims, so San Marcos personal injury lawyers don’t deal with it very much. It is common among people who go through what feels like a life-threatening event. Natural disasters, loss of loved ones, or job loss. If left untreated, acute stress disorder may actually develop into PTSD. Acute stress disorder can be treated through individual and group therapy, medication and intensive treatments designed by a psychiatrist.

Uncomplicated PTSD

A single traumatic event causes uncomplicated PTSD. It’s also the easiest form of PTSD to treat. Symptoms of uncomplicated PTSD include avoidance of trauma reminders, nightmares, flashbacks, irritability, moodswings, and relationship changes. Uncomplicated PTSD can be treated through therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD is the opposite of uncomplicated PTSD. It is caused by multiple traumatic events, not just one. Complex PTSD is common in abuse or domestic violence cases, repeated exposure to war or community violence, or sudden loss. While they share the same symptoms, treatment of complex PTSD is a little more intense than uncomplicated PTSD.

In addition to PTSD, these individuals often have behavioral issues, such as impulsivity, aggression, substance abuse or sexual impulsivity. They can also exhibit extreme emotional issues, such as intense rage, depression or panic.

Comorbid PTSD

Comorbid PTSD is a blanket term for co-occurring disorder that applies when a person has more than one mental health concern, often coupled with substance abuse issues. Comorbid PTSD is extremely common, as many people suffer from more than one condition at a time. Best results are achieved when both the commingling mental health condition and the comorbid PTSD are treated at the same time.

Many people who suffer from any of the five types of PTSD try to treat it on their own, usually via self-medication with drugs and/or alcohol. Using drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the pain works in the short term. But over the long term, it makes things worse and prolongs treatment.

Count on a Detail-Oriented San Diego County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Marcos, contact the Pursley Law Firm. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.

Source:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5779792/