Why Some People Develop PTSD and Others Don’t
Preventing PTSD after Trauma
PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, is a mental condition triggered by a scary event. A car accident, loss of a loved one, sexual assault, abuse, disaster, terror attack, medical emergency, or trauma like a woman and/or her partner may experience during the birthing process can trigger emotions and symptoms that can develop into PTSD.
It is natural to feel afraid and our fight or flight response may help us avoid and respond to potential danger. A freeze response sometimes prevents us from reacting which can increase the feelings of trauma. After an incident, symptoms of emotional distress can include intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood and thinking, and/or extreme emotional and physical reactions. Sometimes these lessen with time, but prolonged symptoms can signal PTSD.
Many associate PTSD with veterans but anyone can develop PTSD. The National Center for PTSD estimates that 7-8% of people experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. One in three women experience birth trauma. Other factors for developing the disorder are less well understood but data shows there are situations that make us more susceptible to PTSD.
Why some people develop PTSD may include:
- Genetic Disposition – The exact genetic markers that make us more likely to develop PTSD have not been found. Two brain chemicals may play a part. These include Stathmin and GRP, gastrin-releasing peptide. Stathmin allows formation of fearful memories and GRP controls the fear responses. Genetics of protein production of levels of Stathmin and GRP could play a role.
- Brain Chemistry – High levels of Stathmin controlling memory formation and lower levels of GRP may play a part in development of PTSD. If levels of Stathmin persist it may cause symptoms associated with PTSD.
- Experience Related to the Traumatic Event – What defines a traumatic event is not always clear. What seems traumatic to one person may not affect another person. We define a traumatic event in view of the person experiencing it, that they feel scared, helpless, and hopeless. Different events trigger these emotions in people to greater and lesser degrees perhaps due to prior life experience.
- History of Mental Illness – Those with a history of mental illness such as schizophrenia or depression are more likely to develop PTSD following an event.
- Stress After the Traumatic Event – If stress continues after an event, this can increase negative experience and compound feelings. The aftermath of a trauma, like dealing with a death or critical injury, can prolong experiencing it and make a bigger imprint of the negative memories and feelings in one’s mind.
Even though we know these factors can predispose someone to developing PTSD, there are actions you can take to lessen the chances of developing PTSD. Studies show several things can be helpful in prevention long term symptoms of PTSD including:
- Seeking Help – Those who seek out a medical or mental health professional to talk about their experience and feelings early on are less likely to develop PTSD.
- Joining a Support Group – Talking with others who experienced similar events and situations dramatically reduces risk of PTSD. Support groups for a range of traumas can be found online.
- Creating a Coping Strategy – Those who find coping strategies to deal with their memories and negative emotions generally recover quicker from trauma.
- Feeling Confident About Actions Taken During the Event – Those people who accept and view the actions they took during the event as positive tend to be less likely to develop PTSD. Talking about your reaction to the trauma can increase feelings of confidence in your actions.
PTSD can seriously impact quality of life for you and your family. A woman and/or her partner that experience PTSD after a birth put not only themselves in jeopardy by not seeking help, but also their baby and other children. Women who experience birth trauma may avoid medical facilities and care, have problems breastfeeding and/or bonding with their child, lose interest in their relationship with a partner, and avoid family members. There are many who have gone through birth trauma. Talking about your feelings about your birth experience is of utmost importance. If you find talking to a friend or family member is not enough and symptoms do not resolve within a few weeks, seek professional help.
Learn more about birth trauma and PTSD in my blog posts on Recovering from Birth Trauma, Postnatal PTSD, Depression or PTSD?, and One Mother’s Birth Story.
If you have suicidal thoughts or are in immediate risk
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, get help right away through one or more of these resources:
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
- Contact a minister, a spiritual leader, or someone in your faith community.
- Call a suicide hotline number — in the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor.
- Make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional.
- Call 911
Danielle Older, MSW, LISW-S, CCTP
Danielle is one of our maternal mental health therapists and the founder of River Root Counseling. Her therapeutic style is individual, evidence-based, and tailored to best serve each individual client. Danielle will work with you, at your pace, cheering you on and empowering you as you accomplish your therapeutic goals. Danielle values the therapeutic relationship and works to make each session beneficial and helpful for her clients. Danielle is a mother herself and understands the roller coaster that parenting, and motherhood, can sometimes feel like.
Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (Ohio) – I.2002068-SUPV
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Bachelor’s of Social Work – University of Akron
Master’s in Social Work – Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Schedule a consultation here.
Call River Root at 330-575-4563