Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome vs. Garden-Variety Stress

What is a trauma?

Traumatic stress is the cluster of distressing symptoms.  A trauma is an overwhelming event or situation that forces a person to develop a cluster of symptoms.  It is called posttraumatic stress because it often has a delayed onset. Many New Yorkers who seemed to be doing well after the September 11 attacks began to develop major problems months later.

Post traumatic stress syndrome is often referred to as posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD.  People who suffer from  it often don't know what it is, but the are highly aware of panic attacks, anxiety, depression symptoms, and relationship difficulties that are it's notorious effects.  In this article, I want to describe the most basic, clinical definition of post traumatic stress syndrome as most mental health practitioner think of it.

What is Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Most often referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, post traumatic stress syndrome is the persistent or delayed reaction to a life-threatening event that involves:

1. reexperiencing the event in distressing ways (nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, depression)
2. various tricks of the mind to avoid any reminders of the event
3. symptoms that show that the person is much more keyed up than they used to be (sleep problems, irritability, outbursts of anger, exaggerated startle response).

This type of stress becomes a disorder when it negatively impacts one’s life in significant ways. When this happens it is often referred to as post traumatic stress syndrome or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What is the Difference Between Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Good Ole' Fashioned Stress?

While stress is part of everyone's life in some way, post traumatic stress syndrome is a particular pattern of stress that creates distress even when there is no obvious source of stress in the situation.  Normal, everyday stress is something everyone deals with off and on throughout life.  Stress is how our bodies react to the ever changing external influences in our lives. Depending on how we view it, stress can be positive or negative.  Most of the time when we feel stressed, we know it.  We can consciously say, "I am stressed out."  But sometimes, our bodies do the talking for us loud and clear.

There are many physical symptoms that can be stress-related:
headaches
muscle tension
poor sleep patterns
rashes
high blood pressure
chest pain
stroke
stomachaches
ulcers
possibly diabetes
possibly certain types of cancer


Mental symptoms can include:
anxiety
panic attacks
depression
suicidal thoughts
paranoid thoughts
apathy
relationship issues

There are many acceptable ways of dealing with stress and it's a matter of finding what will work in each case.  When nothing works, then it's good to consider the possibility of post traumatic stress syndrome.   The reason for this is that post traumatic stress syndrome seems to resist many of the more common attempts at stress relief. 

It would be wise to learn several coping techniques so that if one doesn't work, another can be tried.  Sometimes it will take several of the techniques to make a dent in the stress.  Everyone is different in what they consider stressful and in how they handle stressful situations.  Stress can never be totally avoided, and some stress is good because it helps us to grow.  Stress can be caused by a loved one's death as well as a move to a bigger house or starting a great new job. Short term stress is easier to manage because the end is in sight and the person knows it's temporary.  When stress is seen as long-term, such as a life-long disability, the person needs to learn ways to handle the stress.  Post traumatic stress syndrome, on the other hand, requires specialized approaches and techniques in order to find  lift the symptoms.

Meditation is a huge stress reliever as well as a stress preventative.  Meditation can be practiced for short time periods and still be effective.  Keeping the routine going is key. Exercise is a good coping mechanism, especially when the "flight or fight" response is racing through the body.  Taking a brisk walk, running up some stairs, playing a game of racquetball, or following an exercise tape can work.  Sometimes the answer is a vacation to give the body a break from the stress and give the mind a chance to have a fresh perspective on the situation.  Even just a day off doing something entertaining can mean a decrease in stress levels.

Talk it out with an understanding and empathetic friend.  It feels like such a relief to get it "off your chest", as long as both people then move on and don't keep rehashing it.

What triggers the stress?  Examine the triggers and put a name to them so that they're not lurking in the subconscious.  Sometimes it's best to walk away or avoid situations that can become stressful.  But often avoidance prevents the development of coping mechanisms and use of relaxation techniques.  For example, if hearing a lot of city noises makes you uptight and tense, then you may benefit from consciously practicing relaxation and stress-reduction techniques while you are in the situation.  But if city noises trigger panic attacks, or some other involuntary, overwhelming, and all-consuming reaction, then you may want to be evaluated for post traumatic stress syndrome.

There are times when it's best to seek help from a qualified professional.  They can offer even more positive methods of dealing with stress and can evaluate whether or not you are dealing with run-of-the-mill stress or post traumatic stress syndrome.

Some stress is a natural part of everyone's life and even helps us to take action and grow.  When your body is giving you physical or mental signs of too much stress, be kind to yourself and try the coping methods mentioned in this article.