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PTSD — Could you or someone you know
be suffering?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can occur after someone has been through or has witnessed a major trauma – typically a high-stress, shocking, dangerous event or circumstance. The person is often left feeling scared, helpless and emotionally fragile.
The good news is there are treatments for PTSD, and addressing it early is essential. Knowing how to recognize it and offer support is an important first step.
Some common traumatic events that lead to PTSD include:
- Military combat or war
- Sexual abuse and violence
- Assault or psychological abuse (child abuse, elder abuse, neglect)
- Natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires)
- Car or plane crashes
- Sudden, tragic death of a loved one
Seeking social support and professional counseling are important ways to help prevent or recover from PTSD. Stress and uncertainty around the event can make PTSD more likely.
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What to watch for
Each person’s reaction and experience with PTSD is different. For some people, symptoms may start soon after the event. For others, symptoms may not appear for months or even years later. Still others may never develop PTSD despite a devastating experience.
People who suffer with PTSD often:
- Have bad memories, nightmares, flashbacks and/or feelings of intense distress, especially when faced with any reminders of the traumatic event
- Avoid settings or situations that might trigger painful memories of the event – often to escape the reality of what happened
- Lose interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Feel on-edge, anxious or easily startled along with other physical signs of stress
- Are overcome with negative thoughts or changes in mood
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Treatment and ways to cope
It’s a process and varies based on the individual, but it’s important to get help and talk with a health professional who specializes in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. Start by speaking with your primary care team or on-site clinic provider.
It can also help to:
- Learn about PTSD. The sooner someone is able to confront the traumatic experience and learn about PTSD, the more likely they will feel equipped to face it head on.
- Keep tabs on anxiety levels. Recognizing how you feel in certain situations will help you anticipate and manage triggers.
- Find support. Talking with other people with PTSD who’ve been successful in moving forward in positive ways can be helpful. There are also many PTSD support groups.
- Find ways to cope and build resilience. For example, by volunteering, spending time in nature, journaling, practicing deep breathing, avoiding alcohol or drugs, walking with a friend, and being around positive people. These activities can help the person feel more in control, calm and safe. Many of these activities also offer a healthy distraction.
- Take medicines, if prescribed by your health care team.
- Eat healthy and prioritize sleep.
- Confide in people you trust.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call, text or chat 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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Get the Most Out of Life - 8 Health Tips for Men
Men die an average of 5 years before women, despite the fact that women experience more stress, depression and anxiety, a higher prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, and are more likely to be victims of violence.
The good news is there are actions men can take to counter some of the life-shortening effects of their gender.
- Know your family history. Knowing your family’s health history is important, particularly for heart disease, prostate cancer, colon cancer and sleep apnea – conditions men are particularly prone to. A family history of certain diseases can mean you are more likely to develop them yourself.
- Go to the doctor. Annual physicals and health screenings are important. Find a primary care doctor and get checked regularly, even if you’re in your 20s or 30s. There are things you can do to be healthier and catch problems early on when they are more treatable. Your on-site clinic provider may also be able to provide this service.
- Follow your heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the U.S. But what’s truly alarming is that half of the men who die suddenly from heart disease had no prior symptoms.
- Sleep right. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Too much or too little sleep has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, depression and more. If you’re having trouble sleeping or you wake up tired, you may have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing stops and starts while you sleep.
- Mind your mental health. Nearly 1 in 10 men experience some form of depression or anxiety, but less than half seek treatment. So, if you’re struggling, you are not alone. Regular exercise, journaling and finding a professional you can talk to are some of the proven ways you can manage depression and anxiety.
- Be aware of testosterone levels. As men age, they often make less testosterone, their main sex hormone. Low testosterone can cause a variety of health problems such as erectile disfunction and low sex drive. Discuss any concerns with your doctor who can check your testosterone level with a simple blood test.
- Stay hydrated. You need water to keep every cell, tissue and organ in your body working properly. Most men need about 15 1/2 cups of fluid a day.
- Become a weekend warrior. If your job has you sitting or standing most of the week with no time for the 30 minutes of exercise recommended for each day, you can protect yourself from the injuries that sudden calls to weekend action can cause. Try warming up, stretching, wearing the right shoes, hydrating, being realistic about what you can truly do and listening to your body.
Most of all, remember: YOU are the key to a healthy life.
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Teladoc Health
In addition to your on-site care clinic, Ralph Lauren offers condition management health services through Teladoc. Discover care and support for chronic conditions with smart devices, expert coaches and easy-to-follow, personalized plans.
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