Hyperarousal, complications after a traumatic event

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health disorder that can be experienced by someone who has experienced or witnessed events that cause trauma. People with PTSD experience bothersome stress and anxiety, and are often related to the trauma they experienced even though it has passed and the environment is fine.

Over time, the effects of PTSD can appear more severe, causing a physical alertness such as during trauma. This is known as hyperarousal.

What is hyperarousal?

Hyperarousal condition is one of three impacts experienced by PTSD sufferers besides mood disorders and anxiety. This is marked by various symptoms caused by the physical condition of the person with PTSD to be alert when they remember or think about the trauma they have experienced. The main effect of a hyperarousal condition is that the body is in constant chronic stress.

Hyperarousal is a common symptom experienced by people with PTSD. This condition is also not limited to adulthood. Children who have experienced trauma may also be hyperarousal and may develop serious mental health problems at a later age.

Hyperarousal symptoms and features

Sleep disturbances and nightmares are the main symptoms when a person with PTSD is hyperarousal. This condition is also accompanied by various other disorders such as:

• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling the void (numb)
• Irritable or aggressive
• Experiencing explosive or impulsive emotions
• It's easy to feel scared and panic
• Experiencing panic attacks
• Unprecedented risk behavior has emerged, such as speeding on the road and consuming too much alcohol
• Feeling or showing an attitude of guilt or shame
• Always looks alert as if he is in danger (hypervigilance)
• Easy to feel pain or tenderness
• Feeling your heart always beating.

How can hyperarousal occur?

Hyperarousal occurs when the body's response and anxiety increases when seeing or being exposed to a trigger Flash back the source of the trauma. Things that cause trauma can vary, from experiencing physical and sexual violence, mental stress while in a state of conflict or war, accidents, torture, to natural disasters.

However, not all traumatic events and PTSD conditions are hyperarousal. There are several risk factors that make it easier for a person to become hyperarousal:

• Experiencing an event that causes prolonged trauma
• Traumatic events experienced at a very young age such as violence as a child
• Work in occupations that are likely to cause traumatic events, such as soldiers, firefighters, or medical personnel dealing with emergencies
• Have a history of mental health problems such as anxiety disorders and depression
• Have committed substance abuse such as alcohol and drugs
• Has insufficient social support from friends and family
• Have a family history of mental health disorders.

Long term effects of hyperarousal conditions

Hyperaousal itself is only an impact of PTSD, so long-term causes tend to be caused by uncontrolled PTSD conditions.

PTSD can interfere with various aspects of life from work to personal life and physical health. A person who experiences feelings of trauma is more at risk for depression and alcohol and drug dependence. These disorders can also lead to eating disorders and suicidal tendencies.

How to deal with hyperarousal

What can be done to minimize hyperarousal intensity is to undergo therapy to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety due to PTSD. Taking drugs to reduce emotional stimuli, as well as long-term use of anti-depressants, may also be needed to suppress hyperarousal symptoms.

Apart from medication, psychiatric therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are also needed to prevent excessive stimulus responses. Treatment therapy also tends to be more effective and more widely used because it works in several ways, namely:

• Increase the self-confidence of people with PTSD
• Helps cultivate a positive outlook on life
• Teach coping skills to deal with traumatic stimuli or to cope with PTSD symptoms when they arise
• Address other issues related to PTSD conditions such as depression and substance dependence.

It is important to realize that PTSD is a mental health disorder that tends to last a lifetime and cannot be completely cured. Thus, the stimulus and effects of trauma need to be handled and controlled on an ongoing basis.