Introduction
People have both visible and invisible diseases, in other words, diseases of the mind. The causes of mental illness are different for each person, but the intensity of the illness and how to resolve or alleviate it are not easy. In this article, we will talk about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), one of the mental illnesses, and easy ways to relieve it.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which a person experiences flashbacks and anxiety symptoms that have nothing to do with his or her own will, and/or loses a sense of reality due to the pain he or she has experienced in the past.
A good way to deal with PTSD
Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently suffer from severe anxiety symptoms. To cope with or avoid these intense anxiety symptoms, PTSD sufferers tend to use drugs and alcohol. Other symptoms include nightmares, negative thoughts, flashbacks, and startle reactions. The effects of these symptoms can cause anxiety and make daily life difficult. However, there are healthy ways to deal with PTSD that do not involve drugs or excessive alcohol use that can relieve the anxiety symptoms. These methods can not only lessen the intensity of the anxiety but also help build tolerance. The following are a few of them:
Deep breathing
Breathing has a very important role that can contribute to the stress response. Many people also do not breathe correctly.
Proper breathing is closely related to the diaphragm, a muscle in the abdomen. Breathing correctly expands the abdomen, and exhaling causes it to contract. However, not practicing this breathing technique can cause anxiety and stress. However, by doing this breathing exercise, you can prevent the above-mentioned things from happening.
Expressive writing
Writing down your thoughts and feelings is a very effective way to cope with PTSD. Writing in writing allows you to process your thoughts and feelings and pain, and may also help you to deal with anxiety and other issues.
Thus, putting one’s feelings in writing can have a significant positive impact, such as helping to find meaning in past traumas and making the patient’s subsequent life more positive.
Activate behavior
Expanding and increasing one’s activities can be very helpful in avoiding anxiety by making the patient feel more positive and reducing anxiety symptoms. Such a positive attitude may also make the patient’s later life more colorful and fulfilling.
The way to do this is to write a list of things you want to do on a piece of paper. For example:
- Do some reading
- Do some decluttering
- Go shopping
- Go see a movie you’ve been meaning to see
Make a daily or weekly list of even the most trivial things, such as going to Starbucks for a new drink, and keep track of your accomplishments (Tull, 2020).
Conclusion
There are a variety of easy ways to tackle this issue, and it is sometimes possible for a person to find one that suits him or herself.
Reference
・Tull, M. (2020). 9 Ways to Relieve Your Anxiety Associated With PTSD. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-of-coping-with-anxiety-2797619 [Accessed 23 Oct. 2022].
