PTSD: What you should know about trauma
Many people are not even aware that they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and confuse the symptoms with every day stress or pressures of life.
THERE is a high prevalence of crime in South Africa, with police statistics suggesting that 52 people were murdered on a daily basis during the 2016/2017 financial year.
Women are murdered every four hours in South Africa, and in over 50 per cent of cases they are murdered by a partner, according to AfricaCheck.org. While SAPS statistics suggest that sexual assault has gone down – 39 828 rapes were reported during the 2016/2017 financial year.
House robberies have increased – with 22 343 reported incidents. Trauma is clearly all around us.
According to a study published in the South African Journal of Medicine in 2016, a quarter of people who experience a significant trauma may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is for this reason that the Northglen News caught up with the North Durban Victim Support Team at the Durban North police station to commemorate PTSD Awareness Month, observed in June.
PTSD is a condition people can develop in response to a traumatic event, such as a crime, an accident or even the loss of a loved one.
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Police, paramedics and firefighters are often diagnosed with PTSD due to being first responders and witnessing traumatic incidents on a daily basis.
Not all people respond the same to a traumatic event, warns one of the organisation’s debriefers, Mary Knox.
“In fact, some people might not even show any symptoms of PTDS for weeks or even months, until something triggers it. In other cases the victims’ lives are immediately debilitated by the condition,” she explained.
Knox also said there are many people who are not even aware that they suffer from PTSD, and confuse the symptoms with every day stress or pressures of life.
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One’s personality, the severity of the incident, the source (example human infliction or natural occurrence) and the expectancy of the event can affect a person’s response, said the Sunningdale resident.
Once the condition has developed it can take months or years for the person to recover. It is therefore important that people seek assistance as soon as possible (within 72 hours) after the incident.
“Talking is an effective method in preventing PTSD, and thus important that people not isolate themselves,” said fellow debriefer, Mari Pretorius, who is a registered social worker.
“Find a support base – pick people who have your back unconditionally – and talk to them. It is then vital that family and friends of victims support them and are aware how the victim personally deals with his or her trauma,” added the uMhlanga resident.
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“Eating healthily and getting sufficient sleep along with some exercise – even if it is just for 10 minutes to get the blood circulating – can be advantageous to those struggling with PTSD. This will enable the person to feel better and ultimately cope better,” she said.
Knox added that one of the first steps a victim of crime can take in dealing with their trauma is to report it.
“I have seen how taking back some element of control has helped empower a victim. It shows that the crime or trauma does not define them,” she said.
Contact the North Durban Victim Support Team on 066 483 8589.
Common symptoms of PTDS
– Flashbacks or replaying the trauma over in your head like a movie
– Severe anxiety or hypervigilance
– Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
– Guilt
– Loneliness or social isolation
– Destructive behaviour
– A number of emotions – agitation, irritability, hostility, sadness
– Insomnia or nightmares
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