PTSD flashbacks are intrusive reminders of a traumatic event that can persist for years and disrupt a patient’s life. Treatments include medication, therapy, and service animals. Flashbacks can cause extreme emotional distress and be triggered by specific stimuli. Therapy and medication can help patients manage PTSD, and service animals can provide assistance during a flashback.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) flashbacks are intrusive reminders of a traumatic event. They can emerge after trauma and can persist for years, often becoming disruptive to the patient’s life. Treatments are available to help people effectively manage PTSD flashbacks and other symptoms, such as avoidant behavior and depression. These can include medications and therapy with a specialist familiar with the condition, along with the use of a service animal to help the patient cope with specific problems.
The extent of a flashback can vary depending on the patient, the trauma, and the situation. Some people may experience unwelcome thoughts as sudden reminders of a traumatic situation, sometimes accompanied by sensations of seeing, hearing or smelling. A patient who survived an automobile accident, for example, might smell spilled fuel or hear the ticking of an engine. In some cases, severe PTSD flashbacks cause someone to feel that the event is being relived in real time, and the patient may begin to act out the events of the trauma.
Flashbacks can cause extreme emotional distress for patients and can be highly disruptive. They can occur randomly or in response to specific stimuli, which some patients refer to as “triggers.” These could include particular environments as well as other sensory stimuli. Someone with military-related PTSD, for example, may feel uncomfortable around helicopters, ceiling fans, and other equipment that may look or sound like a helicopter.
During PTSD flashbacks, patients may be unable to carry out activities of daily living and may become extremely agitated. Some respond by hiding or withdrawing, while others may become aggressive or agitated. Flashbacks can become disabling because the patient may be unable to attend school, go to work, care for children, and perform other activities. An evaluation can determine the extent of PTSD and help with developing an appropriate plan of care.
Some patients with PTSD flashbacks may find therapy helpful in processing the events of the trauma and developing specific coping skills to deal with flashbacks when they occur. Others may benefit from medications to manage depression and other psychiatric disorders. Service animals can also be helpful; a PTSD assistance dog, for example, can help a patient with hypervigilance during a PTSD flashback by checking a room or facility to confirm she’s safe, or can guide caregivers to a patient hiding in distress or fear.
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