Decoding the common PTSD symptoms in young men

PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder has become a common mental health ailment. It is more common than it was earlier. There are many reasons behind it. Societal, genetic, and environmental. It has resulted in some instances in substance abuse and addiction. 

Traumatic incidents are another contributing factor.  There are many young adults who experience some form of trauma during their early childhood and college years. Some youngsters get over it quickly, they adopt a pragmatic approach. Soon they forget about the incident or learn to deal with it.  

However, in many instances, due to the lack of proper support, in the days following a traumatic incident, youngsters find themselves deep-rooted in the trauma. This could have an adverse impact on their general well-being. 

Even their day-to-day functioning could be impacted. This is generally true for youngsters who are more sensitive than the rest. They could find their lives impacted by a traumatic event. By the definition of psychiatrists,  a traumatic incident could be a school shooting, abuse by an elder, even watching a loved one go through a traumatic experience like a drug overdose, and sometimes losing a loved one to a disease like cancer.

Each of these incidents could cause one to shut off. To deny reality. It is here that a psychologist or a psychiatrist is required – to bring them up-to-date with the real world.

PTSD is common in both young men and women

While PTSD is as common in young men as in young women, due to societal impositions, it is harder to detect the symptoms of PTSD in young men. With males being expected to practice restraint and not express their feelings in as candid manner as women, many times PTSD in young males goes undetected which can have a negative impact on their mental and physical well-being. 

For young teens – both male and female who do not have adequate family support, it is often difficult to begin life anew after a trauma. In many instances, it has also been observed that the trauma does not rear up immediately but surfaces after months. Sometimes it is apparent after years when some trigger sounds off. 

Here, we will highlight the importance of remaining vigilant, timely check-ups, and PTSD treatment. We will also address how PTSD therapy can help youngsters regain control and conquer the condition. 

After all, the main motto of mental health is to ensure that no one goes through with life without receiving appropriate treatment and support and there is no reason youngsters afflicted with the condition live with a trauma. Overall, there is a need for vigilance and attention post any traumatic experience. But first understand what exactly is PTSD. 

Defining PTSD

To define it, PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is quite simply a psycho-somatic condition. It is a psychological development which causes people to behave in an unprecedented way. They could either go numb, or develop tics, or behave in an impulsive manner. This condition surfaces in many people. Both young and old succumb to the aftermath of an event or an experience that they find to be shocking or dangerous. 

PTSD is a matter of concern  

First, is the stage of denial. It is natural for the conscious mind to deny that such an event could have happened. Secondly, as the individual grapples with the shock or sense of loss, the human being inevitably closes in on resources that are available to deal with the event. They choose either to forget the incident or become fearful as the body’s fight and flight mechanism closes as the response to the new situation. While such a response could be healthy initially as it helps the individual to deal with the grief, anger, sadness or sense of loss, prolonged fight and flight mechanism or denial is unhealthy. 

Sadly, PTSD is more common than we would like to believe. According to the National Center for PTSD, which is run by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, 6 in hundred experience PTSD sometime or the other. While the exact reasons behind the development of PTSD are yet unknown, experts believe socio-psychological conditioning and also genetic traits could be responsible for the development and advancement of the condition in both adult men and women. Hence a need to know the symptoms so that help is readily available to those who could need it.

The signs and symptoms of PTSD in young men:

As we mentioned earlier, it is not easy to spot the signs and symptoms of PTSD in young men compared to women as the male gender is not forthcoming when it comes to displaying emotions or opening about their feelings. However, with the help of experienced staff, social workers, care givers, etc., it is possible to find out how people feel. Some of the predominant symptoms include:

Personality changes: Becoming more reserved. It is often observed that young males who are undergoing a PTSD disorder draw themselves into a cocoon. We have also seen how happy-go-lucky youngsters and teens returning from the frontline become a pale shadow of themselves after having experienced the trauma and shock of war in person. 

Frequent nightmares:

It is quite common to experience nightmares wherein the traumatic experience is relieved. Youngsters undergoing a trauma could find themselves waking up in cold sweat after experiencing the traumatic incident. They might have difficulty sleeping which could further pressurize them into taking up some form of substance abuse.    

Experiencing flashbacks:

Like nightmares, flashbacks are common symptoms of PTSD in young men. However, unlike nightmares, flashbacks could happen even during the daytime and result in the same set of symptoms, cold sweat, beating heart and racing pulse. 

This symptom of PTSD must be taken seriously because if it is not tackled timely it could become a lifelong concern – for example, a tragic incident at school could result in the youngster avoiding classes completely.     

Avoiding crowds and other triggers of the trauma:

Along with the denial tactic, avoidance tactic is also noticed in young victims of a tragic or traumatic event. With proper guidance from a counsellor or a social worker, it is possible to move over. However, failure to address these two tactics could hinder the ability to move on.     

Having difficulty sleeping:

While sleep is necessary for mental and physical well-being, people living with PTSD often have trouble sleeping as their brain or mind is preoccupied with multiple things. They are prone to anxiety and panic attacks and often have trouble sleeping at night. 

Apart from taking advice from a counsellor, it is essential to practice healthy lifestyle practices and ensure that there is a proper bed-time routine for ensuring that one gets solid eight to ten hours of sleep at night. 

Having trouble concentrating:

A PTSD disorder takes away the ability to concentrate and focus on things. As there are multiple thoughts racing through the brain when the flight and fight response mechanism is alerted. 

Young men with symptoms of PTSD go into a panic-mode once the triggers are alerted when they become incapable of speaking, and the brain freezes, and they experience excessive palpitations and sweating. 

While this could be a symptom of denial and dissociation, it is also seen that people with PTSD engage in impulsive acts and reckless behaviour. This is partly due to the fight and flight mechanism and partly due to substance abuse that makes them act differently.

Also, vets who have been on the war front are in a state of constant alert and have trouble sleeping at night, while young men who have been abused as teens feel a sense of shame or guilt and could go to the extent of withdrawing completely from social life. However, the good news is that one does not have to be this way forever. With therapy and proper counselling and even appropriate medication PTSD can be tackled.   

Getting back to normal: How PTSD therapy for young men is helpful for getting them back on track     

Once the symptoms of PTSD in young men are diagnosed it is important to seek counsel from a doctor. For diagnosis, it is important that within a month, the following symptoms must arise: One – a re-experiencing or a re-living symptom, an avoidance symptom, a couple of incidents related to arousal and also a couple of mood or cognition-related symptoms.

While Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT has been the cornerstone of PTSD treatment for ages, there are others such as EMDR that relies on rapid eye movement and taps and sounds to help the afflicted young man understand where the problem lies and help them tackle it more effectively. 

What’s new in PTSD treatment

Therapies such as CBT are insightful as they help individuals delve into the past traumatic incident, address the fears and help them deal with it in a controlled and safe environment. Today, with Artificial Intelligence and AR and VR related effects, it is easier than ever before to provide a controlled and immersive experience for resolution of PTSD Related fears. All that one needs to do is reach out and seek help before it is too late.