Discussing Trauma and PTSD with Your Doctor
If you have been through a
traumatic event, you may find it helpful to tell this to your
doctor and report any symptoms you may have. Witnessing or
going through a trauma can lead to both emotional and physical
problems.
You
can help your doctor to understand you and plan your treatment
better by sharing this crucial information about yourself.
Not everyone who goes through trauma will get PTSD, but keep
in mind that good treatments are available even if you only
have some PTSD symptoms.
At
first, you may find it hard to discuss your experiences. For
this reason, National Center for PTSD staff have put together
the checklist below. You can print this page, complete this
list and show it to your doctor.
Check
the symptoms below that you experience. Include symptoms you
have even if you are not sure they are related to a traumatic
event.
I
experienced or witnessed a traumatic event during which I
felt extreme fear, helplessness, or horror.
The
event happened on (day/month/year) _______________.
What
happened? ________________________________________.
1)
I have symptoms of re-experiencing or reliving the traumatic
event:
Have bad dreams or nightmares about the event or something
similar to it
Behave or feel as if the event were happening all over again
(this is known as having flashbacks)
Have a lot of intense feelings when I am reminded of the event
Have a lot of physical sensations when I am reminded of the
event (for example, my heart races or pounds, I sweat, find
it hard to breathe, feel faint, feel like I'm going to lose
control)
2)
I have symptoms of avoiding reminders of the traumatic event:
Avoid thoughts, conversations, or feelings that remind me
about the event
Avoid people, places, or activities that remind me of the
event
Have trouble remembering some important part of the event
3)
I have noticed these symptoms since the event happened:
Have lost interest in, or just don't do, things that used
to be important to me
Feel detached from people; find it hard to trust people
Feel emotionally "numb" and find it hard to have
loving feelings even toward those who are emotionally close
to me
Have a hard time falling or staying asleep
Am irritable and have problems with my anger
Have a hard time concentrating
Think I may not live very long and feel there's no point in
planning for the future
Am jumpy and get startled easily
Am always "on guard"
4)
I experience these medical or emotional problems:
Stomach problems
Intestinal (bowel) problems
Gynecological (female) problems
Weight gain or loss
Pain, for example, in back, neck, or pelvic area
Headaches
Skin rashes and other skin problems
Lack of energy; feel tired all the time
Alcohol, drug, or other substance use problems
Depression or feeling down
Anxiety or worry
Panic attacks
Other symptoms such as: ______________________________
Summing
it up
If
you think you have PTSD, or even just some of the symptoms,
it is important for you to let your doctor know. Your doctor
needs this information to plan your medical treatment. It
can also help your doctor connect you with other services
you may need, such as a mental health provider, lab tests,
and so on.
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