PTSD and Medical Emergencies

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating problem that affects people who survive traumatic events. It is normal to react to trauma, but, when symptoms last longer than three months and interfere with other areas of life, then people may have PTSD.

This condition affects life and can lead to further complications if left untreated. In particular, it can disrupt high stress situations that require quick decision making. Furthermore, if you experience PTSD symptoms in the middle of a medical emergency, then you may make bad decisions or delay your decision making, which can be harmful both for you and others.

PTSD’s Role in Emergencies

Whether you have survived trauma or treat people who do, PTSD can make emergencies even more dangerous than they already are. During an emergency, survivors must often answer questions to diagnose the situation; unfortunately, if someone has PTSD symptoms, she may become unresponsive when questioned. As a result of not responding to questions or providing confusing answers to emergency responders, then such people could delay effective treatment.

On the other hand, if an emergency responder experiences PTSD symptoms and is unable to fulfill her duties, then it may cost someone else his life. In other words, if you leave your condition untreated, then you are in danger if a medical emergency affects you or other people.

PTSD Causes Medical Emergencies

The symptoms of PTSD may include the following problems:

  • Reliving the event
  • Avoiding situations that remind you of an event
  • Developing negative beliefs or feelings
  • Feeling jittery or paranoid

Some days you may be able to function normally with PTSD, but on other days your condition can be crippling. PTSD symptoms can cause lapses in judgment and irrational behavior that lead to medical emergencies.

Reliving an event when you also face high stress may cause you to have an accident. Feelings of paranoia may cause you to act without reason, which puts yourself or others in danger. With therapy you can get your PTSD under control, but without it you never know when symptoms will pop up.