When someone experiences a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episode there are residual symptoms.
Residual symptoms are different from PTSD symptoms. These begin immediately after the episode subsides. And, these residual effects last for another 24 to 48 hours. The most common issues that occur are physical pain, dissociation, and severe disorientation. Furthermore, PTSD physical pain and residual symptoms are intense. Because your loved one has had PTSD take over, certain things happen to their mind and body. Tune into this awesome PTSD radio show about triggers and coping to learn more.
During a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) episode the sufferer is involuntarily mentally checked out. It’s like someone took over their body and mind, pushed them deep down inside themselves, and is driving the vehicle. This proves difficult for you because you still see the same person as your mother or husband etc. They are also experiencing involuntary muscle activity throughout their entire body. Due to their brain activity getting “stuck” on over-drive, both their nervous system and body is operating on all cylinders for an elongated period of time.
Stressed out
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Dissociation
Although dissociation is a predominant symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the residual type differs. Residual dissociation is described as less intense. But, just because it’s not as excessive doesn’t mean it’s not agonizing. It’s similar to being in a daydream-like state. And, it’s hard for the PTSD sufferer to communicate during these after-math problems.
First of all, they can’t focus very well or participate as an active listener when talking to you. They will also appear to be drowsy and exhausted. This is easy to sympathize with considering their entire being was stuck on hyper-drive for several hours. Having a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder attack is extremely exhausting for them. This applies both physically and mentally.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Physical Pain
During a PTSD episode your loved one is flexing every muscle in their body. This is due to the fight or flight response that our brains are wired for. Our bodies have a natural danger detector and when activated our bodies respond with survival preparation. Part of this preparation is flexing our muscles. Someone in a state of PTSD is stuck in the fight or flight mode. Again, their muscles are constantly engaged. Imagine standing in the same position with every muscle flexed, continuously, as hard as possible for several hours.
After the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episode de-escalates one will start to relax their body. After doing so, every muscle in their body hurts extremely badly. If you have ever had an intense workout you might remember your muscles aching the next day. Well, the physical pain caused by PTSD is equivalent to training for a marathon. Expect your loved one’s pain to last for up to two or three days.
Post Traumatic Stress: Pain And Discomfort
In addition to physical pain this person will often undergo a horrific headache, similar to a migraine, which may last up to 24 hours. Consequently, this causes even higher levels of irritability. Then there is also jaw and teeth pain from clenching their teeth for so long. It’s quite disheartening to think about the pain and discomfort your partner goes through. Most of all, very few people are actually aware of the residual symptoms.
At the same time, you notice these issues but haven’t associated them with PTSD. Seeing that there is a connection between their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episode and the days that follow. Becoming aware of all aspects of a PTSD episode will help you better support your loved one. Provided that you are aware of their needs, you will not take offense to their behavior.
Please keep in mind that your loved one did not choose to behave so erratic. Nor did they choose to have residual symptoms days after their PTSD attack. In general it can be easy to forget our partner suffers from PTSD if they haven’t had an episode. For some, their symptoms may have been in remission for months or even years. Nevertheless, there is no cure for PTSD and it can occur if triggered.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Disorientation
Another problem that presents after a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episode is disorientation. Disorientation is best described as being in a mental state where one loses their sense of awareness. They are confused and have little bearing on what day it is or where they are. Their memory of anything that took place during a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder episode is nonexistent. In fact, PTSD causes various issues with their memory as it is. Since the brain is affected by PTSD in such a way that it causes these memory problems, it makes life a bit harder.
Many who suffer from a PTSD episode
Will be confused and disoriented for two to three days after a PTSD attack. Essentially, they will experience intervals of awareness. All together there will be moments in time where they will not have a conscious idea of what is going on around them. Occasionally they won’t realize where they are physically. At the same time, they won’t remember the date or time.
Additionally they will not recall engagement of any activities. For example, my husband and I recently drove to a nearby city for his therapy appointment. The drive is approximately one and a half hours long. When we arrived at his therapist’s office he couldn’t remember how we got there or anything about the drive up. And he was clueless as to where we even were.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Residual Symptoms
These secondary issues are both challenging and scary. When someone hears of PTSD they may think someone suffers a short flashback or an elongated panic attack. However, the truth is that there’s so much more to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Episodes are never short, and the effect of an episode has on a person lasts for days afterward. With this in mind, residual symptoms are the after-math manifestations following the full throttle episode. Due to the effects of PTSD episodes, physical, neurological, and emotional duress takes place.
Recovery Days
If you know someone suffering from the symptoms of PTSD it is a good thing to remember this key information. You will set yourself up to better understand what is going on during the recovery days. Especially relevant is that you will be able to support your partner in a stronger way. Be prepared to help them relax and ease back into the normalcy of your every-day functioning life. In doing so, you will help them reduce their residual symptoms duration.
In fact, Your partner will recover faster because they feel supported, loved, and comforted by you. Notably so, the way you react has a deep impact on their well-being. Equally, this applies to positive and negative behavior. This article can also be seen on PsychCentral.com They published this post on their site.
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Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This mirrors my experience, and even the pro’s don’t seem to be aware of this. I can’t tell you how much it helps to hear someone else confirm that I am not alone in my experiences.
You are so very welcome! My husband and I actually “coined” this term. We have been in therapy for over three years and not once has a pro even touched the surface on explaining this side of PTSD or CPTSD. I appreciate your comment very much Paula. You may benefit from reading my book available on amazon. It’s a shorter read and written in a way that you and I can relate to. Here’s a link if you want to take a peek 🙂 https://amzn.to/2LrFHsf
Have a wonderful day, and contact me any time if you have any questions or just want to talk to someone who knows exactly what you are going through. [email protected]
Wow, this article clears up so much for me. I lived in a physical, mental/emotional and financial abuse for 12 years. I have been away from the relationship since 2004, but I still battle chronic and lifelong emotional trauma. I recently experienced a PTSD episode and I was trying to explain to my wife after and the next day how a felt disconnected and felt no emotion. I was exhausted and just needed to sleep. I’m lucky that she is well educated regarding mental illness, and has sympathy, but I feel sometimes she cannot empathize what I go through. Since my episode over a week ago, the way I felt has been on my mind. I never hear of PTSD Residual Symptoms before. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Is PTSD Residual something that is diagnosed by a doctor? I know I’m treated for anxiety/depression but not PTSD (not sure there is treatment besides therapy). Thank you for this article. I have shared this on my FB.
Thanks,
De
Hello De, Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I can totally resonate with how you feel after the PTSD episode subsides. Sometimes, what I have experienced is that the residual symptoms can last for a couple of days. Each day that goes on, our thought processes and normalcy gets better and better. The term “residual symptoms” is a term that my husband and I came up with to best describe the “PTSD episode hang-over”. I noticed the way he’d struggle for a few days after a hellacious episode and wanted to write this article to help others understand what people with PTSD go through. It makes me so happy to know that this has given you some clarity 🙂 I appreciate you sharing on Facebook too. Hang in there and remember to take each day one day at a time. You may also enjoy reading http://ptsdwifey.com/guilt-ptsd-and-forgiveness/ as it will help you with the guilt, depression, and anxiety that you experience after an episode. Then, swing by my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ptsdwifeyblog, a PTSD community that is inspiring and positive. Come back and visit again soon – and, let me know if I can help you with anything at all.
Wow my son has been diagnosed with this recently after an assault on his head in March, he has flashbacks regularly and this has helped me understand so much and totally describes how he is through an episode and how he is after, thankyou for this information
You are very welcome. I’m so dorry to hear about your son. Everyone in the family suffers. And the more educated you can get the better you can show support and kindness. Visit a few other articles and hang out for a bit. Let me know if I can suggest any specific information that you are looking for. Take care!!