Introduction
George Smith is a 26-year-old man who has been suffering from PTSD symptoms for 4 years. The disorder began to develop due to a traumatic experience when George witnessed a domestic murder. The young man at that time lived in a rented apartment with two of his friends. Two of them had a personal conflict for a long time, which one day led to a fight between them. The situation escalated to such an extent that one of George’s friends stabbed the other with a kitchen knife. The young man was a witness to this event, so at the moment he feels guilty for not preventing this incident.
Discussion
George has been experiencing characteristics of PTSD for several years, which significantly affects his life. First of all, the young man suffers from nightmares and flashbacks containing images of what happened. In these episodes, he relives the events of that day and his guilt is heightened. George constantly replays the events of that day in his head, thinking about what he could have done differently, which does not allow him to move away from thoughts about the traumatic experience. The stress level of the young man is also constantly high, he has difficulty sleeping, and it is difficult for him to concentrate. George notes that he has difficulty relaxing and is always on edge.
Conclusion
The young man is currently undergoing Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a professional, which after a while has a positive effect. George became less likely to suffer from nightmares and intrusive memories. The young man began to wake up less often at night but still has difficulty concentrating. However, he still experiences anxiety and constant stress. For coping with PTSD symptoms, George tries to spend more time with loved ones, as well as distract himself with various activities. This helps the young person reduce the negative impact of traumatic memories.