Can PTSD cause other illnesses?

[thisnthat]

I was recently reading that PTSD may be one of the causes of other illnesses. They were talking about how high stress situations can cause damage to adrenal functions, which can later be problematic. Adrenal insufficiency can lead to some serious physical issues.Reliving the stressful situation can put more strain on the adrenal system. It makes sense to me, but I'm not sure how widely accepted stuff like this is.


Either way, I guess it makes sense to have a complete physical check up when seeking treatment for this disorder. Thoughts?

 

[Lyndra]

Stress can cause so many illnesses and physical problems, that I'd be surprised if Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (or its varient Complex-PTSD) didn't cause other illnesses. I'd have thought it could potentially trigger any known stress-related disorder, possibly others if the person already has a genetic tendency towards an issue.

A complete physical checkup sounds sensible, if only to find any lingering physical effects and injuries left over from the incident that caused the PTSD.

 

[thisnthat]

Yes, I would think it could cause a number of issues or other diseases. That just happened to be the one I just read about. I found it interesting.

I think stress is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to both physical and emotional health. Then again, I'm no doctor. Just my layman's opinion based on life experience. If there were more and better ways to avoid/combat stress, I think we'd all be healthier.

 

[fuzyon]

PTSD is pretty scary, I personally never suffered from it but a couple of my friends still do. They have flashbacks from their unfortunate memories, sometimes they go no-contact for days and I get really worried. High stress is the cause of many ilnesses, my mother worked in a toxic environment for a couple of years and she had developed a form of hepatitis, thankfully cured after a while.

 

[thisnthat]

Suffering trauma can do untold damage. It's never something to be taken lightly. I tend to think that there are more people who have PTSD but have yet to be diagnosed. While some people seem to have better coping mechanisms than others, that's not to say that they are perfectly well. Trauma takes a major toll on most people.

I have read that chronic stress can compromise the immune system, making people more susceptible to illness. I'm glad your mother is well now.

 

[Alex]

It's possible of course, but it depends on whether the person wishes to address the issue or if they bury it away. One issue I do see is that people can use it as an excuse, and with all things it's personal as to how something affects you.

I do find PTSD can be over used by some people, it doesn't mean they aren't traumatized, but the condition was really reserved for those who had a delayed reaction and who struggle to cope. We could say everyone has some kind of PTSD, but that would demean the original intent of the condition. I do find that it also depends on where you are in the world. Many Americans will self-diagnose themselves, and then those who suffer in Asia just get on with things and learn to cope.

 

[Zeesi]

Yes, I fully believe that PTSD can cause other illnesses, or make present illnesses worse. My dad has PTSD, and he will warn you, even laughingly tell you, that he does not handle stress well. When people first meet him, it's all fun and games... unless you do something that makes him go "there". Certain situations, certain smells, can take him "back".

We've all had days when we were stressed out from just the average, run-of-the-mill stressors of every day life, not even anything traumatic. Think how bad just a little bit of stress causes us to feel.

When most of us feel even a little stress, our insides go a bit crazy and that can cause us to: over-react about something minor, yell at someone (or several someones) who didn't really deserve it, become impatient in traffic because we're stressed out and running late, lose our keys because we're not functioning properly; leave the house in a stressed rush on our way to work in the morning, only to discover when we are 20 minutes into our commute, that in all our rushing we have left something important at home that we need for our day, like our phone or wallet.

Those types of things come from 'regular' stress on the body, how much worse is it then when someone is experiencing stress from something traumatic? How much more damaging to the system?

It's no longer just yelling at the 'wrong' person, or being impatient in heavy traffic, cussing and screaming; or forgetting where your keys are, no, it's major blood vessels going haywire, important veins popping, heart-rate elevated to dangerous levels and staying there for a prolonged period of time, it's sexual dysfunction, it's all kinds of stuff.

 

[Zeesi]

I do find that it also depends on where you are in the world. Many Americans will self-diagnose themselves, and then those who suffer in Asia just get on with things and learn to cope.

I think I kind of understand what you are saying here, but I think that there
are many people in America who suffer with PTSD, and they just get on with it as well.

 

[thisnthat]

It's possible of course, but it depends on whether the person wishes to address the issue or if they bury it away. One issue I do see is that people can use it as an excuse, and with all things it's personal as to how something affects you.

I do find PTSD can be over used by some people, it doesn't mean they aren't traumatized, but the condition was really reserved for those who had a delayed reaction and who struggle to cope. We could say everyone has some kind of PTSD, but that would demean the original intent of the condition. I do find that it also depends on where you are in the world. Many Americans will self-diagnose themselves, and then those who suffer in Asia just get on with things and learn to cope.

Well, I've never been one to seek out a disorder or a pill to fix everything. I actually shy away from such things most of the time, since I tend to think it's way over the top. I'm just curious if this could be at least part of the cause of a physical illness that I was recently diagnosed with. After reading about the adrenal issues, it made more sense to me, so I thought I'd throw it out there. At the same time,if PTSD could be part of the problem then treating that too may help alleviate the physical illness as well.

I'm looking for treatment/answers not for excuses for anything.

I don't think any region has the market on getting on with it. I think there are people all over the world who complain too much, look for stuff to be wrong, or use things as excuses. I also think there are people all over the world who do their best to cope and move forward in life.

All Americans are not malingerers.

 

[janemariesayed]

I think I kind of understand what you are saying here, but I think that there
are many people in America who suffer with PTSD, and they just get on with it as well.

I'm from the UK and I've found that since my return to the UK after living abroad for so many years, that it is others who cannot cope with my PTSD. In fact, the whole of my mental problems is really a problem for other people. I have lived with it for years, but I am now finding, since my return that others don't know how to deal with it. New rules and regulations don't allow for PTSD. I had a problem finding work because of the new interview methods. I still don't see how my childhood has any relevance to any job I may undertake. Yes, it is true, one of the questions is 'how do you cope with change, tell us about the biggest change you have had to deal with in your life. It goes on to say that personal and private experiences also count. This is a trigger for me. My biggest change was going into the children's home. I still haven't dealt with it either. It has absolutely no relevance to whether I can cook or not. Although I spent nearly 30 years in the catering industry as a cook and pastry chef, coming back to the UK it seems that I now have to tell them all about my private business.

There are many more questions that were not relevant to any job I want to undertake, but the questions are there. Triggers throwing me back. They should have left the interviewing methods as they were, as at that point I could just carry on regardless. I refuse though to let them hurt me and judge me without reason.

They should ask, how would you deal with a situation and be able to cook dinner for 100 people if your oven packed up? That is a question relevant to the job. Not asking me and triggering panic attacks and further still, making me feel suicidal because I am never allowed to forget my past. Things will change, though. I have decided, that when I am strong enough, I am going to challenge these unfair, dangerous new methods.

Take for example the fact that I am a product of incest. If it wasn't for the social world looking down on people like me, I wouldn't have had a problem with it. We, sufferers, try to carry on regardless. My problem now is those who are asking un relevant questions. If I was to go for an interview and be asked something like that, I would turn around and say 'none of your business' except I would say it in anglo-Saxon!

Questions should be relevant to the job only. Or else like me now, we sufferers run and hide away. I have had no choice but to not work and seek therapy. It's either that or I kill myself. I can't answer the questions put to me. At least not without bawling my eyes out and getting emotional because of the traumatic memories. Trying to answer them for the last two years has thrown me backward mentally. It's not an excuse. I was with my work coach pressing him to help me find work. It was him that told me to go and sort my head out first. It turned out that he has a degree in Psychology and understood why I kept losing it. He told me to stop trying to find work right now, and that after therapy, I may be able to deal with it. So not everyone is an excuse maker. Some of us are genuine.

 

[Concernedgal]

Hi @thisnthat . Explain more about adrenal insufficiency? I've been on a search for a medical cause on my anxiety and depression and panic. I've tested my hormones recently and i've has an ekg , and so the search continues. How do I check my adrenaline? Is it a blood test or something?

 

[Zeesi]

I'm from the UK and I've found that since my return to the UK after living abroad for so many years, that it is others who cannot cope with my PTSD. In fact, the whole of my mental problems is really a problem for other people. I have lived with it for years, but I am now finding, since my return that others don't know how to deal with it. New rules and regulations don't allow for PTSD. I had a problem finding work because of the new interview methods. I still don't see how my childhood has any relevance to any job I may undertake. Yes, it is true, one of the questions is 'how do you cope with change, tell us about the biggest change you have had to deal with in your life. It goes on to say that personal and private experiences also count. This is a trigger for me. My biggest change was going into the children's home. I still haven't dealt with it either. It has absolutely no relevance to whether I can cook or not. Although I spent nearly 30 years in the catering industry as a cook and pastry chef, coming back to the UK it seems that I now have to tell them all about my private business.

There are many more questions that were not relevant to any job I want to undertake, but the questions are there. Triggers throwing me back. They should have left the interviewing methods as they were, as at that point I could just carry on regardless. I refuse though to let them hurt me and judge me without reason.

They should ask, how would you deal with a situation and be able to cook dinner for 100 people if your oven packed up? That is a question relevant to the job. Not asking me and triggering panic attacks and further still, making me feel suicidal because I am never allowed to forget my past. Things will change, though. I have decided, that when I am strong enough, I am going to challenge these unfair, dangerous new methods.

Take for example the fact that I am a product of incest. If it wasn't for the social world looking down on people like me, I wouldn't have had a problem with it. We, sufferers, try to carry on regardless. My problem now is those who are asking un relevant questions. If I was to go for an interview and be asked something like that, I would turn around and say 'none of your business' except I would say it in anglo-Saxon!

Questions should be relevant to the job only. Or else like me now, we sufferers run and hide away. I have had no choice but to not work and seek therapy. It's either that or I kill myself. I can't answer the questions put to me. At least not without bawling my eyes out and getting emotional because of the traumatic memories. Trying to answer them for the last two years has thrown me backward mentally. It's not an excuse. I was with my work coach pressing him to help me find work. It was him that told me to go and sort my head out first. It turned out that he has a degree in Psychology and understood why I kept losing it. He told me to stop trying to find work right now, and that after therapy, I may be able to deal with it. So not everyone is an excuse maker. Some of us are genuine.

Some of us ARE genuine, but the bottom-line is that there are a lot of people out there who just don't care about anything other than:
a) their own self and: a-1) money.
Not that there is anything wrong with providing for yourself, that is what one is supposed to do, but some people are so... so... I don't even know how you would describe them. That's why, most of the time I don't feel obligated to tell people more than they need to know about me, because I know 1) they don't give a damn, and 2) they won't hesitate to use what I have said against me.

It can be like a jungle out here, every man/woman for his or her self, which is fine, but some people lack even the most basic compassion, and quite frankly, I feel a bit sorry for them.

I have a lot more that I would love to add about what you've said here, but I have to go, so I'll get back to it later.

 

[thisnthat]

Hi @thisnthat . Explain more about adrenal insufficiency? I've been on a search for a medical cause on my anxiety and depression and panic. I've tested my hormones recently and i've has an ekg , and so the search continues. How do I check my adrenaline? Is it a blood test or something?

There is a lot to it, but maybe this can shed some light: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/adrenal_insufficiency/diagnosis.html

Yes, there is a test. There are also many other tests that may be applicable. It depends on whether or not your healthcare provider cares to dig deeper and start at least ruling things out. Most just want to rush you in and out in 5 minutes or less. Hopefully, you have a good physician that you can actually talk to (and who actually listens to you).

Have you been tested for low thyroid, chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia?

 

[Concernedgal]

My thyroid, hormones and heart have all been checked . Chronic fatigue though... I don't know . I don't have chronic pain so it couldn't be fibromyalgia. I've told my doctor that I was on a mission so, every appointment, I try to get tested for at least 1 thing. He seems to be on board. Maybe he's on board with my money though. lol

 

[Rinka]

I guess increased stress, sleeplessness etc, will eventually lead to other symptoms and condition.
I know from my experience that due to my PTSD related teeth grinding and continues tension on my jaw, that it leads to a locked jaw quite often.