A huge part of Dr. Curtis Cripe’s work with NTL Group revolves around mental health disorders. One of the most alarming and destructive of these disorders is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. To paint a clearer picture of the disease, Dr. Curtis Cripe shares a few observations on how people with PTSD live their lives.
While PTSD patients have good days and bad days, it has been observed by people in constant contact with PTSD patients that as the condition worsens, good days become fewer and the time between them longer.
There have been several misconceptions about PTSD, mostly brought about by pop culture. Many casual observers believe they know all there is to know about PTSD since they’ve seen TV shows or films that tackle the issue. But what they’re actually seeing are mostly inaccurate depictions of people with PTSD, according to Dr. Curtis Cripe.
People constantly struggling with PTSD have the impression that the world is a dangerous or unstatble/unpredictable place. They are triggered by sudden sights and sounds that would not usually trigger a person without PTSD. They continually try to cope with excessive stress and tension, which takes a toll on their mental and physical health.
Patients with PTSD feel they are about to be attacked or victimized or thrown into chaos at any time to put things into perspective. They have trouble sleeping at night and may even experience panic attacks in the middle of a busy street during the day. In more extreme cases, PTSD patients can become violent, deciding they’ve had enough and fighting back is the only recourse – then they can become threats to themselves and others, Dr. Curtis Cripe adds.
Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., specializes in the creation of neuroengineering programs that diagnose and treat neurological disorders associated with head injury, depression, anxiety, memory disorders, and neurodevelopmental delays. For related reads, visit this blog.