The meaning, symptoms, and treatment of PTSD

I would like to talk about the meaning, symptoms, and treatment of PTSD. When people are not well-informed about PTSD, they often do not recognize the difficulties they are experiencing, which can prevent them from receiving proper diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, I will discuss the meaning of PTSD, the process of its symptoms, and approaches to treatment and prevention.

Among my friends, there are several who work as police officers and firefighters, responsible for maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of citizens. When they were new and had fewer years of service, they often felt more satisfied just to have a job and be working, rather than deeply contemplating their careers. However, as these friends gained more experience and reached 5 or 10 years of service, I realized that they face quite a few challenges in their respective roles.

Being immediately exposed to life-threatening situations on the scene, rushing directly to the site to assess the situation and move quickly, often leads to tragic deaths, devastating damage, and even injuries or deaths of colleagues in these time-critical moments. As a result, some friends experience severe PTSD symptoms, to the point of considering resignation, and others struggle greatly, leading me to work in an administrative position to support them.

As years of service accumulate, the number of times going out to the field increases, and the psychological shock felt when unexpected accidents suddenly occur on-site is indescribable. Just moments ago, a colleague who was talking and laughing with us could not escape from the fire scene and lost their life in the line of duty, and the tragic situation of their colleagues is deeply distressing to the core.

PTSD can be effectively treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Using anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications to alleviate symptoms while also undergoing psychological counseling can produce good results. You can receive medical consultation, counseling, and prescriptions from a psychiatrist, or visit a mental health welfare center in your area that is responsible for the mental health of local residents. For those struggling with mental health issues, including PTSD, who are suffering alone, we recommend seeking help from professionals and receiving appropriate treatment.