Post-traumatic stress disorder, or, PTSD for short, is a psychiatric condition that can affect people of all ages, including older adults, who have experienced or been a witness to a traumatic event or series of circumstances. PTSD is a complex disorder that can be physical or emotional, or both, and can create a negative impact on a person’s mental health and quality of life.
PTSD can emerge, or re-emerge, later in life due to retirement, increased health problems, decreased sensory ability, loss of income or independence, loss of loved ones, decreased support, cognitive impairment or dementia, and a large number of other stressors. According to a study performed in 2016, up to ninety percent of older adults have been exposed to a traumatic event.
PTSD is also very common in older adults who are veterans, particularly men. Combat veterans especially can have upsetting and painful memories of wartime experiences, no matter how long it has been since their military service.
The symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person, but there are several common symptoms for people who have experienced trauma. When a person experiences trauma, the memories of it may return at any time, perhaps even years later. These memories can be triggered by something that reminds them of the initiating event. Seniors with PTSD may try to avoid things that remind them of the traumatic event, such as large groups of people or leaving the house. This may cause isolation and seclusion.
Trauma harms a person’s mental health, causing them to feel sad, numb, or apathetic. If you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, it is important to ask for help and find the best treatment.