When my therapist first told me I was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I balked at the diagnosis. “Isn’t that something that only soldiers or victims of sexual assault get?” I asked, bewildered. She smiled and shook her head. Clearly, this was a question she’d dealt with before. My therapist explained that although PTSD is most often referred to in regards to the military or sexual assault, it can affect people who have been exposed to anything particularly traumatic.

While PTSD is regularly termed a mental health issue — and can often present as an invisible illness — the physical body can also be severely affected. The cells in your body react to psychological stress, and PTSD can negatively affect your overall health. People with PTSD often suffer from pain, arthritis, digestive diseases, respiratory and reproductive issues, along with heart disease and diabetes. They can also experience psychological difficulties such as sleep and eating issues, as well as anxiety, depression and sometimes substance abuse.

Accordingly, sufferers seek out medical help more often than the average patient. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports that more than 7.7 million adults have PTSD. The constant strain of being on high-alert and perpetual anxiety often results in disease and other health-related issues. Additionally, people living with PTSD often respond by engaging in dangerous behaviors or self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

Digestive Issues

One serious side effect of PTSD is a weakened immune system and gut diseases. The trillions of microbes that live in our gut all work to digest food, fight off illness, and metabolize substances in the body. When these microbes are depleted, so is our defense system against disease.

The bacteria that live in our gut are also unfortunately affected by stress hormones, which can alter their growth and deplete their numbers significantly. If this happens, the lining of our intestines become inflamed and can let toxins into our bloodstream, paving the way for even more serious illness. Studies have shown that people with PTSD show high levels of inflammation in their immune system.

Scientists had also discovered different types of bacteria residing in the guts of people with PTSD and can effectively use those markers to determine when the trauma occurred and to predict how susceptible they will be to further health risks down the road.

Substance Abuse

More than half of the people who have PTSD also struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. Even after the event has passed, sufferers stay trapped in the fight or flight response, which can wreak havoc with their mental and physical well-being.

Drinking too much or taking drugs can alleviate the symptoms of PTSD for a short while, but often it creates other health problems and puts the person at risk for additional trauma. Most people who sustain that high level of anxiety are merely looking for a way to dull the sharp memories for a while.

Many people experience flashbacks as part of the disorder and dulling the senses with drugs and alcohol is preferable over situations that trigger those memories and unwanted feelings. Someone with PTSD often shows plenty of signs such as irritability, isolation, hypersensitivity, nightmares, anxiety, depression or even self-destructive behaviors. People with PTSD often use alcohol or drugs to alleviate or lessen these symptoms.

Other Complications of PTSD

People with the disorder often suffer from terrible nightmares, sometimes sleepwalking and even night terrors. Others may have difficulty sleeping. Often people with PTSD are tired and irritable from not getting enough rest.

Along with the sleep issues, they have also developed other physical ailments such as dizziness, aches and pains, stomach issues, sweating, headaches, and even chest pain. Due to the constant stress hormones, their immune system can suffer and they can become vulnerable to all types of infections.

When consumed with this much fear, people sometimes become detached from family and friends. They may also feel guilt or shame and have difficulty focusing or concentrating at work or home. Sometimes PTSD is accompanied by angry outbursts and avoidance of situations and people. A lot is going on that needs addressing in terms of treatment.

Tips for Coping with PTSD

PTSD can result from a myriad of experienced traumas such as neglect, sexual abuse, war, domestic abuse, kidnapping, torture, as well as accidents and other high-stress, shocking situations. Sometimes after an event like that, the person’s personality changes and they start to act very differently around loved ones.

Living with PTSD can be debilitating, and patients may combine cognitive-behavioral therapy with medication and other forms of treatment for improvement of symptoms. Occasionally, therapists will use alternative therapies like exposure therapy, guiding the patient through the traumatic event to desensitize its effect on them.

Doctors are also experimenting with new procedures such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and a form of the street drug ecstasy (MDMA), cortisone hormone therapy, and even computer games for treatment. I’ve done EMDR with my therapist and found it to be remarkably helpful in relieving both stress and flashbacks.

Other more natural remedies to cope with PTSD include mindfulness and meditation, aromatherapy, physical activity with focus, art therapy, and emotional support animals.

How You Can Help

If your loved one is experiencing PTSD, it may be confusing and scary. You can help them, but only in ways they want to be supported. You cannot force someone who is struggling to get help, no matter how much you know they need it. Fewer than 40 percent of sufferers from PTSD ever get help. Love and support your person but don’t “push” them to get help.

Try to help them by engaging them in outside activities like art classes, cultural events, social gatherings, and other things that get their mind off their suffering. Be patient and listen when they are ready to talk. Don’t try to force a confrontation, but if they are open to speaking about the event, just listen. You don’t have to solve the problem for them. They want your love and understanding.

Learn all you can about PTSD and how you can help your friend or family member. You can find subtle ways of making them more comfortable or guiding them toward treatment when they are ready. The more you know, the better you’ll both be when the time comes. Remember, take care of yourself too. Self-care is just as important for a caregiver as it is for your loved one.