Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is often associated with veterans returning from combat or victims of violent crimes, but it can affect anyone involved in a tragedy, particularly a woman who has a miscarriage. 

Dealing with this type of PTSD is difficult, especially considering how isolated the woman can feel after such a loss. Treatment becomes essential to recovery and, eventually, moving on.

Recognize The Symptoms Of Depression

Although it's normal to suffer the loss of miscarriage, prolonged symptoms of depression can be dangerous. Beyond the sadness, loneliness, and hurt a woman feels, indications that she's seriously depressed may include:

• Being unable to get enough sleep (insomnia) or sleeping excessively throughout the day (hypersomnia)
• Irritability, especially snapping a lot at others
• Feeling hopeless all the time
• Expecting something bad to happen (also a predominant symptom of PTSD)
• Not eating enough or in some cases, over-eating as a compulsion
• Turning to alcohol or abusing drugs (illegal or prescription)
• Losing interest in life and doing the things that formerly brought happiness
• Feeling sad to the point of not wanting to live anymore

Considering the staggering loss a woman goes through after a miscarriage, her depressed feelings are to be expected; however, when they are prolonged, affect her quality of life, or threaten her health, she or someone in her life needs to do something about it.

Identifying PTSD

While some symptoms of PTSD overlap with those of depression, PTSD is a condition all its own, although both may require treatment. PTSD is most often the result of a tragic or terrifying experience, in which the person has difficulty adjusting to normal life thereafter. There's fear that the situation will somehow repeat itself, with other characteristics, such as:

• Intentional isolation from others
• Anger and hostility directed at loved ones or anyone encountered
• Neglect or abuse of self, like not eating, bathing, or dressing properly
• Constant or frequent anxiety and not being able to trust others
• Guilt—particularly holding herself accountable for the loss of the baby
• Having flashbacks of the loss and related incidents
• Becoming distant from others emotionally
• Experiencing unwanted or uncontrollable thoughts

PTSD may extend beyond the incident that caused it, for example, a woman who has lost her baby might resist being around men (including her husband or partner) or medical professionals, associating them with the pregnancy. Also, anything that gives rise to emotions, which she can't really handle now, will likely be pushed away, even vehemently.

Treatments To Help A Woman Recover

Without any outside intervention, anyone can easily succumb to the perils of PTSD and/or depression. It's crucial that a woman who has gone through a miscarriage and is exhibiting symptoms of any psychological disorder or condition receives prompt and complete care, including getting support from her friends and family.

Professional PTSD treatment varies, depending on the severity of the person's condition, along with what a physician or psychiatrist believes is the best course of action. Medication may be needed to help a woman re-balance her hormones or to help her get hold of her thought process, following a complicated pregnancy. There are numerous prescriptions available for treating depression and PTSD as well.

Psychotherapy, where the woman discusses her feelings and the shock she is absorbing over losing her baby, can be very beneficial. Other types of therapy, such as cognitive therapy or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, where a person is taught how to recognize and redirect their own memories, may be considered, too.

Admission to a depression treatment center could benefit a woman who is (understandably) exhausted both physically and mentally and who is finding it impossible to move forward with her life on her own. Also, a support group with other women who have gone through a miscarriage might provide a nurturing and healing environment in which everyone learns to absolve their guilt, rediscover life, and allow themselves to feel again.

No matter what type of treatment a woman under these circumstances gets, she's going to need the love and support of those around her. While depression, PTSD, and other conditions can be successfully treated with professional help, overcoming the underlying effects in the long-term calls for caring, understanding, and unconditional love.