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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / Response
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event or series of traumatic events. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma An understandable reaction to an abnormal event.
The event can be something that happens directly to you or one that you witness. Either way, it is something that disturbs you deeply, although you may not be conscious of it at the time. During this type of event, you may think that your own life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.
Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening or traumatic events can develop stress related trauma or PTSD. Typically, these events include things such as:
Military combat situations
Sexual or physical abuse
Extreme physical assault
Terrorist attacks
Serious accidents - such as car crashes
Disasters, such as fires, floods, or earthquakes etc
After the event, you may feel confused, angry or scared. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may be developing or already suffering from trauma or PTSD.
Not everyone witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event will develop trauma or PTSD. Each person is different. How likely you are to develop trauma or PTSD depends on many factors such as how close you were to the event, how much personal control you had over events, how strong your reaction was, how intense your trauma was and how long it lasted and whether you were injured or lost someone close to you.
The symptoms of PTSD...
The symptoms of PTSD typically start soon after the traumatic event, but this isn't always the case. Sometimes, there is a delay of months or even years before the symptoms creep up and take control.
There are many symptoms that can be linked to PTSD and other stress related disorders are as follows.
1. Reliving the event (Flashbacks):
Memories of a trauma can surface at any time. You may feel the same fear you did at the time of the event and may even feel like you're completely reliving the event in a flashback. You may also have nightmares. Sometimes, something triggers a flashback. For example, witnessing a car crash can remind someone of his or her own accident or hearing a loud bang can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat veteran. Even the smell of blood can be a trigger to reliving an event.
2. Avoidance:
People suffering from PTSD often try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the event and avoid thinking or talking about what happened. For example, someone involved in a fire may avoid watching films or TV shows that feature fires. Others keep themselves overly busy and avoid seeking help in an attempt not to think about the event. Avoidance of the news or news papers is not uncommon.
3. Feeling numb:
Many PTSD sufferers report feeling numb, finding it hard to express their feelings, though this is really another way to avoid memories. For example, you may avoid close personal relationships or may have lost interest in things you used to enjoy.
4. Hyper-alertness:
You may be hyper-alert, jittery, or always alert, feeling continually on-guard and on the lookout for danger. This can cause sudden anger or almost constant irritability and irrational reactions to situations. You may find it difficult to sleep or have continually broken sleep and find it difficult to concentrate on tasks. You may also be far more startled than usual when something or someone surprises you.
5. Mood swings
Mood swings may be instantaneous and alarming both personally and to those around the sufferer. Individuals may experience feelings of hopelessness and depression along with bouts of uncontrollable aggression.
Other common problems
People with PTSD may also develop other problems as a direct consequence of their condition such as the use of alcohol and drugs to self medicate difficulty in securing or holding down a job, and/or feelings of hopelessness, a lack of self-worth and low self esteem, shame, or despair. Being unable to maintain a relationship or let anyone get close to you emotionally.
Self harm or harming others can surface as problems along with extravagant or unnecessary shopping to temporarily give a sense of release from the symptoms.
Sexual dysfunction is also a common problem lack of libido through to erectile difficulties in men and lack of libido through to the inability to orgasm in women.
Family Coping Mechanisms
It is not uncommon for family members and spouses to be adversely effected by the suffering client and their presenting symptoms. Those close to the client will invariably adopt coping mechanisms in order to live around unwanted behaviours and displays of aggression or depression. These coping mechanisms can be readjusted in order to assist the client post therapeutic process so that the family unit can realign themselves for a more balanced life.
Children with PTSD
Children may display the same PTSD symptoms as adults, whilst young children may become very upset if their parents are not close by, they may have trouble sleeping, bed-wetting or suddenly have trouble with toilet training. Children around 6-9 years of age may re-enact the trauma through play, drawings, or stories. They may complain of physical problems or become more irritable or aggressive and may develop fears and anxiety that don't seem to be connected to the traumatic event.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event or series of traumatic events. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma An understandable reaction to an abnormal event.
The event can be something that happens directly to you or one that you witness. Either way, it is something that disturbs you deeply, although you may not be conscious of it at the time. During this type of event, you may think that your own life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.
Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening or traumatic events can develop stress related trauma or PTSD. Typically, these events include things such as:
Military combat situations
Sexual or physical abuse
Extreme physical assault
Terrorist attacks
Serious accidents - such as car crashes
Disasters, such as fires, floods, or earthquakes etc
After the event, you may feel confused, angry or scared. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may be developing or already suffering from trauma or PTSD.
Not everyone witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event will develop trauma or PTSD. Each person is different. How likely you are to develop trauma or PTSD depends on many factors such as how close you were to the event, how much personal control you had over events, how strong your reaction was, how intense your trauma was and how long it lasted and whether you were injured or lost someone close to you.
The symptoms of PTSD...
The symptoms of PTSD typically start soon after the traumatic event, but this isn't always the case. Sometimes, there is a delay of months or even years before the symptoms creep up and take control.
There are many symptoms that can be linked to PTSD and other stress related disorders are as follows.
1. Reliving the event (Flashbacks):
Memories of a trauma can surface at any time. You may feel the same fear you did at the time of the event and may even feel like you're completely reliving the event in a flashback. You may also have nightmares. Sometimes, something triggers a flashback. For example, witnessing a car crash can remind someone of his or her own accident or hearing a loud bang can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat veteran. Even the smell of blood can be a trigger to reliving an event.
2. Avoidance:
People suffering from PTSD often try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the event and avoid thinking or talking about what happened. For example, someone involved in a fire may avoid watching films or TV shows that feature fires. Others keep themselves overly busy and avoid seeking help in an attempt not to think about the event. Avoidance of the news or news papers is not uncommon.
3. Feeling numb:
Many PTSD sufferers report feeling numb, finding it hard to express their feelings, though this is really another way to avoid memories. For example, you may avoid close personal relationships or may have lost interest in things you used to enjoy.
4. Hyper-alertness:
You may be hyper-alert, jittery, or always alert, feeling continually on-guard and on the lookout for danger. This can cause sudden anger or almost constant irritability and irrational reactions to situations. You may find it difficult to sleep or have continually broken sleep and find it difficult to concentrate on tasks. You may also be far more startled than usual when something or someone surprises you.
5. Mood swings
Mood swings may be instantaneous and alarming both personally and to those around the sufferer. Individuals may experience feelings of hopelessness and depression along with bouts of uncontrollable aggression.
Other common problems
People with PTSD may also develop other problems as a direct consequence of their condition such as the use of alcohol and drugs to self medicate difficulty in securing or holding down a job, and/or feelings of hopelessness, a lack of self-worth and low self esteem, shame, or despair. Being unable to maintain a relationship or let anyone get close to you emotionally.
Self harm or harming others can surface as problems along with extravagant or unnecessary shopping to temporarily give a sense of release from the symptoms.
Sexual dysfunction is also a common problem lack of libido through to erectile difficulties in men and lack of libido through to the inability to orgasm in women.
Family Coping Mechanisms
It is not uncommon for family members and spouses to be adversely effected by the suffering client and their presenting symptoms. Those close to the client will invariably adopt coping mechanisms in order to live around unwanted behaviours and displays of aggression or depression. These coping mechanisms can be readjusted in order to assist the client post therapeutic process so that the family unit can realign themselves for a more balanced life.
Children with PTSD
Children may display the same PTSD symptoms as adults, whilst young children may become very upset if their parents are not close by, they may have trouble sleeping, bed-wetting or suddenly have trouble with toilet training. Children around 6-9 years of age may re-enact the trauma through play, drawings, or stories. They may complain of physical problems or become more irritable or aggressive and may develop fears and anxiety that don't seem to be connected to the traumatic event.
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