Download Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Madeline Gelmetti
According to MayoClinic.com, PTSD is a mental
health condition that's triggered by a negatively
life altering event. Symptoms may include
flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well
as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Many people who go through traumatic events
have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while.
But with time and good health, such traumatic
reactions usually get better. In some cases, the
symptoms may get worse or last for months and
even years. When something happens this drastic
in life, the negative effects show it to be posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a mental health
disorder that can effect anyone.
There is no one set cause for post-traumatic stress
disorder just like most mental disorders. Doctors
do believe that some possible causes could be:
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Inherited mental health risks, such as an increased
risk of anxiety and depression
Life experiences, including the amount and
severity of trauma you've gone through since early
childhood
The inherited aspects of children's personalities —
often called your temperament
The way a brain regulates the chemicals and
hormones released in response to stress
Any event that is life-threatening or greatly affects
a person’s emotional well-being can result in
PTSD. This includes:
 rape
 war
 natural disasters (hurricane, tornado, etc.)
 abuse
 serious accidents
 captivity
There are three different types of symptoms that come with PTSD.
1.) Intrusive memories
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Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even
days at a time
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Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
2.) Avoidance and numbing
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Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
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Feeling emotionally numb
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Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
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Hopelessness about the future
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Memory problems
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Trouble concentrating
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Difficulty maintaining close relationships
3.) Increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyper-arousal)
 Irritability or anger
 Overwhelming guilt or shame
 Self-destructive behavior
 Trouble sleeping
 Being easily startled or frightened
 Hearing or seeing things that aren't there
In order to be diagnosed with PTDS, a specific
experience of a traumatic event(s) must have
occurred. Experiences must fall under intrusive
memories, avoidance/numbing , hyper-arousal
along with two subtypes must match
symptoms. There are also requirements around
duration and the impacts of their ability to
function. Diagnoses can only be done by a
licensed professional.
Two main types of treatment are:
1.) Psychotherapy (such as cognitive therapy,
exposure therapy, and eye movement
desensitization, and reprocessing
2.) Medications (such as antipsychotics,
antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and
prozosin)
What it is: When a therapist helps understand and change
thoughts about the trauma and its aftermath.
How it works: Teaches to replace these thoughts with more
accurate and less distressing thoughts. It also teacher ways
to cope with feelings such as anger, guilt, and fear.
Goal: To understand how certain thoughts about your trauma
cause you stress and make your symptoms worse.
Main Idea: Cognitive therapy helps understand that the
traumatic event a person may have lived through was not
their fault.
What it is: Exposure therapy is a specific type of
cognitive behavioral psychotherapy technique that
is conducted within a psychotherapeutic
relationship by a trained and experienced
therapist.
How it works: The person talks about the traumatic
event over and over, in a safe place, until there is
have less fear.
Goal: Help the patient face and gain control of the
fear and distress that was overwhelming in the
trauma.
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http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/post_tra
umatic_stress_disorder/hic_overview.aspx
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/post-traumatic-stressdisorder/basics/symptoms/con-20022540
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/p
ost-traumatic-stress-disorderptsd/index.shtml#pub5
http://psychcentral.com/lib/an-overview-oftreatment-of-ptsd
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/c
ognitive-therapy?page=2