Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Is a condition in which intense emotions persist for a considerable time after being first triggered by a traumatic event

About 1 in 10 people has PTSD at some time in life

First-hand experience of a stressful event that threatens life and personal safety or in some cases simply witnessing such an event,can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder in some people

The kind of events that results in PTSD include natural disasters,accidents,being assaulted & abused,crime victims and war experiences

Children and elderly people are more susceptible to PTSD,as are people who lack family support or who have a history of anxiety disorders

Causes

The cause of PTSD is not known

But psychological genetic,physical and social factors all contribute to it

In studies of Vietnam War veterans,those with strong family support were less likely to develop PTSD than those without it

Symptoms

The symptoms of PTSD occur soon after the event or develop weeks,months or rarely years later

1. They may include - involuntary thoughts about the experience

2. daytime flashbacks of the event - a sense of reliving the event

3. Panic attacks with symptoms such as shortness of breath and fainting

4. Avoidance of reminders of the event and refusal to discuss it

5. Sleep disturbances and nightmares.poor concentration

6. Irritability

7. A person with PTSD may feel emotionally numb, detached from events and estranged from family and friends

8. He/she may also lose interest in normal day-to-day activities

9. Other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety,may co-exist with PTSD

10.Occasionally it leads to alcohol or drug abuse

Treatment

The aim of treatment is to encourage sufferers to express grief and complete the mourning process

1. Support groups are good at providing a setting where people who have similar experiences can share their feelings and weep openly

2. Counselling may encourage the person to talk about his or her experiences,and support for the individual and family members is often an important part of treatment

3. Behaviour Therapy - can be used to help the person 're-enter' the real world and leave behind harrowing memories

4. Behaviour techniques include graded exposure and flooding (frequent exposure to an object that triggers symptoms)

5. Drugs such as antidepressants may be used with counselling,and this approach often produces an improment within 8 week

6. Newer antidepressants such as Prozac,Pxil and Zoloft, can really improve mood and help sufferers to face the future calmly.Drugs may need to be taken for at least a year.PTSD often disappears after a few months of treatment but some symptoms may persist

In some cases,PTSD may last for years.In susceptible people,the disorder may recur after other traumatic events

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info source:

Rennaissance Magazine Article

Encyclopedia of Body Mind Spirit earth -Joanna Cross