Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing a really traumatic, tragic, or terrifying event. Those who suffer from PTSD can have persistent and frightening thoughts and memories of what they have been through and can end up feeling emotionally numb, especially with people they are close to. Seeing things that remind the individual of the incident may cause them to be very distressed, which leads them to avoid certain places or situations that brings the memories back, anniversaries of the event can also bring back memories and are often very difficult (psychcentral). Statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs show that 9 out of 11 Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan get diagnosed with PTSD. That is almost 30 percent out of the 834,463 Veterans that are treated at V.A. hospitals and clinics (The Daily Beast). Some Symptoms of PTSD are recurring flashbacks, high levels of anxiety, known as hyperarousal. People also avoid or numb the memory of the event (Wikipedia). Re-living trauma can come in the form of nightmares or in disturbing recollections during the day. Nightmares and recollections come and go randomly for people. Some may not experience them for weeks at a time, and then get them every day for no reason. People may also experience sleep problems, depression, feelings of detachment or numbness, or being easily startled. Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy and having trouble feeling affectionate can also happen. People with PTSD may get unbelievably irritated or more aggressive than before. It can get to the point where the person is violent. (psychcentral) More causes of PTSD are sexual assault, torture, and life threatening events on oneself and/or a lov... ... middle of paper ... ...oing through. Works Cited Smith, Melinda, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, PH.D. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." Helpguide.org.Helpguide.org, Mar. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Grohol, John M., PSY.D. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)."PsychCentral.com. Psych Central, 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." NIMH RSS. National Institute of Health, N.D. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Reno, Jamie. "The Hero Project." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 21 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. International. Wellness Directory, N.D. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. "Feds Might Allow Researchers to Study PTSD Treatment with Medical Marijuana." - RT USA. RT, 18 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, similar to an anxiety disorder, that is triggered by trauma and other extremely stressful circumstances. Throughout the book, Junger talks about PTSD in a wide range:from PTSD rates in natural disaster victims to PTSD rates in veterans. The latter is explained on a deeper perspective. While Junger gave many examples of why PTSD rates in America were so high, the most captivating was:
Boone, Katherine. "The Paradox of PTSD." Wilson Quarterly. 35.4 (2011): 18-22. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Friedman, Mathew J., MD, PhD. "PTSD History and Overview." PTSD: National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), originally associated with combat, has always been around in some shape or form but it was not until 1980 that it was named Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and became an accredited diagnosis (Rothschild). The fact is PTSD is one of many names for an old problem; that war has always had a severe psychological impact on people in immediate and lasting ways. PTSD has a history that is as long and significant as the world’s war history - thousands of years. Although, the diagnosis has not been around for that long, different names and symptoms of PTSD always have been. Some physical symptoms include increased blood pressure, excessive heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, nausea, diarrhea, problems with vision, speech, walking disorders, convulsive vomiting, cardiac palpitations, twitching or spasms, weakness and severe muscular cramps. The individual may also suffer from psychological symptoms, such as violent nightmares, flashbacks, melancholy, disturbed sleep or insomnia, loss of appetite, and anxieties when certain things remind them such as the anniversary date of the event (Peterson, 2009).
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that develops after exposure to an event that is perceived to be life threatening or pose serious bodily injury to self or others (Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011). According
Not a lot is known about what happens to individuals that have PTSD, but what? we do know is that it is caused by a change in the nervous system, where large levels of stress. hormones appear to be present. The parts of the brain that are changed following the traumatic event are the amygdala and the hippocampus. Those parts of the brain link fear and memory together.
PTSD, also known as post traumatic stress disorder, is a disorder in which an individual fails to recoup after enduring or witnessing
PTSD is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayoclinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers. (NIMH) While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, and police and fire personnel and bystanders. PTSD can manifest itself in many forms. The primary signs and symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts), avoidance of places, situations, or events that may cause those memories to resurface, and hyperarousal symptoms (easily startled, feeling tense or on edge) (NIMH). Other symptoms may include not having positive or loving feelings toward other people, staying away from relationships, may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them, may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.
PTSD in Service Members and New Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. (2009). PTSD Research Quarterly, 20(10501835), 1-8. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V20N1.pdf
There are many different traumatizing life altering events that may cause PTSD. To be diagnosed with this illness there is a series of tests to take that a psychologist will administer. These will record the symptoms that you are experiencing to rule out other mental illnesses. PTSD can cause symptoms such as night terrors, flashbacks, and panic attacks. There are many forms of treatments such as therapy, medications, and massage therapy. PTSD is very treatable, it is important to seek treatment if you are experiencing any symptoms for a mental illness.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a real mental illness that needs to be taken more seriously. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental illness that can develop with people who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives. There are some people that believe PTSD is not a real illness, and that it is an excuse for someone’s behavior. That idea is incorrect. PTSD can severely affect the way a person lives in a real way. It is not a disability that is new to society however it has been recently acknowledged. The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology states, “Post-traumatic stress disorder has been classified as an anxiety disorder in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders since 1980.” (505).
Flashbacks- people with PTSD often have and they relive the traumatic event and it is just as frightening to them as it was the day the occurred. Anything as simple as a pillow can bring flash back events and memories. The images and sounds and smells into their dreams. Someone with PTSD is constantly living in fear of the worst. They can also become very depressed because they may feel guilty.
"PTSD: National Center for PTSD Home." National Center for PTSD. VA Health Care, 1 Jan.
At least 50% of all adults and children are exposed to a psychologically traumatic event (such as a life-threatening assault or accident, humanmade or natural disaster, or war). As many as 67% of trauma survivors experience lasting psychosocial impairment, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); panic, phobic, or generalized anxiety disorders; depression; or substance abuse.(Van der Kolk, et al, 1994) Symptoms of PTSD include persistent involuntary re-experiencing of traumatic distress, emotional numbing and detachment from other people, and hyperarousal (irritability, insomnia, fearfulness, nervous agitation). PTSD is linked to structural neurochemical changes in the central nervous system which may have a direct biological effect on health, such as vulnerability to hypertension and atherosclerotic heart disease; abnormalities in thyroid and other hormone functions; increased susceptibility to infections and immunologic disorders; and problems with pain perception, pain tolerance, and chronic pain.(Fesler, 1991) PTSD is associated with significant behavioral health risks, including smoking, poor nutrition, conflict or violence in intimate relationships, and anger or hostility.
... event and tend to be emotionally numb” (Anxiety Disorders). PTSD leads to flashbacks and behavioral changes to try to avoid anything that might remind the affected individual of the traumatic experience.