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PTSD & Veterans

PTSD & Veterans. Roberta Schweitzer, PhD, RN, FCN. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. What is PTSD? Symptoms of PTSD PTSD causes and factors Getting help for PTSD Types of treatment for PTSD PTSD and the family. How Common is PTSD. 7.8% of Americans experience PTSD Women – 10.4%

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PTSD & Veterans

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  1. PTSD & Veterans Roberta Schweitzer, PhD, RN, FCN

  2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder • What is PTSD? • Symptoms of PTSD • PTSD causes and factors • Getting help for PTSD • Types of treatment for PTSD • PTSD and the family

  3. How Common is PTSD • 7.8% of Americans experience PTSD • Women – 10.4% • Men – 3.6% • 30% of service members in military (men & women) have chance of developing PTSD

  4. What is PTSD? • A traumatic disorder that can occur after witnessing a traumatic event • Person believes that their life or lives of others are in danger • During event person feels intense fear or feel as if have no control over the situation

  5. Symptoms of PTSD • Three main types of symptoms • Re-experiencing traumatic event • Avoiding reminders of the trauma • Increased anxiety and emotional arousal

  6. PTSD Symptoms • Re-experiencing the traumatic event • Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event • Flashbacks • Nightmares • Feelings of intense distress when reminded • Intense physical reactions to reminders of event

  7. PTSD Symptoms • Avoidance and numbing • Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind of the trauma • Inability to remember important aspects of trauma • Loss of interest in activities and life in general • Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb • Sense of limited future

  8. PTSD Symptoms • Increased anxiety and emotional arousal • Difficulty falling or staying asleep • Irritability or outbursts of anger • Difficulty concentrating • Hypervigilance • Feeling jumpy and easily startled

  9. PTSD Symptoms • Other common symptoms • Anger & irritability • Guilt, shame, self-blame • Substance abuse • Mistrust & betrayal • Depression & hopelessness • Suicidal thoughts and feelings • Feeling alienated or alone • Physical aches & pains

  10. PTSD Consequences • Normal response to trauma becomes PTSD when person becomes “stuck” • Happens hours, days, or years after event • Lowered quality of life in person • Traumatic symptoms of PTSD don’t allow person to function properly in certain situations

  11. Getting Help for PTSD • Why seek help? • Early treatment is better • PTSD can change family life • PTSD can be related to other help problems

  12. PTSD Treatment • Relieves symptoms by helping you deal with trauma that’s been experienced • In treatment you • Explore thoughts & feelings about trauma • Work through feelings of guilt, etc. • Learn how to cope with & control intrusive memories • Address problems PTSD has caused in life and relationships

  13. Types of PTSD Treatment • Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy • CBT – carefully & gradually “exposing” yourself to thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind of the trauma • Family therapy • Helps loved ones understand what you’re going through and help family communicate better and work through problems • Medications – relieve secondary sx of anxiety & depression • EMDR – Eye movement desensitization & reprocessing

  14. Finding Help for PTSD • Counselor or Therapist • Services for veterans through VA • Self-help treatment – handout • For the community - website mentalhealthfirstaid.org

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