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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. BY: Michael Prestininzi 6 th hour 10/31/12. Defined illness. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event might involve:
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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER BY: Michael Prestininzi 6th hour 10/31/12
Defined illness • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. • This event might involve: • The threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to someone’s own or someone else’s physical, sexual, or psychological integrity. • This overwhelms the individual’s ability to cope.
Describe illness • Symptoms must last over 30 days for it to be classified as PTSD • If the symptoms last less than 30 days, it is known as “acute stress response”
"Reliving" the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity: • Repeated upsetting memories of the event and nightmares about the event, • they have flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again • Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event
Avoidance: • Feeling detached, • being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma, • having a lack of interest in normal activities, • showing less of your moods, • avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event, • feeling like you have no future.
Arousal: • Difficulty concentrating • Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you • Feeling more aware (hyper vigilance) • Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger • Having trouble falling or staying asleep
Causes • As with most mental health problems, PTSD is probably caused by a complex mix of: • Your inherited mental health risks, such as an increased risk of anxiety and depression • Your life experiences, including the amount and severity of trauma you've gone through since early childhood
Causes • Some other causes are: • The inherited aspects of your personality — often called your temperament • The way your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones your body releases in response to stress
Treatment • It’s important to seek help right away. The sooner PTSD is confronted, the easier it is to overcome. • The only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and learn to accept it as a part of your past. • This process is much easier with the guidance and support of an experienced therapist or doctor.
Treatment • In treatment for PTSD, you’ll: • Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma • Work through feelings of guilt, self-blame, and mistrust • Learn how to cope with and control intrusive memories • Address problems PTSD has caused in your life and relationships
Facts on PTSD • Women are twice more likely to have PTSD than men (10.4%:5%) • Most common reasons for men: rape, combat exposure, childhood neglect and childhood physical abuse • Most common reasons for women: rape, sexual molestation, physical attack, being threatened with a weapon and childhood physical abuse • Among American Vietnam theater veterans 1 in every 6 soldiers have PTSD • 30.9% for men and 26.9% for women. • An additional 22.5% of men and 21.2% of women have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. • About 1,700,000(50%) Vietnam veterans in all, have experienced “clinically serious stress reaction symptoms.” • PTSD can often lead to alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence. • Millions of Americans get PTSD every year. • Symptoms associated with PTSD usually occur within three months after the traumatic even
Occurrence • PTSD can occur at any age. It can follow a natural disaster such as a flood or fire, or events such as: • Assault • Domestic abuse • Prison stay • Rape • Terrorism • War
Famous People • Johnny Depp-Actor, • Oprah Winfrey-TV Host, • Orlando Bloom-Actor, • Keira Knightly-Actress, and • Geoffery Rush-Film Producer • all have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Quiz • PTSD does what to an individual? • Help social life • Overwhelms ability to cope • Makes them quieter • Makes them hate people • How long does it take for someone’s disorder to be classified as PTSD? • 1 week • 1 year • 1 month • 1 day • What are three symptoms of PTSD? • Reliving the event • Avoidance • Arousal • All of the above • What is the only way to overcome PTSD? • Dancing • Medicine • Confronting the problem / learn to accept it in your past • Ignoring the problem and eventually it will go away • PTSD can occur at any age ( T, F )
Quiz • What total percent of Vietnam veterans suffer from PTSD? • About 50% • About 25% • About 75% • 0% • Men suffer from PTSD more than women ( T , F ) • PTSD can follow which of the following events? • Marriage • Assault • War • Both B and C • PTSD can effect anyone ( T , F ) • There is no known cause for PTSD ( T , F )
Answers • B. • C. • D. • C. • True • A. • False • D. • True • False
Resources • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001923/ • http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246 • http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm • http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/facts-about-ptsd/