Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

1. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Fort Knox Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) 2009

2. PTSD� So What Is It? * Is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a event. * A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you * You may think that your life or others� lives are in danger * You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.

3. PTSD- Who Are The Victims? Combat or military exposure Child sexual abuse or physical abuse Terrorist attack Sexual or physical assault Serious accidents, such as a car wreck Natural disasters (fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake) survivors

4. PTSD- Feelings I Have * After the event, you may feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings go don�t go away or they get worse, you have PTSD. * The symptoms usually disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities.

5. PTSD � Cause? PTSD is caused by strong emotions that create changes in the brain and your ability to cope with the trauma. You may have symptoms at the beginning, yet only some will get PTSD. Don�t really know why some do and some don�t but may be contingent on certain conditions.

6. PTSD- Why Me? How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted Losing someone you were close to or were hurt How close you were to the event How strong your reaction was How much you felt in control of the events How much help and support you got after the event

7. PTSD- They say� Many people who develop PTSD get better at some time But about 1 out of 3 people with PTSD may continue to have some symptoms. But treatment can help�

8. PTSD � Can Show Up Anytime After the Event� PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event but for some, it may be months or even years. If symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, you may have PTSD.

9. PTSD � 4 symptoms� Reliving the event- remembering Avoidance � not wanting to think about it Numbing-Detached Feeling keyed up � Hyper and anxious All the time

10. Reliving� Re-experiencing the symptoms (Fear, nightmares, flashback) Sometimes there is a trigger � a sight or sound that causes you to relive the experience

11. Reliving Hearing a car backfire, which can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat veteran Seeing a car accident � victims Seeing a news report of sexual assault � remembering being victimized.

12. Avoidance� You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event (don�t watch the news, or movies, or you keep too busy to think about things or avoid seeking help because of the perceived stigma)

13. Feeling Numb� You may find it hard to express your feelings � which is another way to avoid memories (Avoid loving relationships, lose interest in activities you used to enjoy, may even forget about parts of the traumatic event or never talk about them)

14. Feeling keyed up � called �hyperarousal� You may be jittery, always alert and on the lookout for danger Suddenly becoming angry or irritable Have a hard time sleeping Have trouble concentrating Fear for your safety � always on guard Be very startled when someone surprises you

15. Other Common Problems� Drinking or drug problems Feeling hopeless and shame or despair Employment Problems Relationship problems including divorce and violence Physical problems � stomach aches, headaches, heart problems, high blood pressure

16. Children and PTSD Children can develop the symptoms of PTSD � * Trouble sleeping * Stomach aches * Depression * Anxiety * Angry, lonely, hyper * Fears � aggression or withdraw

17. Treatments� Most importantly is �.talk to someone It�s difficult to talk about the past or the traumatic event but keeping feelings bottled up only makes it worse. Treatments: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications that increase the serotonin levels - used for depression.

18. Informations Sources� Dept of Veterans Affairs �The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder� Call Fort Knox ASAP at 624-1537 for Referral Resources

21. Problem Drinking Begins as Social Activity Army Substance Abuse Program Fort Knox KY 40121 2009

22. National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) MonthDecember 2009Fort Knox Save A Life Campaign�Together We Can Save A Life� �Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving�

23. Estimated that there are 15 million alcoholics in the U.S. Another 3.3 million teenage alcoholics Half of all highway deaths are alcohol-related That�s about 22,000 per year or one death every 25 minutes Four out of five suicide attempts are made while drinking Many are using other drugs along with the USE/ABUSE of alcohol A Serious Health Problem �

24. Alcohol � not Parkinson�s disease or Downs Syndrome � is the number one cause of mental retardation in America. According to the Dept of Defense Survey of �Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel�, alcohol abuse remains the number one problem for military personnel between ages 19-28 years of age. Health Issues�.

25. Heavy alcohol use, is responsible for the vast majority of negative effects and is defined as drinking at least once per week with five or more drinks per occasion. The study also indicates that the people most �at risk� for serious problems are single males under the age of 35 in pay grades E1 through E5 with a high school education or less. Health Issues �

26. The study also found that military personnel are more likely to drink heavily (14.2) percent more than their civilian counterparts. Perhaps the most serious concern is the fact that alcohol is not perceived as a drug, yet it remains the most popular and most damaging. Example: I don�t drink alcohol or the hard stuff� �I just drink beer� Drinking Beer is minimized by some as no big deal�everyone does it. Health Issues �

27. Majority of adults � alcohol is used responsibly and in moderation and causes no disruption in the lives of the drinker. It is seen as a way to relax or unwind and for some is associated with having a good time at social occasions. However, for a significant percentage of Americans, alcohol is a serious problem that affects at least 8 people associated with each problem drinker. Why We Drink?

28. Alcohol immediately enters the bloodstream and goes to the brain� First, it relaxes the nerves and makes us feel good. ? ? ? More than one or two quick drinks (beer, wine, distilled liquor) impairs judgment and changes behavior. Additional drinks leads to slurred speech and loss of balance and possible vomiting. How does it affect us?

29. Progression of Alcohol Abuse

30. Further intoxication turns off the brain and the drinker passes out. (An alcoholic coma can be fatal) Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant � it is not a stimulant. Continued daily intoxication can damage the liver, heart, stomach, and brain. Drinking can change your personality. (It makes some people happy and others belligerent) Effects of alcohol�

31. Drinking impairs the judgment Reflexes are slowed after a few drinks Under the influence of alcohol, people often exercise dangerously poor judgment. Heavy drinking brings loss of memory � a �blackout� (It is a sure sign of a drinking problem) Effects of alcohol�

32. Drinking more than others at parties Getting high for the fun of it Embarrassing others by inappropriate behavior Feeling remorseful about drinking Driving while drunk Skipping meals Starting family fights Alcoholic�s Progression�.

33. Losing time from work or losing a job because of drinking Completely losing control �.Eventually your dependence and addiction on the drug takes control �DUI� charge � now everyone in your chain of command will know, especially your 1SG and Commander. Loss of integrity and respect Progression�.

34. Keep in mind: �Drinking all night till early morning hours will not give your system time to rid the alcohol �... Sleep will not sober you up � nor coffee � nor eating. Only time will sober you up and this all depends on how quickly your liver breaks down the alcohol and is eventually flushed out of your system through the urine. You�ll probably will still register a reading of �being under the influence� even hours later depending on how much you drank that night, your liver, and body mass. Drinking the Night Before..

35. The typical alcoholic can be anyone Rich or poor�.bright or average�male or female�young or old Most alcoholics have homes and jobs To the contrary - fewer than 5 percent are skid-row derelicts Inherited? �. Alcoholism may be inherited but our environmental surroundings have a significant impact. Alcoholics used to be called sinners or moral weaklings � but alcoholism has been recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association since 1958 Like any sick person � an alcoholic needs treatment A Problem Drinker�

36. Alcoholic behavior helps alcoholics deny that they have a problem They believe they can stop �any time I want� They promise to stop but fail They get angry when anyone questions their drinking They hide bottles and sneaks drinks Alcoholics often fool family, friends & physicians about their consumption The Alcoholic Denial�.

37. The worse the drinking becomes, the more he or she denies the problem The truth of the matter is � �alcoholics cannot be treated until they admit they need help or are directed to treatment� However, if you are in a relationship with someone who has an alcohol problem, you need help too, even if the alcoholic does not seek it. Alcoholic Denial�

38. Drinking times and amounts have increased People are beginning to notice your drinking � maybe even make fun of your drinking May lose old friends and end up with new friends known as (drinking buddies) Spending more money on drinking Smell of alcohol the next day Late for work or hung over Job performance is slipping That first DUI/DWI� BIG clue to having a problem� Early Signs To Look For�.

39. A loss of interest in other activities Arguments with family/spouses over drinking More aggressive behaviors when drinking � or no longer able to control your drinking Your drinking behaviors are becoming noticeable (especially to the command) Referred for evaluation at Alcohol and Drug Prevention class recommended Next step (if abusive drinking continues) ... Treatment enrollment (?) or possibly discharge from the army. Command Now Notices!

40. Resources to Help �

41. Resources To Assist�