PTSD

= = PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is PTSD?
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that people get after experiencing an extremely traumatizing event. People who have been affected by PTSD may have trouble getting back to their regular life, reconnecting with others, and feeling safe. Sometimes fear comes and goes with this depending on what has happened to you and what is causing the fear. This disorder can be unpredictable and uncontrollable without help. PTSD varies from person to person.

Causes
 Or any shattering event that leaves you stuck and feeling helpless and hopeless.
 * War
 * Natural Disasters
 * Car or Plane Crashes
 * Terrorist Attacks
 * Sudden Deaths Of Loved Ones
 * Rape
 * Kidnapping
 * Assault
 * Sexual or Physical Abuse
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Childhood Neglect

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Signs and Symptoms
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Re-experiencing the traumatic event
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Upsetting memories of the event
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Flashbacks
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Nightmares
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Intense physical reactions to reminders i.e. increased heart rate, rapid breathing, nausea

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Avoiding reminders of the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Loss of interest in activities and life in general
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sense of a limited future

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Difficulty falling or staying asleep
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Irritability or outbursts of anger
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Difficulty concentrating
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Hypervigilance (on constant 'red alert')
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Feeling jumpy or easily started

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Risk Factors
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Revolve around the nature of the traumatic event itself.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">High level of stress in everyday life
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Lack of support after the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Lack of coping skills

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">People may slip back into the memory and cause physical harm to themselves and others <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Treatments/Getting Help

 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you suspect that you or a loved one has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is important to seek help right away. The sooner it is confronted, the easier it is to overcome.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Having PTSD is not a sign of weakness, the only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and accept that it is a part of your past.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">PTSD symptoms can worsen physical health problems
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Learn how to cope with and control intrusive memories

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Medications
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">All of these are anti-depressant drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). They work by blocking the site on neurons that remove serotonin from the synapses which is a process called Reuptake. This allows the body to access more serotonin.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Zoloft
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Paxil
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Related Disorders

 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Panic Disorder
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Social Anxiety Disorder
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">OCD
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Specific Phobias

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Work Cited
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Treatment and Self-Help." //Helpguide.org: Expert, Ad-free Articles Help Empower You with Knowledge, Support & Hope.// Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm>.

"PTSD and Anxiety Disorders - Information on PTSD and Anxiety Disorders." //PTSD - PTSD Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment//. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://ptsd.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/anxietydisorder.htm>.

Thomas, Peggy. //Post Traumatic Stress Disorder//. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent, 2008. Print.