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PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is an acquired mental condition that is manifested
following a psychologically distressing event outside the range of usual human experience. This disorder presumes that the
person experienced a traumatic event or events involving actual or threatened death or injury to themselves or others, and
where they felt fear, helplessness, or horror. Symptoms of PTSD may be delayed, or may become evident at any time following
the original trauma(s), including years after the fact.
The symptoms of PTSD include intrusive thoughts,
such as flashbacks or nightmares; avoidance, where the person tries to reduce exposure to people or things
that might bring on their intrusive symptoms; and hyperarousal, that is, signs of increased arousal, such as hypervigilance
or jumpiness.
In practical terms, symptoms can include any combination of the following:
* Recurring
nightmares about the event(s), including possibly intrusive memory flashbacks which may come in the form of strong emotion,
audio memory, or visual memory, or a combination of these.
* Difficulty sleeping or changes in appetite.
*
Feelings of anxiety and fear, especially when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma(s).
* Jumpiness,
edginess, exaggerated startle reflex, or becoming overly alert.
* Depression, sadness, and lack of energy. Spontaneous
crying. Sense of despair and hopelessness.
* Memory problems, including difficulty in remembering aspects of the trauma(s).
* Feeling "scattered" or "off center", and unable to focus on work or daily activities. Difficulty making decisions
or carrying out plans.
* Irritability, aggitation, or feelings of anger and resentment.
* Feeling emotionally
"numb," withdrawn, disconnected, or different from others.
* Oveprotectiveness of loved ones, or fear for the safety
of loved ones.
* Not being able to face certain aspects of the trauma, and avoiding activities, places, or even people
that remind you of the event(s).
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is officially classed as an anxiety
disorder, but, according to David Baldwin, it has been argued that PTSD is more closely akin to dissociation.
It's also a misnomer that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is something that only soldiers or survivors
of sudden servere misfortune get. It is true that combat veterans are known to develop PTSD, but victims and survivors of
any and all kinds of trauma can and do develop PTSD, including those who have experienced natural disasters,
assault, plane crashes, car accidents, and many other sorts of traumatic events. Child abuse survivors are almost certain
to live with symptoms of this disorder, as do survivors of domestic violence and political upheavals such as civil war or
revolutions. PTSD is associated with trauma where the victim felt helpless, overwhelmingly afraid, and experienced
the threat of death or injury to themselves or others, as already mentioned. It is in
no way limited to soldiers and combat veterans.
Unfortunately, many people suffering from this disorder go undiagnosed for a long time (or possibly
forever) because they lack a specific "traumatic event" and therefore doctors and other health care professionals miss the
symptoms and fail to diagnose the condition.
Sometimes, PTSD symptoms don't show up in any significant way for years
after the original trauma(s). It's not known how or why this happens, but it's fairly well-documented in psychological research
on the subject of trauma. I've also heard of "delayed" PTSD being given as a defense in court (presumably on a "temporary
insanity" or "reduced capacity" plea), but I don't know how effective it was as a defense.
Treatment of PTSD tends
to focus on anxiety reduction and stress coping techniques. Self-hypnosis can be helpful, as can learned relaxation exercises.
In many cases, cognitive psychotherapy is helpful, as the trauma survivor brings the trauma out in a therapy setting, discusses
it and how they dealt with it, and learns new ways to react to the traumatic memories. Drug therapy can be helpful if there
are notable depressive symptoms, panic attacks, or debilitating stress symptoms.
Left untreated, PTSD has a high link
with alcoholism, drug addiction, poor job performance, and any number of other self-destructive
and unhealthy behaviors. It can wreak havoc with relationships, with work, with pursuit of leisure, with just about every
aspect of a person's life and mental health. If you have symptoms such as those listed, if what you read sort of rings a bell,
or if you see someone you love in this description, please get help. You don't have to be hypervigilant and moody and ready
to jump out of your own skin. You don't have to be irritable all the time, or depressed, or suffer from nightmares and flashbacks.
There is effective help available. Don't suffer needlessly; there is hope.
Rape Trauma Syndrome
Author: Flora Guillory
I awakened from my sleep drenched--the perspiration was causing my wet hair to cling to my face and neck. My pillow and my
nightgown felt as if I'd been doused with water. My heart was racing as I sat up straight in my bed and frantically began
looking around the room. As my eyes fell on my nightlite, my vision started to adjust to the soft glow which slowly seemed
to envelop the room.
I had to take deep, cleansing breaths, 1 2 3 4 inhale 1 2 3 4 exhale 1 2 3 4 inhale 1 2 3
4 exhale. I looked around the bedroom, nothing seemed to be out of place. There was my familiar furniture, the dresser with
a couple of the drawers slightly ajar--my collection of cosmetics and fragrances and hair products--my mirror with the fun
booth faux magazine cover of my husband and me with the title 'Gorgeous Magazine'--my entertainment center, dark at the moment,
except for the tiny red light on the stereo and the green vcr display of 4:52 a.m.--my husband's chest of drawers with his
stuff on top--and finally, beside me, the sleeping form of my husband. I felt relieved that I didn't awaken him this time.
It was just another nightmare...I wasn't being raped again.
It was another manifestation of Rape Trauma Syndrome.
Rape Trauma Syndrome has been defined as a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the lasting effects
can range from months to years to lifelong. However, only a small percentage of counselors and therapists specialize in the
field of sexual assault. For this reason, many survivors and "secondary victims" (husband, parent, significant other,
etc) are better served by consulting with rape crisis centers or specialized counselors and therapists rather than general
counseling resources.
RTS has 2 phases: acute (immediate) and chronic (long term). The acute phase is signified
by the sudden disruption of a survivor's lifestyle by an assault and usually culminates within six months; while the chronic
phase lasts over six months and is signified by the survivor's attempt to reorganize her previously disrupted lifestyle.
There are acknowledged factors which increase the survivor's likelihood of developing RTS. These include a history
of physical or sexual abuse; emotional disorder or anxiety; early parental separation; being a part of a dysfunctional family
and a history of self-medication. There are also several factors which will influence the survivor's ability to cope with
the symptoms of RTS. These include the length of time which expires between the assault and the survivor's receipt of counseling;
the survivor's life experiences, family history and learned coping skills; the pre-assault relationship between the survivor
and the rapist; the events leading to the rape; and the survivor's post-assault support system.
Flashbacks, hallucinations
, nightmares or bad dreams, distress at anniversaries of the rape, thought avoidance and activity avoidance are recognized
symptoms of RTS and are never usually questioned. However, symptoms such as hopelessness, hypervigilence, eating disorders,
disinegration of marriage and intimate relationships, feelings of detachment, anger, increased blood pressure, rapid heart
rate and breathing, tension, nausea, diarrhea and an impaired immune system are more often seen simply as symptoms of depression
.
Specialized help for RTS can be found in mental health centers or psychiatric services offices. Your counties
social services agency often makes referrals in this area. Victim Assistance Centers such as rape crisis centers or battered
women's centers always have qualified counselors or therapists on duty. Some employee assistance programs will even pay for
their employee's treatment.
The greatest challenge for a survivor suffering from RTS is how to manage their life
from day to day. For this reason, the therapist must individualize the treatment plan based on the survivor's history and
current circumstances. There are four basic types of treatment for RTS. Behavior therapy includes relaxation techniques and
often challenges the mental process of the survivor. Family therapy works well for a dysfunctional family and couples. Group
therapy gives the survivor a support system outside of the family. Drug therapy is usually combined with one or all of the
others to complete the survivor's treatment plan.
If you or someone you love is experiencing RTS, there are some
coping mechanisms that can be used between visits to your therapist and they won't interfere with your treatment plan.
1. Feel free to vent--talk about your experience with someone you trust, or right them down in a journal.
2.
Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques.
3. Eat a balanced diet.
4. Exercise in moderation...with
your doctor's approval.
5. Find an activity which you enjoy and get involved with others who share the interest.
6. Develop your inner peace...through prayer or meditation.
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