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Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

Kerstine Coca-Jensen

Nightingale
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Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

It truly would be horrible to live in fear every day after already going through it once or

even several times. Post-traumatic stress disorder or you can refer it to (PTSD) is a mental health

condition that is triggered by a terrifying event that a patient experienced or witnessed. (PTSD) is

considered psychiatric disorder. The body goes into the “fight or flight” mode during traumatic

events which the body then will release adrenaline and norepinephrine the stress hormones for

the body. When this happens the brain shuts off and does not know what is really happening until

the traumatic event is over (Editors, 2017). “The main difference between PTSD and the experi-

ence of trauma is important to note. A traumatic event is time-based, while PTSD is a longer-

term condition where one continues to have flashbacks and re-experiencing the traumatic event.

In addition, to meet criteria for PTSD there must be a high level of ongoing distress and life im-

pairment,” (Debra Kissen & Michelle Lozano, 2018). Approximately 70% of adults will have ex-

perienced or witnessed a terrifying event. According to (PTSD) statistics, 8% (24.4 million) will

at some point develop signs of (PTSD) (Javier Iribarren, 2005). A lot of patients that are suffer-

ing from (PTSD) are not fully aware that they have this disorder. This is a serious disorder that is

important to understand and knowing how to handle. Traumatic disorders are a stressful, embar-

rassing, and are hard to talk about. It’s very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful, and find it
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Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

difficult to stop thinking about what happened. (PTSD) is starting to become more aware that

they are finding new way to help not cure but make easier for patients to feel they can live a nor-

mal life without living in fear. With this disorder it is knowing what the symptoms are, who can

develop (PTSD), and how to treat it. War victims are not the only one that can develop (PTSD).

This disorder is a relatively new diagnostic. Before this diagnostic was discovered the

war veterans called these symptoms “Shell Shock.” The brain has many different functions, such

as memory, sight, and smell, reside. With all these functions that the brain can do is how (PTSD)

will start its process after the event. The brain areas that are implicated during the event include

the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. The amygdala of the brain is a small shaped

“almond” that is located deep in the temporal lobe. It is designed to respond to threatening envi-

ronments and help store the memories. The hippocampus is a small organ that is also in the tem-

poral lobe. Its function is to regulate emotions and store them in the long term memories. The

prefrontal cortex is located in the frontal lobe as well right behind your forehead. The prefrontal

cortex does several things. It regulates attention, awareness, help make decisions to respond to

decisions, and help with the reaction of the situation. When the brain goes in to the “fight or

flight” you do not have time to think or even not what is going on. This is when the amygdala,

hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex will kick into helping you remember after the event is over.
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Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

With recovering from this event re-living this event is going to start bring reminders of what had

happened and then it is going to put the patient though several symptoms. The Post-traumatic

stress disorder symptoms have been ground into four categories to when the patient. These

symptoms do not have to be in order; avoidance, intrusive memories, negative changes in think-

ing or mood, physical and emotional reactions (Clinic, 2018). They might not even get all of

these symptoms at once but they are signs that need to be watched. The avoidance means avoid-

ing from doing something that you need to get done by doing other things. This symptoms in the

patient would be them trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event. Intrusive

memories would the second symptom you would want to watch out for. Intrusive memories can

be experienced in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive images. This you would have

to watch for a few things (Clinic, 2018).

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event

• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event

• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the trau-

matic event

• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)

Intrusive memories are also generally triggered by one of the five senses; vision, smell,
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touch, taste, and hearing. The third symptom would negative changes in thinking or

mood. Many signs can happen with this negative thoughts about yourself or other people.

Hopelessness about the future and not wanting to move forward. Memory loss throughout

the day or even trying to put together what happened with the traumatic event, difficulty

with maintaining close relationships or even wanting to start any new relationships, lack

of interest in activities that patients used to enjoy doing, and feeling emotionally numb

towards anything. The last symptom would be the physical and emotional reactions.

“Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symp-

toms) may include” (Clinic, 2018). The signs with this would be; Being easily startled or

frightened always being aware for danger, having a destructive behavior, having a hard

time sleeping, having a lot of anger, and being overwhelmed. According to Mayo Clinic

any of these sighs can happen during any time after the event. An example would be that

Mayo Clinic shared would be the patient “may hear a car backfire and relive combat ex-

periences.” Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome

by memories of your own assault.

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Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD)

Not only does war victims can get (PTSD) it can happen to anyone. Most people that

associate with post-traumatic stress disorder are patients that have been raped, battle-scarred sol-

dier, military combat, and even children. According to NCBI the ratio between female to male is

3:1 (Javier Iribarren, 2005). Women are slightly less likely to experience trauma than men. The

most common trauma for women is sexual assault or child sexual abuse. Post-traumatic stress

disorder can happen to any gender and any age. According to Sidran Institute, “An estimated 70

percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their

lives and up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or

PTSD.” Any social event now days can be a scary event to attend because of all the scary events

that have been going on it world. For example; the concert event that happened in Las Vegas,

Route 91. I was supposed to attend this event with many of my friends but a last minute work sit-

uation that I had to attend instead. When my friends returned home it had become a struggle to

even get back in to a normal routine. With it being a year they still have flashbacks and find it

hard to even get out of bed. "Nevada already ranks as one of the worst states for mental health

services, according to a March report from the University of Nevada, Reno,” (Bekker, 2017).

Many events have not only happened in the past but continues on. The history of was docu-

mented in 400-B.C in the battle of Marathon a story was told “how an Athenian named Epizelus
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was suddenly stricken with blindness while in the heat of battle after seeing his comrade killed in

combat. This blindness, brought on by fright and not a physical wound, persisted over many

years” (Editors, 2017). When they really started to notice (PTSD) was noticed back when the

Veterans would come home from war. After seeing so many terrifying events they would come

home and start having flashbacks from what they had witnessed. Studies have shown that veter-

ans or anyone that has witnessed post-traumatic stress disorder are most likely to commit suicide.

The studies have shown that since the Gulf war, ninety-three British veterans have committed

suicide in the last decade. This article says it is hard to find adequate psychiatric care, outside of

the military because most psychiatrist’s have a hard time comprehending combat conditions (Ed-

itors, 2017). This disorder has been happening for years so knowing how to handle and reach out

for help is going to help.

Being aware of what is going on is always the first step. The next step is going to

reach out for help. A lot of patients are embraced or trying to avoid the situation.Finding a

healthy way to handle any kind of traumatic event is part of reaching out. Studies have shown

that a lot of patients will turn to alcohol, substance abuse and some will just find suicide the an-

swer. “A 2008 study performed at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, found that alcohol

and substance abuse/dependence among individuals with PTSD was approximately 27%, a
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nearly 3 fold increase on people without the disorder (~10.8%)” (Van Ameringen, 2008). Find-

ing out how to handle this in healthy way and being able to move one is going to be key. A num-

ber of treatment and techniques have been found to help treat post traumatic disorder. Everyone

has a different way of dealing with things. So finding what fits the patient when it comes to be-

ing treated. Some patients need medication, just going and speaking to someone once a week for

an hour, or flinging groups that have been through something similar. They offer different kinds

of treatment cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, Eye movement desensitization and

reprocessing, anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, and osanetant. “I also think the fact

that we can get people to stick with treatment is a big part of the success of intensive programs,”

(Young Investigation Grant, 2016)

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is to help the patient recognize their ways of

thinking. CBT is a way to help you change the way you have been thinking. In this ther-

apy you with learn how to recognize, gain a better understanding, how to solve the situa-

tion, how to face the fear, and controlling your thoughts.

• Exposure therapy is exposing the patient to the fear of what had already happened to

them. This will help the patient “safely face what they fear, in order to learn to cope with
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it (virtual reality devices are often used to simulate a situation or setting in which the

trauma took place),” (Young Investigation Grant, 2016).

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that com-

bines exposure therapy. This is a “series of guided eye movements that help people pro-

cess traumatic memories and change the way they respond to those memories” (Young

Investigation Grant, 2016).

• Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants can also ease the symptoms of

(PTSD). PTSD who are having symptoms that will include insomnia or recurrent night-

mares will use medications. They offer prazosin that will help block the effect of adrena-

line in the body that is reflecting back to the event.

• “Osanetant, a medication that has been tested in humans to treat schizophrenia, and was

found to be safe but ineffective, has recently been found to block fear memories in mice

shortly after exposure to a trauma; it targets a distinct group of cells in the brain that con-

trols the formation and consolidation of fear memories. According to Foundation Scien-

tific Council member Kerry Ressler, M.D., Ph.D., who led the research at Emory Univer-
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sity, osanetant shows potential to aid in preventing PTSD from developing if adminis-

tered in the emergency room or battlefield, for example, before traumatic memories con-

solidate.” (Young Investigation Grant, 2016).

Seeking out for help is not the only way to help move on but you can do things at home to help.

Routine is key to everything. Staying on track of a schedule will help you keep your thoughts

straight. Making sure you stay in touch with family and friends is a way to help keep your mind

off of the event. The gym or any kind of psychical activity is away to let stress and anger out.

Using journaling to write in and be able to express your thoughts and feelings can be a good way

of coping with (PTSD). Writing has been found to improve physical and psychological health.

Reaching out and finding ways to stay mentally healthy and being able to move is away to beat

this disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is not something that should never be ignored and needs to

be taken seriously. Understanding this disorder and knowing how to reach out will help in so

many ways in the long run. This disorder can happen to so many people it does not matter the

age, the race, or if you are male or female. It is something that needs to be recognized so that pat-

ines can be helped. When they use the quote “flight or fright” those are really your options even

after the traumatic event has happened.

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Reference

1. Mayo Clinic. (2018, July 06). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Retrieved From.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symp-

toms-causes/syc-20355967

2. Javier Iribarren, Paolo Prolo, Negoita Neagos, Francesco Chiappelli. (2005, December

2(4)). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Evidence-Based Research for the Third Millen-

nium. Retrieved From. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297500/

3. David Puder, M.D. (2017, July 9). Emotional Shutdown—Understanding Polyvagal The-

ory. Retrieved From. https://psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-pod-

cast/polyvagal-theory-understanding-emotional-shutdown

4. Brain and Behavior. Young Investigation Grant. (2016, November 11). Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder (PTSD) FAQs. Retrieved From. https://www.bbrfoundation.org/faq/fre-

quently-asked-questions-about-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

5. Michael Van Ameringen Catherine Mancini Beth Patterson Michael H. Boyle. Post‐

Traumatic Stress Disorder in Canada. (2008, August 13). Retrieved From.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1755-5949.2008.00049.x
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6. Sidran Institute. Traumatic Stress Education and Advocacy. (2016). Retrieved From.

https://www.sidran.org/resources/for-survivors-and-loved-ones/post-traumatic-stress-dis-

order-fact-sheet/

7. Debra Kissen & Michelle Lozano. (2017, December 18). How to Prevent Trauma from

Becoming PTSD. Retrieved From. https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-

posts/consumer/how-prevent-trauma-becoming-ptsd