PTSD

=​= ** PTSD ** Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Megan Hallett, Sarah Martin, Nick Singletary, Paul Zelenak, Callie Ewen

__ ** What is PTSD? ** __

· This disorder develops after being exposed to a horrifying event · Physical harm may have occurred or could have been threatened · Involve symptoms lasting more than a few weeks, seen as an ongoing problem. · Sometimes, those suffering from PTSD do not show any symptoms for weeks or months.

**__What Triggers PTSD? __** ·  Violent, personal assaults · Natural disasters · Human disasters · Accidents · Military combat

__ ** The History of PTSD ** __ · During the early 1800’s, military doctors diagnosed soldiers with “exhaustion” from battle

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;">Soldiers were also diagnosed as being stressed and having mental breakdowns <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;">Prior to the Vietnam War, PTSD was not scientifically studied as often

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">“Railway spine,” or “Railway hysteria,” were terms used in the early 1800’s in England similar to today’s term, “PTSD”

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">The natural shock reaction caused the soldiers to become fatigued

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">In 1876 Dr. Mendez DaCosta published a paper that diagnosed Civil War combat veterans with, "Soldiers Heart": The symptoms included in the paper consisted of startle responses, hyper-vigilance, and heart arrhythmias.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">During WWI overwhelming mental fatigue was diagnosed as "soldier’s heart" and "the effort syndrome".

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">The term "shell shock" emerged during WWI followed in WWII by the term "combat fatigue." These terms were used to describe those veterans who exhibited stress and anxiety as the result of combat trauma.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;"> The official designation of "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" did not come about until 1980 when the Third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;"> PTSD became a serious public health problem in the general population because of high amounts of assaults, rapes, child abuse, disasters, and severe accidental and violent trauma in civilian areas.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">It is estimated that PTSD affects more than ten million American children or adults at some point in their lives. During the Vietnam war, talking or showing emotions was unacceptable. The only way to get rid of "PTSD" (before it was diagnosed) was to continue to go into the war.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Feeling stressed or terrified even when they are no longer in danger <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Continual frightening thoughts and memories suffering dealt with <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Emotionally numb with people, especially with those who they were once close to <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·  Flashbacks- reliving the trauma over and over. Can cause one’s heart to begin racing and for one to being sweating <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Nightmares and/or Horrifying thoughts <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Certain words, objects, or situations can trigger re-experiencing <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Avoidance- staying away from places, events, or objects that can be seen as a reminder <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Strong feelings of guilt, depression, or worry <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Losing interest in activities that were once enjoyable <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Can have trouble remembering the dangerous event <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Hyper-arousal effects- usually constant: can be easily startled, feeling tense or “on edge” <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Difficulty sleeping <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Can have angry outbursts <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Can having trouble concentrating, sleeping, and eating due to symptoms <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Panic disorder <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Depression <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Substance abuse <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Feeling suicidal
 * __ Symptoms of PTSD __ **

**__<span style="color: #a00808; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 110%;">Handling PTSD __** <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·  Psychotherapy <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Medications <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Treatments for people will vary because everyone copes and reacts differently <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Not recommended to handle on your own; One should seek additional help <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> · Medications are able to assist with sleeping patterns <span style="color: #a00808; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 330%;">

**__ Examples of PTSD __** //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> Chapter 8, Page 51 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> The tragedies that have occurred in Ishmael’s life have been planted into his mind for the rest of his life. What had happened in Ishmael’s life was so traumatizing and graphic. Moments so horrific will never leave Ishmael’s memory. Sometimes, memories are a traumatizing experience can be blurred, but it can also be planted into one’s mind when a situation is so visual. Flashbacks can occur.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">“To this day, I have an excellent photographic memory that enables me to remember details of the day-to-day moments of my life, indelibly.” **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 240%;">//Chapter 8, Page 52//: "I decided to just ignore every thought that came to my head, because it brought too much sadness…I spent most of my time fighting myself mentally in order to avoid thinking about what I had seen or wondering where my life was going, where my family and friends were.” ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> (In the forest) Ishmael did his best to block out the memories of what had occurred in his life. If Ishmael started to think about his family, then he could become vulnerable and even more upset than he already was. Ishmael needed to be strong, even though the symptom of loneliness affects him. After fighting in battle, Ishmael begins to experience PTSD because he has been a part of a violent and traumatizing event.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">"I became restless and was afraid to sleep for fear that my suppressed thoughts would appear in my dreams." **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 240%;">//Chapter 17, Page 141://


 * “I began getting flashbacks of the first time I slit a man’s throat. The scene kept surfacing in my memory like lightning on a dark rainy night, and each time it happened, I heard a sharp cry in my head that made my spine hurt.”**

Ishmael develops flashbacks, which is a common symptom of PTSD. When one goes through a graphic and horrific situation, it oftens sticks in the back of their mind forever, as seen with Ishmael.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 240%;">//Chapter 17, Page 145//:


 * “Other times the younger boys sat by rocks weeping and telling us that the rocks were their dead families.”**

This is the time where all the soldiers begin to regret leaving their families. They did not know that the last times they spent with their families would be their last. All the pains of their families are reminded through inanimate objects such as a rock.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 240%;">//Chapter 17, Page 145//:


 * “Boys sometimes ran out of the hall screaming, 'The rebels are coming.'"**

This is showing their brains are not functioning the right way. Their brains have a complex, and always predict for the worst to happen.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 240%;">//Chapter 17, Page 145//:


 * “Other times the younger boys sat by rocks weeping and telling us that the rocks were their dead families."**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">A symptom that occurs once developing PTSD is for one to become delusional. For the boys to say that the rocks were their dead families, it shows that the boys do not really know what to think. They also are not totally clear of their surroundings, another symptom that develops with PTSD.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Chapter 17 Page 160 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> (In the Rehabilitation Center) Ishmael is getting help from the nurses, but this still is not enough to cure him completely. Whenever Ishmael is lonely he begins to think, and his loneliness overpowers him. Even when he is given medication to relieve him, Ishmael still has trouble sleeping because the awful circumstances he has been in have traumatized him. The difficulty with sleeping, depression, and feelings of being terrified are symptoms of PTSD that Ishmael is feeling. Ishmael could also be having trouble sleeping because he could be feeling tense and “on edge,” another symptom of PTSD.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">"I tried to think about my childhood days, but it was impossible, as I began getting flashbacks of the first time I slit a man's throat…I rolled my head on the cold cement floor, but it didn't stop…I went to the shower room and put my head under the cold water, but that didn't help either…She gave me some sleeping tablets, but I still couldn't fall asleep, even after my migraine stopped…I couldn't face the nightmares I knew would come." **

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Chapter 17 Page 164 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> (Rehabilitation) Ishmael has not been taking the drugs. This causes him to be more aware of his surroundings. Ishmael now starts to think about the loss of his family and the guilt of killing people during war. The frightening moments that are triggered at times is a symptom of PTSD. Because Ishmael has been a part of so many horrific battles, he has flashbacks as well.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">"I turned to ask my brother what was happening, but he was gone…I held my ears to stop hearing them, but I began to feel their pain…Each time a person was stabbed, I felt it worse; I saw the blood dripping from the same part of my body as that of the victim…I was still confused, as I couldn't tell whether I had had a dream or not." **

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Chapter 19 Page 184 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> (The Pub) Ishmael was at the dance, having a good time. He danced with a girl, and then his PTSD took over him. Everything that seemed normal turned into a horror film. Often times, memories of horrific moments can be triggered at random times, a common symptom of PTSD.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt;">"A memory of a town we had attacked during a school dance had been triggered. I could hear the terrified cries of teachers and students and could see the blood cover the dance floor." **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 260%;">**__<span style="color: #a00808; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Additional Examples of PTSD __**

media type="custom" key="5063611" width="491" height="218"
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">PTSD can develop from situations other than those that are war-related. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26pt;">For instance, if one were to be in a serious car crash, they may avoid driving and being in cars for a while.

[[image:post.jpg width="248" height="238"]][[image:traumatic.jpg width="252" height="258"]][[image:stress.jpg width="234" height="213"]]
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> (2009, December 16). //National Institute of Mental Health//. Retrieved from []
 * __<span style="color: #a00808; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 320%;">Works Cited __**

(June 2001). //Military Veterans PTSD Reference Manual//. Retrieved from [] //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Real Warriors, Real Battle, Real Strength: Profile: Maj. Jeff Hall //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">. Retrieved from []