Post-Traumatic Stress: What Is PTSD?
By award-winning author and stress-relief expert Susie Mantell
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a clinical diagnosis physicians apply to a constellation of symptoms that sometimes follow catastrophic or traumatic events including, but not limited to, the experience of or witnessing of combat, assault, rape, fire, chronic abuse, natural disasters or acts of terror. The body-mind-spirit is literally stressed beyond capacity, ravaged by events that may defy language.
Processed though the victim's personal filter, each person's experience of such an event will be different. Symptoms may be episodic in nature, diffuse, migratory or intense, and sometimes the post-traumatic stress response is delayed.
Below are some characteristics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Vivid sensory flashbacks, sleep disturbance, anxiety or feelings of grief, depression, that intrude upon the process of integrating what has occurred into a revised reality.
AVOIDANCE:
Physical isolation, or emotional numbing, not thinking about or discussing the event, compulsive or resorting to addictive behaviors to escape the emotional sequelae of such traumatic events. (Note: If medication is indicated, a licensed mental-health professional or physician can help determine that, and monitor one's response and modify dosage as needed over time.)
THE STARTLE RESPONSE:
A healthy degree of caution makes a lot of sense. That's really what anxiety is intended for. Anxiety is a signal that something isn't right and danger may be present.(Good to know!) The startle response, even observed in healthy infants, is Mother Nature's warning that makes us twitch or flinch at big booming sounds. (Other than on July 4th, big booms are not usually good news.) Following a disaster or traumatic event, hyper-arousal and hyper-vigilance can get "stuck." (Late one stormy night shortly after the September 11 attacks here in New York, I found I needed to get up and look out a window to "see" the thunder storm. The following week was less so, but it is not unusual to make such associations follow a terribly frightening event.)
Not all stress is abnormal, nor s it always debilitating, and not all stress is PTSD. The human psyche can withstand considerable distress, and while many are deeply troubled, and even permanently affected by deeply troubling experiences, one's personality, past, proximity and even biological makeup will influence how and to what extent we catalyze the human stress responses.
A SAMPLING of a Few PTSD-RELATED WEBSITES
Note: This is not an endorsement nor a complete list; rather a few well-known organizations, most of which evidence little or no commercial bias or gain.(Ads on these sites are clearly differentiated from health content.) These are intended as a starting point to help you to understand your own stress responses, and to find professional help that will benefit you. See which of these you like or don't, and find more resources. Be vigilant about seeking only credible, unbiased support. Always check for most current information available.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
http://www.ncptsd.org
SIDRAN FOUNDATION (Traumatic Stress)
http://www.sidran.org
PTSD ALLIANCE
http://www.ptsdalliance.org
WEBMD (on PTSD)
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1683.50018
MAYO CLINIC (on PTSD)
http://www.mayohealth.org/home?id=DS00246
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE--NIH MEDLINE PLUS
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
ABC NEWS ( 3 articles)
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/stress_disorder010916.html
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/WTC_onedge010928.html
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/sleeping_advice.html
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Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tips are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com