Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

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By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
updated on 11/19/2007 at 03:03PM

Post traumatic stress syndrome is a mental disorder that may develop after someone witnesses or participates in a traumatic event. Childhood abuse, rape, war, even natural disaster are all possible triggers of this condition. People suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome may develop a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms including flashbacks, hypersensitivity, and depression. If left untreated, post traumatic stress syndrome can become a long term problem. It's unfortunately, very common for people afflicted by this condition to forego treatment so as to avoid discussing or reliving the traumatic event.

What Are The Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

The symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome can appear immediately after the traumatic event, or they might not develop until months or even years later. Sometimes they're intense and distressing, other times they're numbing, leaving the sufferer feeling like an empty shell. Generally, the symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome are divided into four categories: intrusive, re-experiencing, arousal, and avoidance.

• Intrusive: People suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome often experience symptoms which may seem completely unrelated to the actual traumatic event, but are still intruding on their lives. Intrusive symptoms include fear, anxiety, nightmares, guilt, depression, decreased sexual activity, a negative outlook, learning disabilities, attention disorders, or memory problems.

• Re-experiencing: Post traumatic stress syndrome is often associated with "flashbacks," or a re-living of the traumatic event. During a flashback, sufferers can feel and that they're back in the thick of the traumatic situation. Flashbacks can be very powerful, involving the sense of smell, sight, taste and touch. They may be triggered by a specific object or action, or they may appear for no discenablr reason whatsoever. During a flashback, the sufferer can completely lose touch with reality, believing that the traumatic event is occurring all over again. Flashbacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

• Arousal: People suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome may experience a heightened scare reflex and other extreme sense of arousal. They may be restless, jittery, and moody and have difficulty concentrating. Other arousal symptoms include aggressive behavior, hyper-alertness, and generalized memory problems.

• Avoidance: Many people who have experienced a traumatic event handle their overwhelming feelings and emotions by shutting them off. They may display avoidance symptoms such as the inability to remember the traumatic event, a conscious and often aggressive desire to avoid discussing the event, an inability to feel or express any emotions, or an impending sense of doom.

Can Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Be Treated?

Clinical research has shown that if left untreated, post traumatic stress disorder can persist for years or even decades after the traumatic event. It's associated with an extremely high rate of medical and mental health doctor's visits and it has the highest per-capita cost of any psychological condition. The most difficult part about recovery is that the traumatic event can never be erased from memory. However, its disruptive and distressing effects can be managed and treated in such a way that they no longer affect the sufferer's life.

How Is Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Treated?

Treatment strategies for post traumatic stress syndrome vary depending upon the source and nature of the traumatic incident, and the age of the sufferer at the time of occurrence. Therapy is traditionally the preferred treatment method for this condition. However, medication is also occasionally used to lessen the severity and frequency of symptoms. Here's a closer look at some of the different types of therapy used to treat post traumatic stress syndrome.

• Cognitive Therapy: This method of therapy is used to treat the symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome by desensitizing the patient to the traumatic event. It focuses on the repetitive review of the traumatic event. This review allows the therapist and the patient to examine and identify the negative behaviors and thoughts that have become associated with the event. In theory, cognitive therapy allows sufferers to change their reactions to the traumatic event, thus relieving the symptoms of the condition.

• Group Therapy: Group therapy allows survivors of a traumatic event such as war or childhood abuse to reconnect with a social network. It may be helpful in decreasing psychological distress, depression, and anxiety among post traumatic stress disorder sufferers. It also helps sufferers realize that they are not alone, and gives them a chance to share their story with others who can empathize with their emotions and frustrations.

• Drama Therapy: Reenacting the event through drama therapy may also be an effective way for survivors of post traumatic stress disorder to work through the emotions and triggers of the traumatic event. In this type of therapy, sufferers are able to actually "rewrite" the event until they reach a level of resolution with the outcome.