POST TRAUMATIC STRESS (PTSD)

"A traumatic experience is defined as one that involves a threat or the reality of death, serious injury, or damage to physical integrity; and inspires fear, helplessness, or horror. The vicitim may experience the event directly, witness it, or be confronted with it in some other way."

The National Institute of Mental Health's Epidemiological Catchment Area study found that more than 60% of men and 50% of women in the United States have had such an experience. The vast majority do not develop PTSD. In a Duke University study only 13% reported any symptoms typical of PTSD, and fewer than 1 in 200 had PTSD itself.

However, with the wars in Iraq and Afganastan, and the multiple deployments of our Armed Forces that figure is rising. In non-combat trauma situations women are three times more susceptible than men. Men suffer primarily from physical violence, whereas women experience more rape and childhood sexual abuse. The United States is increasingly getting refugees from Africa where rape has been a weapon of warfare.

The probability of PTSD rises as the event is personalized. For instance, horrendous natural disasters such as hurricanes, and tornados are impersonal events and the PTSD risk is only 4%. In contrast, 54% of those people who survive a kidnapping, or torture experience PTSD. The risks are higher in people who have experienced previous traumatic events; and/or if they feel guilty because they believe they bear some responsibility for the event. This is called Type II Trauma, and is often the case for the highly conflicted experiences of children being abused by relatives.

The Symptoms of PTSD:

PTSD has three clusters of symptoms:

1. Hyperaroursal: Irritability, easily startled, constantly on guard, insomnia and difficulty concentrating.

2. Re-experiencing or Intrusion: Vivid memories, nightmares or flashbacks. Any object, situation or feeling that reminds you of the trauma may cause intense distress.

3. Avoidance and Emotional Numbing: You avoid feelings, thoughts, persons, places, and situations that eveke memories of the trauma. You can lose interest in usual activities, feel estranged from other people and even from your own feelings. You may also lose the memory of the traumatic event.

The Role of Psychotherapy

There is a need to process trauma in order to overcome it. Simply denying that it is causing distress causes the pain to go underground and show itself in somatic (physical) symptoms, or unexplained anger, fears or irritability. Trauma can also exhibit itself in substance abuse and addictions as a way to medicate against the pain. And finally, the survivor's sex life can be inhibited, disrupted or rendered nonexistent; or lead to promiscuity in attempt to master what was previously victimizing. This is no way to live! Especially since PTSD is a treatable condition.

Therapy for PTSD is first concerned with the stabilization of the client, and increasing their sense of safety. This is followed by the processing of the traumatic event or events themselves, but in a way that does not cause the client to be overwhelmed by re-experiencing the events.

My Experience with Trauma Therapy:

Colorado Oklahoma Resource Council : Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Training - 1996

Volunteer Mental Health Counselor for Oklahoma City Bombing Trial - 1997

Distaster Field Training with the Colorado Dept. of Human Services - 2005

Trauma Response Training with Colorado Dept. of Human Services - 2007

EMDR training Level I (1992), Level II (1993)

Advanced Clinical Hypnosis Training 1986-88

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Hypnosis - 2008

Presenter of Inservice Training on Vicarious Trauma to Colorado Dept. of Health '06 & '09

Last messed with August 12, 2009