Ptsd

When one hear the word PTSD, the first thing that comes to one mind is crazy. That is not true it just a myths that one uses. For many year people has been suffering with this illness, and it was never quite understand until know. This disorder has being called by many different names during certain eras; in World War I it was called “combat fatigue”, in World War II it was called “gross stress reaction”, and during the Vietnam War it was called “post Vietnam syndrome”. Other names for PTSD are battle fatigue and shell shock. As of today there’s treatment to manager PTSD such as, medication, therapy and group counseling. People who are suffering from PTSD have been exposed to some sort traumatic experience in their lifetime such as rape, natural disaster, accident, and war. PTSD develops due to changes in the brain after the traumatic event has occurred, not everyone who has a traumatic experience will develop this disorder. People who tends to suffer from PTSD are those that have prolonged exposure to traumatic events, was close to the event when it occurred, who lost someone in the event, have had emotional problems prior to incident, and who lack social support, According to statistic African American, Hispanics, and Native American are more prone to this disorder due to lack of support from family members and self blame. Women, children, and adolescents have a higher rate of PTSD. PTSD has been in the media for the last eight years due to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers have been returning home from these wars exhibiting signs and symptoms of PTSD and major depression. Some of the symptoms include night sweats, recurring nightmares about events that took place, and anxiety to name a few. Military members who have returned for theses wars have committed suicide and have also taken the live of loved ones. One of the reasons why soldiers are returning home with symptoms of PTSD is because of the multiple deployments that they must endure. The primary treatments for PTSD psychotherapy and medication, at times both methods are used together. The type of treatment is usually decided after the therapist interviews the patient and at times their family members. According to the patient’s signs and symptoms a decision will be made about the necessary method of care. Problems that are associated with PTSD such as substance abuse, employment problem, and other diseases are also screen for and treated if present. Psychotherapy is the treatment of behavior disorder, mental illness, or any other condition by psychological means (medicinenet.com, 2010). The purpose of psychotherapy is to educate the patient about what is PTSD and how to manage the disorder in a positive manner. The psychotherapist also explain to the patient that many people suffer from the disorder and there is nothing to be ashamed about; also suffering from PTSD is not a sign of inner weakness but a natural reaction to an unusual occurrence. Signs and symptoms of PTSD are group into nightmares, phobia, and hyper arousal. Nightmares or flashback are recurring dreams about the traumatic event that occurred. Clients will usually awake with their bodies soaked from sweat, called night sweats. Phobia occurs in ways of avoiding places and people that remind them of the event, some people get emotionally numb to certain events. Problems associated with PTSD include drug and alcohol abuse, employment problems, feeling helpless, angry and violence, suicidal attempts, anxiety, eating disorders, and relationship issues. Some people are hyperviliglent about their surrounding and are startled and frightened. Abrupt noises and sudden movements can trigger events of the past. Cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscularskeletal disease are other associated disease. Individuals who are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms should seek medical advice. PTSD is a disorder that is diagnosed and assessed based on the signs and symptoms an individual may display or complain about. The mental health doctor may ask patients to describe their symptoms that lead them to seek medical advice; based on the answers and how long the patient has displayed these symptoms the doctor will then diagnose the client. Physicians diagnose patients with PTSD based on their symptoms and if it has persist for more than three months (medicinenet.com, 2010). Psychotherapy encourage patients to talk about the traumatic event that caused the disorder, and in return is taught how to control their symptoms with certain relaxation techniques or medication. Relaxation technique used as a method to teach the patient how to control their stress level, methods used are deep breathing, visualization, meditation, and music. Deep breathing slows the hearth rate, reduces blood pressure, and slows breathing rate. Visualization and mediation are used to so the patient can view themselves in a calm or pleasant situation or place, a place where they feel safe and secured. During visualization is encourage to use all senses, such as smell, touch, and Music slow the heart rate, put the patient is a place before the traumatic experience. Relaxation reduces anger and frustration and improves concentration, and gives patients the confidence to handle problems. Other types of relaxation technique include yoga, exercise, massage, hypnosis, and tai-chi. Along with individual therapy some therapist encourage their patients to attend group therapy so they can see that PTSD affects different people that it is not an individual disease and its something no one should be embarrassed about. In these sessions clients learn how different people cope with the disease, what type of treatment works, learn different ways about communicating their feeling, and most important that they are not alone. Other types of psychotherapy include exposure therapy, eye moment desensitization, and reprocessing (EMDR), and cognitive behavior therapy. Exposure therapy help patients confront anything that is upsetting or disturbing, then learn how to cope with problem effectively. Cognitive therapy behaviors identify healthy beliefs and behavior and replace it with positive thoughts. EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories (mayoclinic.com, 2010) Medication therapy is another method that is used to treat PTSD. Types of medication fall into categories of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’S), benzodiazepines, and antipsychotic. SSRI’S are antidepressants it is used to treat depression and anxiety; it may reduce aggression, impulsivity and suicide, and panic. It is the first group approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of PTSD (medicinenet.com, 2010). Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are all types of SSRI’S. Benzodiazepines an antianxiety drug is used to reduce tension and nervousness. Types of benzodiazepine include Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. Beta blockers such as Clonidine, Tenex, and Propanolol are used to reduce the physical symptoms of the illness. Antipsychotic medication is used to treat patients with agitation, dissociation, and hypervigilance. Risperdione, Zyprexa, and Seroquel are antipsychotic medications that are used as mood stabilizers. The side effects to some of these medications can lead to suicide and convulsions, so patients must be let their physician know if they are having negative thought about hurting themselves or others. Patients may experience a relapse if medication is taken less than a year or not taken as prescribed by physician. Untreated individuals who suffer from PTSD can be very destructive to themselves, their families, and civilians. They are unable to control their emotions and have anger issues, without treatment they are dangerous to them self and others. Unable to control their anger some people get into fights which at times lead to deadly outcomes. Untreated individuals have a higher risk of developing medical problems and reproductive issues. Individuals not receiving any sort of help have a higher rate of turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with their problems. Patients with PTSD based on their symptoms and if it has persist for more than three months (medicinenet.com, 2010). People who have PTSD are encouraged to continue their counseling and medication therapy. Learning about the disorder and talking to friends and family members about any concerns that may come up is a good way of coping with PTSD. Maintaining a positive outlook on life and situations will help the patients suffering with the disorder lead a productive life, exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough rest are other ways to maintain the disorder. In situations where a patient is unemployed it is best to do volunteer work to keep the mind active and not relapsing into negative thinking, keeping busy is another way to cope with the disease. Things to avoid in coping with PTSD are to avoid self medicating, negative situations, and caffeine and nicotine Joining support groups or social groups can aid in the fight of overcoming the disorder.