Post – traumatic Post – traumatic stress disorder stress disorder

Explanations Explanations

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs after is an anxiety disorder that occurs after being exposed to a terrifying event or being exposed to a terrifying event or situation in which the victim's life was in situation in which the victim's life was in danger or threatened, or physical harm danger or threatened, or physical harm occured or was threatened. Triggers occured or was threatened. Triggers include: violent personal assaults, rape, include: violent personal assaults, rape, military service or combat, human-military service or combat, human-caused or natural disasterscaused or natural disasters

Symptoms Symptoms

Persistent frightening thoughts or Persistent frightening thoughts or memories of the eventmemories of the event

feeling emotionally numb towards people feeling emotionally numb towards people once close toonce close to

sleep problemssleep problems easily startledeasily startled angry outburstsangry outbursts feeling detached.feeling detached.

Diagnoses Diagnoses The doctor will obtain relevant history of The doctor will obtain relevant history of

exposure to traumatic stress and symptoms of exposure to traumatic stress and symptoms of PTSDPTSD

Evaluate the patient for other psychiatric Evaluate the patient for other psychiatric disorders that often follow traumatic eventsdisorders that often follow traumatic events

Consider ordering tests dictated by the clinical Consider ordering tests dictated by the clinical situation and also what other psychiatric situation and also what other psychiatric problems a patient could haveproblems a patient could have

They will focus a physical examination on They will focus a physical examination on possible medical sequelae of the traumatic even possible medical sequelae of the traumatic even on illnesses that could appear to be PTSD.on illnesses that could appear to be PTSD.

PTSD is diagnosed when a person's symptoms PTSD is diagnosed when a person's symptoms last longer than a month. Sometime symptoms do last longer than a month. Sometime symptoms do not show up until months after the actual event. not show up until months after the actual event.

Those affected Those affected

Anyone at any age Anyone at any age

Causes Causes

Traumatic or terrfying experiences such Traumatic or terrfying experiences such as: as:

Natural disasters war or military combat Natural disasters war or military combat personal assaultpersonal assault RapeRape Death or serious illness of a loved oneDeath or serious illness of a loved one Car accidentsCar accidents Plane crashesPlane crashes Being a victim of or seeing violence Being a victim of or seeing violence

Treatment Treatment

Talk therapyTalk therapy medicines such as Zoloft, Luvox, medicines such as Zoloft, Luvox,

Trazodone, and antidepressants, or Trazodone, and antidepressants, or both. both.

Getting Help Getting Help

Talk to a doctor, close friend, Talk to a doctor, close friend, relative, or trusted adult about your relative, or trusted adult about your concerns. concerns.

Emphasis needs to be placed upon Emphasis needs to be placed upon establishing a feeling of safetyestablishing a feeling of safety

Family services of Chemung county Family services of Chemung county inc. 733-5696 inc. 733-5696

Related/interesting Related/interesting Information Information

Not all trauma victims experience Not all trauma victims experience PTSD immediately after exposure to PTSD immediately after exposure to trauma trauma

It affects nearly eight million It affects nearly eight million American adults American adults

Many movies, such as Birdy, Coming Many movies, such as Birdy, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, portray Home, The Deer Hunter, portray Vietnam war veterans suffering from Vietnam war veterans suffering from PTSD PTSD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfrbnu_Qfp0