Case Study On Psychotrauma

Achilles, once a figure of godlike power and bravery, now appears a very mortal figure suffering from the brutality of war. His fall from heroism to barbarism is no less tragic and no less horrid, but is much more understandable when viewed as a psychological phenomenon only recently identified by modern psychology. This understanding of Achilles also serves to bridge the cultural and temporal gaps between Homeric society and our own. The Iliad provides compelling evidence that PTSD is a cross-cultural and cross-temporal disorder which warriors have experienced since time immemorial. From Troy to Vietnam and beyond, soldiers have suffered trauma from combat which has in turn caused them to inflict violence on others, as well as on themselves. Achilles almost cuts his own throat in the opening lines of Book 18, and refuses to eat, drink or bathe for most of the rest of The Iliad. Thus, he effectively makes himself the living dead (in commiseration with Patroclus). Similarly, the number of Vietnam vets who have committed suicide exceeds the number who died during and after the war from wounds, and an estimated 1.5 million still suffer from

Trauma can be defined as an event or experience that hinders an individual’s ability to cope (Covington, 2008). These experiences have the power to alter biology and brain function, especially earlier on in life. Trauma can change an individual’s world-view, impacting their sense of self. This can lead to difficulties with self-regulation and higher incidences of impulsive behavior (Markoff et al., 2005). Often, individuals who have endured traumatic incidences turn to self-medication as a form of coping (De Bellis, 2002).

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

J.F. is a 50-year-old married homemaker with a genetic autoimmune defi ciency; she has suffered from

During the war, many soldiers get injured, incapacitated, and/or killed; thus physical wounds are something that every soldier accepts both mentally and physically. Tim O’Brien is shot twice during the war. The first time he is shot, the medic Rat risks his life to help Tim, but when he was shot the second time the new medic Jorgenson is too afraid to move, and Tim nearly dies from shock. This injury has a big impact on Tim, and he is not only physically wounded but also psychologically as he was traumatized from the incident. Tim suffers a lot from his wound. For example, he says that “a couple of weeks later my ass started to rot away. You could actually peel off chunks of skin with your fingernail” (190) but the worst part for him is the shame. Tim O’Brien explains that “Pride isn't the right word. I don't know the right word. All I know is, you shouldn't feel embarrassed. Humiliation shouldn't be part of it” (191) and this is why he wants to take revenge of Jorgenson. Although Tim overcomes the physical wound, he can’t let go of the emotional wounds

Trauma is an individual’s visceral reaction to a horrible event, events such as early childhood traumas, accidents, sexual abuse, or community violence (apa.org, 2016). An individual may react with shock and denial in the aftermath. As time continues some reactions may comprise of mood swings, intrusive memories, difficulties maintaining relationships and can manifest into physical symptoms to include headache or upset stomach. There are individuals who experience difficulties functioning in their daily lives; these observable responses are a normal response to the trauma (apa.org, 2016).

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. RA is a progressive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that affects the joints symmetrically, causing a range of systemic effects. What it causes is still not well known; nevertheless, findings of new research points towards a believe that it is triggered by a defective immune system, which causes the release of inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause damage to cartilage and bone, usually affecting the wrists, the joints of the hand, including the knuckles, the middle joints of the fingers and feet. While this condition can affect any joints, besides, important body organs such as the eyes and the lungs can also be affected by the inflammation that occurs as a result of this chronic condition. Only in America 1.3 million of people are affected by this ailment, and 75 % of them are mainly women. Its onset usually occurs between fourth and sixth decades; however, RA can occur at any age("Diseases And

For centuries the world has combated various physical injuries, saving lives but until the twentieth century little was known about the emotional effect on soldiers. PTSDs longest dated back case was the writings of a Greek soldier fighting in the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, reportedly went blind after the man standing next to him was killed The blinded soldier "was wounded in no part of his body." and so had just been the first man to experience PTSD. Dating back the first name diagnosis was nostalgic or homesickness followed by shell shocked, combat exhaustion, and stress response syndrome the medical field more advanced leading to figuring out that the reaction is from our body trying to deal with what was happening. As time went on the medical field was furthered and now have what is known as PTSD the mental sickness that Plagues are

During World War I, thousands of British soldiers were diagnosed with “shell shock,” a condition which was thought to encompass both physical and psychological symptoms. The discovery of shell shock is typically considered to be an important catalyst in the gradual recognition of mental illnesses caused by combat. However, the characterizations of shell shock as an early discovery of post-traumatic stress disorder made by many historians are false. Shell shock should not be thought of as a credible wartime medical advancement, but as a false and primitive identification of war-trauma.

Many of those that suffered from this were either shot or had to undergo electric treatment. The emergence helps to inform many of those who are not aware of the variety of extreme events that millions of people battle with and how they can be diagnosed and treated. It also changed the public’s views, which included a new way of looking at violence and death; some have called it the “culture of trauma”. Before the Vietnam War, trauma was just another word used to describe your typical life-threatening events. Then after the war took place, it was then talked about more frequently with a great range of experiences. The war is still a mystery to so many, but what they do know is that it changed the political climate and turned it into a public conversation about trauma. One of the biggest things I took away was that all of the wars are damaging, but those in the Vietnam suffered the most. It was built on lies and represented crimes against humanity.

Olivia is a 48-year-old female of New Zealand/European ethnicity who currently works as a full time teacher aid for a special needs school. She is happily married, with three grown children. Olivia is currently living in her own home with her husband and daughter in Auckland. After the birth of her daughter in 1996 she began to get severe pain in her shoulders and hands to the point where the pain would wake her in the night. Initially, Olivia’s general practitioner (GP) believed the pain experienced was related to an increase of hormones and depression post labour. For two years, Olivia lived with this pain waiting patiently for a diagnosis. In 1998, she consulted a recommended GP and was immediately diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Healing Behavioral and Biological Effects of Trauma Shenea O. Overstreet Silberman School of Social Work Part two of The Body Keeps the Score by Van der Kolk (2014), attempts to explain the effects of trauma on the physical brain, cognitive functioning, and bodily functions. Chapter four illustrates beautifully with diagrams, pictures, and anecdotal examples, how different areas of the brain are affected by traumatic experiences. Chapter five explores the physical signs of trauma in the body; it illustrates the mind in constant survival mode. Lastly, chapter six discusses the feelings of numbness and shame trauma survivors may have.

Early traces of some trauma theories and treatments can be attributed to experts such as Freud, Lidz, Ling, and others. Today, we appreciate the breakdown and specifics of the types of trauma. While generalizations about trauma remain, there are standardizations with which trauma is defined. Trauma can be defined as a unique, unusual, overwhelming, and subjective human experience which threatens safety and/or life, producing fear, terror, and/or helplessness caused by extrinsic agents. Types of trauma are generally labeled by the resulted injury, developmental age of the person, frequency, intensity, and cause of the trauma. The list of the types of trauma include physical, psychological, sexual,

In ‘The Empire of Trauma’, Didier Fassin and Richard Rechtman talks about trauma and its victims also explores how trauma affects the society. They also state how the concept of trauma has a dual genealogy, one that is moral, and one that is scientific. They even talk about some of the moral questions that have historically been raised of psychological trauma. Derek Summerfield a psychiatrist he in his article ‘The Lancet’ argues about the victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He says that PTSD is a western construct.

Ivy, a 60 years old Asian woman sustains an ankle fracture from a fall in a shopping mall. After the surgery, Ivy goes to an Orthopedic surgeon for follow up, who does an initial history and physical checkup. Ivy has an active life. She walks every day about two miles and stays busy with household works. She has habits of drinking a few cups of coffee and a moderate amount of wine and also smoking. About two years ago she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.