Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) Essay

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new diagnosis that was associated with survivors of war when it was first introduced. Its diagnosis was met largely with skepticism and dismissal by the public of the validity of the illness. PTSD was only widely accepted when it was included as a diagnosis in 1980 in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) of the American Psychiatric Association. PTSD is a complex mental disorder that develops in response to exposure to a severe traumatic event that stems a cluster of symptoms. Being afflicted with the disorder is debilitating, disrupting an individual’s ability to function and perform the most basic tasks.

With the recent release of the popular movie and book American Sniper, much attention has been drawn to the effects of the disease of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on its victims. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental illness from going through a traumatic experience, is more prevalent in veterans and men currently serving in the military, and it is important that effective treatment be sought.

Among those who served in the Vietnam War, 84.8% of those diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder still show moderate impairment of symptoms, even 30 plus years after the war (Glover 2014). As of today, the Unites States has 2.8 million veterans who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, of those it is estimated that 11 to 20% currently suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As of 2013, a total of 12,632 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are currently diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Glover 2014). Of course it is to be taken into account that these numbers are based on those who admit to experiencing symptoms and seek treatment.

At least 50% of all adults and children are exposed to a psychologically traumatic event (such as a life-threatening assault or accident, humanmade or natural disaster, or war). As many as 67% of trauma survivors experience lasting psychosocial impairment, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); panic, phobic, or generalized anxiety disorders; depression; or substance abuse.(Van der Kolk, et al, 1994) Symptoms of PTSD include persistent involuntary re-experiencing of traumatic distress, emotional numbing and detachment from other people, and hyperarousal (irritability, insomnia, fearfulness, nervous agitation). PTSD is linked to structural neurochemical changes in the central nervous system which may have a direct

This memo recommends that the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MI) use its resources to support Michigan House Bill 4843. This bill attempts to address the need for the increasing number of Michigan Veterans affected by psychological diagnoses and the benefits that come from utilizing service dogs to decrease effects associated with these diagnoses for Veterans to function in society. It would allow a five-year pilot program to be established to record the significance service dogs have on decreasing psychological symptoms of Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. It would also record the number of Veterans who are able to return to normal functionality within society due to utilizing a service

A new Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student is dispatched to her first emotionally memorable call. The first dispatch comes thorough as an unresponsive, 30-year-old female, but escalates to a cardiac arrest caused by a heroin overdose. When the crew of two EMTs and one paramedic arrives on scene, the new EMT stands in the doorway, staring at the patient. Her body was stiff from the rigor mortis, her arms and fingers curled in as though she was trying to get warm. Her skin was blue like she had been swimming in ice water for hours. On the day before Thanksgiving in 2016, this woman was found on her bathroom, dead too long to be saved by anyone. This is still the worst call I have ever been on and I will always remember every

Author Carl-John X. Veraja once stated “ The world has PTSD. It is a veteran a blown mind, having flashbacks as it begs the Sun for one more go-round. ” This statement uses the Earth and orbit of the Sun as a metaphorical representation of the constant struggle that veterans and non-veterans face daily due to PTSD. PTSD or formally known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is known as, “…a psychiatric disorder that can occurs following the experiences or witnessing of a life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood”( “What is PTSD?”) . PTSD has affected millions that have encountered a traumatic experience. People that have more stressful occupations or life experience such as being a military employee seem to be more prone to being subject to PTSD. PTSD among soldiers have soared over the last fifty years even with the increase reports of rape, domestic violence, and sexual assault reported by The New York Times (Bannerman). Though the military have impanelment more action toward the growing dilemma it has yet to make any monumental acts to promote the well being of soldiers that are mentally affected by their time in the army.

Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a form of mental and emotional stress that has been brought on by traumatic events that have taken place in a person’s life. PTSD comes with many kinds of effects some including high-risk behaviors, aggression and shame, sleep disturbances, and attachment(Barr, Kintzle, Sullivan, Castro, 2017; Martindale, Morissette, Rowland, Dolan, 2017; Haller, Norman, Angkaw, 2016; Renaud, 2008). These all are causes of behavioral effects from PTSD that do or may occur in veterans. PTSD can cause bad health risks, but it also has been tested and found that it can also cause bad and unsafe risk behaviors (Barr, Kintzle, Sullivan, Castro 2017). Sleep disturbances are

The dual-diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) is very prevalent. The rate of PTSD and SUD in adults receiving chemical dependency services ranges from 12% to 34% and the rates of trauma throughout the lifetime is even greater (Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Huges, & Nelson, 1995; Langeland & Hartgers, 1998; Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1997; Stewart, 1996; Stewart, Conrod, Pihl, & Dongier, 1999; Triffleman, 1998). Moreover, a dual-diagnosis of PTSD and SUD is two to three times more common amongst woman receiving chemical dependency services in comparison to men receiving the same services (Brown & Wolfe, 1994; Najavits et al., 1998).

Brett Duval, a veteran bomb dog handler contracted to the United States Army, returned home after serving two tours in Iraq with the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Duval, 2016). After witnessing her son’s difficulty adjusting back to civilian life, Shari Duval began extensive research on animal-assisted therapy for the maintenance and treatment of disorders such as PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In 2011, Duval created K9s For Warriors (K9s), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing trained service dogs to active duty service members and veterans to assist in regaining comfort and independence in the civilian sector. Their overarching mission is to “...provide service canines to warriors suffering from Post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. [With the ultimate goal] to empower them to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.” (K9s for Warriors Handbook, 2016). Duval established this agency with the desire to grow the conservative therapies provided to service members now to non-traditional alternatives and to combat the significant consequences of untreated psychological trauma plaguing the military today.

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is a mental health condition triggered after a traumatic event such as war, assault, or disaster. Most anyone who hears the acronym PTSD thinks about veterans or soldiers coming back home. Not only is PTSD common within soldiers but within children who have gone through traumatic events. PTSD was first recognized in 1980 and was added to the American Psychiatric association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, they are not provided the treatment and therapy to recover and heal. People don’t consider the psychological impact traumatic events may leave.

Post-traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is developed from a scary, dangerous or shocking events. For example, a soldier exposed to a near death experience or a scary event overseas could cause that person to be diagnose with PTSD. Also another example, could be someone in Miami experiencing a category 5 hurricane and have everything taken away from them. Research on OEF/OIF Veterans suggests that 10% to 18% of OEF/OIF troops are likely to have PTSD after they return. In addition to PTSD service members are also at a higher risk of developing other mental health issues. Post-traumatic stress disorder is very real and life threating in some cases.

People who experience PTSD experience “a whole-body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions.” (Banitt). PTSD is a common mental disorder that over 7.8 percent of Americans will experience (NDVA). Traumatic stress, such as war, sexual abuse or assault, gang violence, etc. can cause PTSD. There are a few known ways that can help treat and prevent this disorder, but more research can help develop these methods, or new methods.

The medical community has several methods for treating veterans suffering from PTSD. The two most common methods are Psychotherapy and prescribing the veteran with medication to combat the symptoms. Psychotherapy provides the veteran with a way to manage their illness and is in some cases combined with prescription drugs. The three most common methods of psychotherapy include Cognitive therapy, Exposure therapy, and Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR)(Mayo). Cognitive therapy involves discussion with a therapist in order to discover what actions are causing the patient to experience symptoms. While often used in conjunction with cognitive therapy, exposure therapy has patients look back on events that may have initiated

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 7.7 million American adults and can also occur during childhood. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that stems from a recent emotional threat such as a natural, disaster, war, and car accidents. PTSD usually occurs from an injury or coming close death. A person who has experienced a past traumatic event has a heightened chance of being diagnosed with PTSD after a current trauma. PTSD can also be determined by looking at one’s genes, different emotions, and current or past family setting. Normally, when a person without PTSD goes through a traumatic event the body releases stress hormones, which in time returns back to normal; However, a person with PTSD releases stress hormones that do not return