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.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also known as PTSD is an emotional condition that can develop following a traumatic or terrifying event. PTSD has only been recognized as a diagnosis since 1980. This emotional disorder was brought to public attention after soldiers would return home and often referred to as “shell shock or combat fatigue”.

PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience 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. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, otherwise known as PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event, either by experience or witness, it can trigger flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder statistics are exceedingly difficult to gauge among veterans. According to the following source, “it is possible to have undiagnosed PTSD for 30 years and not realize it” (Veterans and PTSD). Symptoms may not be diagnosed anywhere from 1 year after service to a lifetime. Also, it must be taken into account that after retiring many veterans may lose touch and not receive treatment for symptoms or further affiliate with the military. In the 1980s, regarding PTSD in Vietnam veterans, it was found that 15%-30% of veterans reported having PTSD; however, in 2003 a new study found that four out of five reported symptoms.

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

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.

Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a disorder associated with significant distress and impairment, especially after a war or any type of abuse such as domestic violence. About 15% of United States veterans will experience post-traumatic stress in their life time because it is the most common mental health disorder among veterans. One study shows that 31-84% of the women that have experience domestic abuse experience post-traumatic stress after they are in a safe environment because something will trigger flashbacks on the past traumatic event. The largest amount of post-traumatic stress disorder is due to a sense of ongoing threat to safety and sense of helplessness in life. Victims who experience post-traumatic stress disorder will go on many hardships of their life rather it is having to deal with a flashback of the traumatic event or even shutting out their own family. As I explain what it is, who most commonly will experience this post-traumatic stress, the symptoms, and the lifestyle of living with this disorder and how it affects the family, you will soon understand the hardships these individuals face, just like I did while researching this type of disorder.

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.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a disorder that is the result of a traumatic event. According to the national PTSD center in the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, about 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives, traumas like Rape or child abuse are more common in women than in men. About 60% of men experience a trauma in their lives, traumas more related to physical assault, combat, disaster or witnessing a death. Post-Traumatic stress disorder can happen to anyone. In the United States about 8% of the population will have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at some point in their lives. A disorder similar to Post-Traumatic Stress disorder is Acute Stress Disorder the only difference is that a diagnosis for Acute Stress Disorder has to be given in the month following the traumatic event, for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to be diagnosed the symptoms have to be recurrent for at least a month after the traumatic event. Good examples are some cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder like Maria and Joe a rape victim and a veteran both diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress disorder their symptoms and treatment. Also a case study for suicides involving veterans from the Vietnam war and Somalia peace keeping conflict, 4 veterans diagnosed with PTSD that committed suicide analyzing their major life events and the psychological factors that could have contributed to the suicide.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is no longer just associated with veterans of war, but it has seen an increase in cases where women have been raped or sexually abused, or in children who have witnessed or been the victims of violence. The mental health care provider may use animal therapy as a supplement to medications and therapy, or may use it on its own. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event. The person suffering from PTSD may have experienced this firsthand or have witnessed it. Symptoms include reliving the event, avoiding situations that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal. Reliving the event includes having bad memories, nightmares, and flashbacks. The trauma the person with PTSD experienced might cause them change the way they view themselves and others. Hyperarousal is the tendency to be on the lookout for danger or the constant feeling of jitters.

A moment is defined as a brief period of time. (Merriam Webster) The average lifespan of a person consists of 27,375 days, that is 39,420,000 minutes. Within those hundreds of thousands of minutes humans have the opportunity to experience a moment. These experiences can be either good, bad or neutral. A significant moment in my life was the moment I was sexually assaulted. For a long period of time that experience held a negative impact in my life but also taught me that there are too many ongoing experiences to let one moment define the rest.

The mind is a very interesting and special aspect of life. A person’s mind is the part of them that enables concentrated thought processes, feelings of emotion, and allows you to perceive the world in many ways. A person’s mind is always processing and receiving information of environmental stimuli, to determine what is happening around them. This is whether you are consciously trying to accomplish a task, un-consciously sleeping, or even if you’re thinking about memories you once had. Your mind is also very much like your body, and can become mentally sick if its exposed to enough mental trauma. Individuals who experience unpredictable, disastrous, and traumatizing events are often susceptible to developing a mental illness known as post-traumatic stress disorder or “PTSD”. People who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder often experience mind-numbing symptoms of traumatic flashbacks, emotional distress, and uncontrollable thoughts that can make living life a realistic nightmare. It is very important that this disorder is treated by using correct public health interventions to help individuals once again regain control over their life.

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