The Effects Of Stress And Trauma On The Human Psyche

It was not until the 1980’s that the diagnosis of PTSD as we know it today came to be. However, throughout history people have recognized that exposure to combat situations can have profound negative impact on the mind s and bodies of individuals in these situations. But there are other catastrophic events that can have such profound impact on people resulting in PTSD…

Traumatic events also produce profound and lasting changes in physiological arousal, emotion, cognition, and memory. Moreover, traumatic events may result in the severance of these normally integrated functions from one another. Traumatized individuals may also suffer from the memories of the tragic or horrifying experiences they have undergone. Frequently, as a result of these many symptoms, it becomes inevitable for the individual to develop certain complications associated with trauma-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder.

Childhood and adolescence is a crucial time for humans- a time full of physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Upon observing the significant impact that trauma induced stress can have on adults following time in combat or an injury, when adults have fully matured in all areas, it raises the question of what influence post-traumatic stressors can have on development in children. This issue was so significant that in the DSM-5, the psychologists introduced a new, and separate, section of criteria for PTSD that specifically relates to the preschool subtype, or those individuals six years and younger. The first age specific sub-type for this disorder is important due to the rising number of studies and cases of PTSD in children.

For a very long time, it has been recognized that stressful life can have an emotional as well as a behavioral effect in a human being. Studies show that 60% of men, 50% of females as well as 90% of the population go through a stressful event in their lives that is life changing or they tend never to forget ever (Marsh, 2014). It is however true to say that not all of the people in this percentage will eventually fall into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When an individual is involved or encounters an event that is considered as traumatic, it is very common to experience distressing, upsetting, as well as confusing feelings in the near future after the event. The worst part is that these feelings may not emerge or surface immediately, the first thing that you actually go through is emotional numbness where nothing gets to you emotionally, thus the shift in your behavior will follow. After a while, a drastic shift in physical and emotional reactions is experienced in cases such as one being easily upset or simply not being able to get any sleep at all.

For many, PTSD is a big issue. Because of this, research has started to look at its causes. First to understand PTSD, one must examine the

The chapter ‘Clinical Histories: From Soldier’s Heart to PTSD’ from the book ‘Fields of Combat’ by Erin Finley, examines U.S. military community’s perception of combat stress casualties. From the Civil War times until now, there has been growth in the understanding that soldiers face extreme psychological consequences, like behavioral and functional problems, after returning home from war. In 1980, this behavioral and functional problem is formally recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress order (PTSD) in the U.S. and it was internationally recognized in the late 1980’s. Not only was the diagnosis given to survivors of combat, but also noncombat traumatic experiences, such as rape, natural disaster, rape and etc. The chapter looks at the historical

Human brains have the incredible ability to shut unpleasant memories out and hide them. However, eventually those memories will come to the surface whether it is days or years after the event occurs. PTSD is a relatively new diagnostically recognized mental health disorder that many Americans and others know little about. PTSD is estimated to affect 3.6% of adult Americans, about 5.2 million people suffer from PTSD over the course of a year, and this number is rising. An estimated 7.8 million Americans will have PTSD at some point in their lives. It can develop at any age in anyone ( ). In this paper PTSD will be described, explained, and treatment options and symptoms will be talked about.

PTSD is a psychological problem that affects people who have survived a traumatic experience. When a person experiences a traumatic event in their life, that event leaves a type of scar on their mind. Unlike physical scars, psychological scars may not heal and the person may be unaware of their symptoms. While these “scars” may not be obvious at first, they may cause problems later in life, sometimes months or years later. This makes recognizing the disorder difficult. However, much research in recent years has increased people’s knowledge of the symptoms of PTSD. It was first defined as a disorder in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (Galea et al., 2005).

During the 1980’s an anxiety disorder known as PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, was recognized when one experienced something horrific and then began to re-experience the traumatic event (Bobo, Warner, and Warner 799). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can not be cured, only treated. PTSD was originally brought into perspective when combat Veterans could no longer face their experiences on the battlefield. As years went on, victims of rape, assault, or witnesses of a traumatic event were also diagnosed with PTSD. Although society knows the name of this disorder, PTSD is often underrecognized and under-treated (Bobo, Warner, and Warner 797). Many know that it is an anxiety disorder, but few understand the risks that come along with it.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can and usually is an extremely disruptive mental health disorder that, frequently diminishes a person’s overall quality of life, and usually follows a chronic, often lifelong, course.” (Kassam-Adams, & Winston, 2004, p. 407). Given the ubiquitous nature of threatening or catastrophic trauma, PTSD is becoming more and more common among our youth. “It may affect 10% of women and 5% of men at some stage in their lives.” (Kar, 2011, p.167). According to Kar, (2011), This is a large number of the population and depending upon the degree and nature in which the traumatic event has occurred, the rates of PTSD victims that have been reported could then approach 100%. (p.167). PTSD is described as having a multitude

“The key to understanding the scientific basis and clinical expression of PTSD is the concept of "trauma” (Friedman, 2016). Researchers followed victims following traumatic events such as war, torture, rape and catastrophic disasters. These circumstances differ from stressors like illness, divorce, and rejection; all of which are considered ordinary stressors. “This dichotomization between traumatic and other stressors was based on the assumption that, although most individuals have

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (from here on noted as PTSD) is a persistent and sometimes disabling condition triggered by a psychologically overwhelming life experience. It develops in vast numbers of individuals exposed to trauma, and if left untreated, can continue for several years, if not a lifetime. Its symptoms can affect every area of life – emotional, physiological, occupational, and relational. Anyone can be susceptible to PTSD, but not every trauma survivor will develop symptoms of PTSD. You may know several family members and friends, who survived traumatic experiences, some of which show no outward signs of this very debilitating disease, and yet struggle emotionally just to make it through each and every day. However, some may show significant evidence

The focus for this research paper is learning more of the fundamentals of PTSD Checklist for DSM 5, and how it applies with individuals who relive a traumatic experience, leading for better treatment. This assessment is available for any age, as the traumatic experience can be from any sort of violent event such sexual assault, domestic abuse, accidents and etc. (Meiser- Stedman, et al., 2009). PTSD Checklist focus on both children and the adult as they are both prone to relive their experience through flashbacks, nightmares and their behavior is more challenging compare to other peers.

The article Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Relationship to Traumatic Brain Injury and Approach to Treatment Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, characterizes PTSD as, “a specific clinical syndrome including re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance, and alterations in arousal, cognition, and mood, resulting from exposure to severe traumatic events” (Howlett, Stein). In the world today around 70% or 223.4 million people have experienced some kind of terrible or disturbing event at least once in their lives (“PTSD: National Center for PTSD”). However, out of these 223.4 million people only 20% or 44.7 million people experiencing a traumatic event will develop PTSD (“PTSD: National Center for PTSD”). Anyone is able to develop the illness of PTSD: victims

Post-Traumatic stress disorder has affected humans probably as long as we have had a higher consciousness, but it is only recently that researchers, medical professionals and psychotherapists have had much understanding into its nature and treatment. Although this disorder may be easy to describe, the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder negatively affect a person’s mental health, physical health, work and relationships. Seventy percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. Up to twenty percent can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, estimated eight percent of Americans have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Tull).