The Life of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Essay examples

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”.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder also known as PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. When one experiences PTSD, symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event (Mayo Clinic).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric sequel to a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. It develops after a person is involved in a horrifying ordeal that involved physical maltreatment or the threat of physical harm. These events can include combat or military experience, abuse during childhood or adulthood (physical or sexual), terrorist attacks, serious accidents or natural disasters. This person may have been the one that was harmed, witnessed a harmful event or had a loved one who was harmed. It is normal for the body’s fight or flight mechanism to engage in times of danger. With a person who has PTSD, that mechanism is damaged and the person feels this even when they are not in danger. Symptoms can be categorized into four different areas – re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts) , avoiding situations that remind the person of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings (may be fear, guilt, shame or losing interest in those activities that once were enjoyable) and hypervigilence (always feeling keyed up, trouble concentrating or sleeping). There are also feelings of hopelessness, despair, depression or anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse, physical symptoms or chronic pain and problems with employment and relationships.

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 or PTSD is a mental health condition that is generally classified as an anxiety disorder. It is often caused by a traumatic events or emotional trauma in one’s life that leads to terrifying flashbacks, nightmares and extreme anxiety. The main cause of this disorder is the conscious and subconscious fear-memories that have developed. In essence the ‘fight or flight” response that we all have is severely damaged, even when not in a stressful or dangerous situation those suffering from PTSD may feel stressed and in danger.

Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also

PTSD emerges in response to an event that involves death, injury, or a threat of harm to a person. Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD is defined as an "anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or happens to you” (United States). In these types of events one can feel that they are not in control of what is going on around them and may feel helpless or in great danger. The Department of Veterans Affairs has listed various life threatening events that can evolve into PTSD. These events include but are not limited to "Combat or Military exposure, child sexual or physical abuse, terrorist attacks, sexual or physical assault, serious accidents, such as a car wreck, natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake” (United States).

It took me to the National Center for PTSD page. The first thing that you see on the page is the header “What is PTSD?”. I learned that Post Traumatic stress disorder can happen after you have been through one or a series of traumatic events or situations. A traumatic event can be described as something really scary or terrifying that you usually go through, hear about, or something that you see. For example it could be something like sexual/physical abuse, or assault. Being in a car accident. Going through combat or even being exposed to combat. During any of these events, or many more, you usually feel as if you and/or other peoples lives are in harms way. You feel overwhelmed and have no control over anything that is happening. (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) This website states that “ Most people have some stress-related reactions after a traumatic event; but, not everyone gets PTSD. If your reactions don 't go away over time and they disrupt your life, you may have PTSD.” (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) Secondly, the website goes over the topic of how PTSD develops and the symptoms of PTSD. The way that PTSD develops depends on a lot of different things. The website says that these things are : How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted. If you were injured or lost someone important to you. How close you were to the event. How strong your reaction was. How much you felt in control of events, and lasty how much help and support you got

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

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was seen as a condition where people are shocked into fear of facing situations. Over the years, it was labeled as “Soldier’s Heart” in the post Civil war era and “Shell Shock” in the World War I. In a situation of ‘fight-or-flight’ an individual is triggered to escape from danger, however in PTSD this reaction is reversed in which case the individual feels a constant threat of danger even when there is no danger present.The person diagnosed with PTSD can be anyone from a child to an adult. Many causes of this disorder include traumatic events, knowing someone who is in danger, genetic factors, and more. Symptoms include

Initially, PTSD was once known as, “shell shock” and battle fatigue. It was called this because men and women who fought in battles and wars often developed it after they returned home. It affects all genders and ages, even young children who have experienced abuse (“Posttraumatic”). Traumatic events such as rape, war, terroristic acts, sudden or violent death of loved ones, natural disasters, and catastrophic accidents can all trigger the awful disorder. Although there are no certain events that can be pinpointed to be the exact causes of PTSD, the risk of getting it can be increased by: having pre-existing psychiatric conditions, if one is female, middle aged (40-60), if one has lower socioeconomic status, and if one has little to no experience coping with events. PTSD is a psychological condition, meaning it disturbs one’s mental state, and then causes mental issues such as recurring memories or thoughts of the event, the dulling of emotions, increased arousal, and even sometimes severe personality changes