Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Learn about the effects and treatments of PTSD...

Roughly 70 percent of people will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime.1 When these experiences produce stress and symptoms unmanageable to the person, it can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

Experiencing, witnessing or perceiving a threat to one’s life is the basic cause of PTSD. Following this event, the person will continue to experience it through startling flashbacks or unconsciously by reliving it in nightmares; therefore those with PTSD will try to avoid anything that reminds them of the event. These changes in daily life cause new emotional and physical issues such as irritability, outbursts of anger, insomnia, and susceptibility to illness due to constant stress. If PTSD is left untreated, the symptoms will begin to worsen the longer it goes on. At this point, people often begin using methods to cover up their feelings with alcohol or drug use, eating disorders, phobias, panic disorders and depression.

The results of PTSD pose a serious threat to a person’s mental and physical health if left untreated, however even when beginning treatment, dealing with the past is difficult. Counselors have found cognitive-behavioral treatment to be highly effective, with the help of a therapist, the victims are able to pinpoint what causes them stress and anxiety and work towards replacing these feelings and thoughts with ones that are less upsetting. There are multiple approaches to reducing negative views such as exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Cognitive behavioral therapies are most effective when paired with prescribed anti-depressants such as Prozac and Zoloft.2

Group and family therapy can also be an effective supplemental PTSD treatment option depending on the patient. These approaches allow the victim to realize that they are not alone in their feelings and family members are able to better understand their actions and provide support.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a fairly new disorder. Soldiers and war veterans have become a common group for study due to the multiple experiences they are exposed to that could trigger PTSD. In the past, the military has been a difficult group to get solid research results from. Experts believe that those involved in the armed forces are reluctant to admit to symptoms of PTSD because they believe it will affect the way their peers and higher-ranking officers will look at them. Counselors have pushed the importance of getting help for those who have experienced war. Currently, the United States is making efforts to require thorough mental assessments and provide confidential treatment to those who need it.3

Counselors and therapists are making great strides in their ability to help people suffering from PTSD. The information that has been gathered from war veterans and other types of trauma victims such as sexual assault has allowed them to establish counseling programs for people with all types of PTSD needs. The future success of PTSD treatment relies heavily on the work counselors are putting into research and developing programs specific to those in need. As more help becomes available, more individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will seek treatment and possibly avoid a lifetime of severe health and emotional difficulties.

Find out how you can become involved, request information from schools offering Psychology degree programs. Also, learn more about the psychology career licensing processes and what the requirements for licensure are: Psychology Career Licensure.

Resources:
1NIMH
2EMDR Institute
3National Center for PTSD