Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Also known as "PTSD", "shell shock" or "battle fatigue"

This disorder affects those who have been exposed to trauma such as battle, violence, war, rape, accidents, and disasters. Symptoms of PTSD include haunting memories and returning nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety and hyper vigilance, insomnia, flashbacks, avoidance of certain stimuli, and fear of public places (agrophobia).

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder (A disorder characterized by distressing, persistant anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety).

“Not counting traumatic events that are experienced by individuals as opposed to entire populations, the number of people who need help for their PTSD and related symptoms is mind boggling”-Edna Foa of the University of Pennsylvania

PTSD can be treated with treated with exposure therapy, cogitive therapy, drug therapy, active listening, music and relaxation therapy and group therapy.

Works Cited "EMDR Music Therapy / EMDR Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Official." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. "Most Effective PTSD Therapies Are Not Being Widely Used, Researchers Find." Association for Psychological Science RSS. N.p., 11 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. Myers, David G. "Abnormal Psychology." Myers' Psychology for AP. New York, NY: Worth, 2011. 572-74. Print. "PBS Newshour Features NARSAD Grantee’s Research on Helping Children Cope with PTSD." Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. PBS Newshour, 4 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. "Understanding PTSD." YouTube. Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. "Virtual Reality Medical Center - VR Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

“If we don’t do anything, their PTSD is not going to go away. By adolescence for example, individuals may develop self-injurious behavior or they may develop substance abuse as a way of self-medicating. So if PTSD is not addressed, if avoided, it’s just going to get worse.”-Dr. Victor Carrion, MD.