POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

PTSD can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one, or natural disaster. There are three main symptoms associated with PTSD: “reliving” of the traumatic event (such as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding places related to the trauma); emotional numbing (detachment from others); and physiological arousal such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, or poor concentration.

A hallmark of PTSD is acute episodes of panic known as “flashbacks.” In these intense emotional episodes, survivors will often become immersed in both the physical and emotional state in which their trauma occurred, even becoming attuned to physical sensations experienced during the time of their trauma. The reliving of their trauma on a regular basis in the form of both flashbacks and nightmares can interfere significantly with both daily functioning and normal sleep patterns. It is important that survivors learn to fully ground themselves in the present when flashbacks occur, as well as work to alleviate the hyper-arousal and hyper-vigilance that interferes with both sleep patterns and daily functioning.

Individuals with PTSD often report feelings of detachment or alienation from both themselves and others, thus it is not surprising that people with a diagnosis of PTSD concurrently suffer from depression, substance abuse, memory and cognition issues, and/or other various physical/mental complaints.