The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5) lists symptoms one could encounter when a traumatic event has occurred or is occurring in their life. The exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence is the first step in recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a person. DSM5 discusses the feelings that are a result of trauma—terror, helplessness, and horror. However, there are many factors that delineate PTSD; the DSM5 lists them into four clusters: B-Intrusion/Re-experiencing; C-Avoidance; D- Negative alterations in cognition and mood; and E-Arousal. The first criteria that must take place in order to truly pathologize PTSD is the traumatic event that an individual is exposed to before
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It is the effort to avoid memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with the traumatic event. It is a frequently used coping mechanism among patients who deal with disorders like PTSD. Staying indoors on Independence Day is an example of avoidance, because they fear the loud noises associated with it; it may remind them of a mass shooting they were directly involved with, or had once witnessed. When a situation has to be avoided, on frequent occasions, the individual may be suffering PTSD. A person may become disconnected from the world because they feel as though it is no longer a safe place to live in. Herman states that “in the aftermath of traumatic life events, survivors are highly vulnerable” and that their “sense of self has been shattered” (Herman 61). She clarifies that the only way to reconstruct their sense of self is to connect with others for support, just as it was built. Basic trust is an important step in the healing …show more content…
He claims that psychiatry has become a checklist and it is no longer being understood in depth. Psychiatrists are pathologizing individuals who are perfectly normal. The categories of mental disorders have become too broad and healthy people are being treated for a disease that’s not there. The primary focus should be on the people who actually do need treatment. Without fully understanding trauma and all of its effects on the mind and body, it won’t be treated as it should be. Vander Kolk calls the DSM5 “a veritable smorgasbord of ‘diagnoses” (VdK 166), basically stating that there are far too many disorders in underlying trauma. He further states that the DSM lacks reliability, because it fails to produce consistent
It is the effort to avoid memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with the traumatic event. It is a frequently used coping mechanism among patients who deal with disorders like PTSD. Staying indoors on Independence Day is an example of avoidance, because they fear the loud noises associated with it; it may remind them of a mass shooting they were directly involved with, or had once witnessed. When a situation has to be avoided, on frequent occasions, the individual may be suffering PTSD. A person may become disconnected from the world because they feel as though it is no longer a safe place to live in. Herman states that “in the aftermath of traumatic life events, survivors are highly vulnerable” and that their “sense of self has been shattered” (Herman 61). She clarifies that the only way to reconstruct their sense of self is to connect with others for support, just as it was built. Basic trust is an important step in the healing …show more content…
He claims that psychiatry has become a checklist and it is no longer being understood in depth. Psychiatrists are pathologizing individuals who are perfectly normal. The categories of mental disorders have become too broad and healthy people are being treated for a disease that’s not there. The primary focus should be on the people who actually do need treatment. Without fully understanding trauma and all of its effects on the mind and body, it won’t be treated as it should be. Vander Kolk calls the DSM5 “a veritable smorgasbord of ‘diagnoses” (VdK 166), basically stating that there are far too many disorders in underlying trauma. He further states that the DSM lacks reliability, because it fails to produce consistent