Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as a subcategory of anxiety disorders, a stress response caused by a catastrophically traumatizing event that is outside the range of usual human experience. PTSD is what Lacy Johnson was diagnosed as having after experiencing her traumatizing incident. In Lacy M. Johnson’s memoir, The Other Side, Johnson recounts the terrifying story of being kidnapped and raped by her abusive partner and struggling to recover from the incident. Johnson describes to her readers of going through everyday life while being haunted by the memories of the man who she calls “The man I used to live with.” The only way to help Johnson would be by giving her the gift of forgetting her abuser.…
In her novel, Trauma and Recovery, Judith Herman discusses the concept of Complex Trauma Disorder and its implications. Intolerant of the currently defined diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she decides to rename it. Herman believes that the existing definition for PTSD is inaccurate, or as she asserts “does not fit accurately enough” (119). The present criteria for this diagnosis results from those who have survived “circumscribed” traumatic events, which includes rape, disaster, and combat. These are simply archetypes.…
The trauma treatment protocol includes identifying traumatic stress reactions including the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the implementation of trauma treatment plans and recovery…
Psychological Analysis: In studying the case of Mr. Wertz, I believe he suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. He is most likely suffering from a trauma and stressor-related disorder (PTSD). I diagnosed Mr. Wertz of PTSD because of the facts of his case state that he is an active-duty Army soldier, he was assigned to an infantry division and had been deployed to Iraq twice. Also while in Iraq, he witnessed the gruesome death of a fellow soldier at the hands of an enemy combatant.…
After hearing the sound of fireworks, the barking of a dog, or even just the sight of a weapon, something in a persons mind with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will trigger. Horror will constantly torment the mind, no matter what or where the person is. This is part of what people diagnosed with PTSD go through on a daily basis. Unfortunately, little is known about why the human body induces this mental disorder, or why it takes so long to recover from. However, based off recent research, much has been discovered about the fundamentals of the mental illness.…
Their findings relates to the neuroendocrine system, the hippocampus, sleep pattern, psychophysiology, and their electroencephalographic potentials of the patients suffering from PTSD. Many sources reference their work and each subtopic indicated clinical implications. The article concluded with innovated treatment approaches to PTSD which included anxiety management training, exposure therapy, sleep related therapy, commitment therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. The author’s goal was achieved after they discussed early intervention and prevention of re-victimization. This is my first time coming across this information and I think that it will be significant for a future…
With regards to treating PTSD, research and studies are still very young, however convincing evidence has shown some commonly used approaches to be effective. Exposure therapy has been shown to have a high rate of success when treating victims of trauma (Bradley et al. 2005). The theory behind exposure therapy is that victims of trauma learn fear through conditioning. Therapists that use this form of therapy provide a safe place for the victim to be exposed to stimuli that reminds them of the traumatic event and the details…
The Trauma Adaptive Recovery Group Education and Therapy (TARGET) model is a manualized group, family, and one on one psychotherapy that engages clients in “a process of therapeutic self-reflection and change that addresses PTSD and SUD simultaneously” (Ford and Russo, 2006, p. 353). TARGET consists of three central components that focus on the patient’s better understanding of the co-occurring PTSD and SUD symptoms (Ford and Russo, 2006). The first is a cognitive component to help "clients relate to their own experience in a reframed version that emphasizes that these normal reactions to abnormal circumstances are healthy survival adaptations that have become highly reactive due to trauma" (Ford & Russo, 2006, p. 345). The second element teaches stress symptom management through an easy to remember FREEDOM skill set (Ford & Russo, 2006). The third component helps the client reengage with autobiographical memories via a creative arts model (Ford & Russo,…
During the 20th Century, war became a condition of existence for both soldiers and civilians partly because, this condition, PTSD/Shell Shock was spreading. What was thought to be a physical and mental issue and is now known as a psychological condition. Although society today has come much farther than when in World War One or Two, it was a slow road getting to how society views it now. The social stigma against PTSD makes it arduous to treat and slowed the progression of how it’s viewed. The transitions from viewing PTSD as a disciplinary issue and the harsh of types of treatment that followed suit, as well as the failure to recognize this as a psychological malady are some of the causes of this.…
Trauma can occur to anyone who has been violated, hurt, or threatened, or to those who witness these acts (Smyth, 2013). Clients may have experienced trauma through child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, natural disasters, life threatening illness, being threatened by death or harm, serious accidents, and many other situations where danger is present (Smyth, 2013). Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an intervention acknowledging how all types of trauma may be impacting clients, and recognizing and responding to trauma in a safe and empowering way (Trauma-Informed Care, 2012). Experiencing trauma can significantly impact a person, and clients who have been through trauma may develop various mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood behavioral disorders, substance abuse, or personality disorders (Smyth, 2013). Trauma often results in a cycle of trauma, with the traumatic event eliciting a bodily response, followed by an emotional response, and then a behavioral response; after this, each time a trigger…
Vicarious traumatisation (VT) can be defined in many different ways, depending on the type of trauma the therapist or helper is exposed to, however, an overall definition that contains all common factors of (VT) can be defined as so. Vicarious traumatisation can be described as a change, mostly negative, of the therapist or helper due to heavy empathic engagement with trauma survivors. (Pack, 2013) states that vicarious traumatisation effects can be long lasting and irremediable if not attended to, whereas (McCann and Pearlman, 1990) describe vicarious traumatisation a change or disruption of the helper’s cognitive schema. VT prevention strategies have been slow to form due to the lack of knowledge of how they occur and the difference of vicarious…
Child sexual abuse leaves a huge impact on its victims. Following child sexual abuse initial effects include fear, anger, hostility, guilt and shame, low self-esteem, anxiety, early overt sexual behavior and behavioral disturbances; these same feelings can last into adulthood. Childhood sexual abuse survivors may experience depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, dissociation, low self-esteem and Post Traumatic Shock Disorder . The article Sexual Abuse Histories of Young Women in the U.S. Child Welfare System informs that rape, being tortured or a victim of terrorists and molestation are the types of drama associated with PTSD (Breno, AL, and MP Galupo). Incest child sexual abuse survivors may have more severe problems, especially if the offender…
Currently, these symptoms are typically subsumed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed. ; APA, 2013) categories of PTSD or Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), and are often easily linked to specific victimization experiences by virtue of their temporal proximity to the assault. This diagnostic concept of PTSD was first introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – Third Edition (DSM-III) in the mid-l970s, representing a major step forward in our definition and understanding of psychological conditions. Since then, various modifications have been introduced; including ASD and Complex PTSD or Disorders of Extreme Stress, Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS), in order to more precisely identify etiological issues and target early, effective interventions. (Luxenberg et al., 2001)…
Thesis Statement: PTSD can be caused by going through a traumatic, life-changing event and can result in reliving the experience, not communicating with those around you, being on edge due to the “stressors” of life, one’s way of thinking to be molded based on the experience, or even physical damage to one’s body. Bassett, Deborah, Dedra Buchwald, Spero Manson. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Symptoms among American Indians and Alaskan Natives: A Review of the Literature.” Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology. Vol.…
So psychotherapist and doctor would systematically and automatically provide medical and mental examines for those veteran thereby preventing severe disorder. Similarly, the process is also systematic for victims survive in disaster to inspect PTSD. However, the process of prevention for people who involve in personal assault is deficient. Compared to people who have non-assault based trauma, people who experience assault-based trauma are more likely to develop PTSD. (Zoladz, Phillip 860-895) After experiencing physical or sexual assault, victims usually do not have the awareness of the long-term emotional and mental effect.…