PTSD-Yes, It's Real Part 2

In children, PTSD looks a bit different. Have you ever seen the movie or read The Client by John Grisham? Ricky, the main character's little brother, is a very good example of what can happen to a child who has witnessed a traumatic event. In this story, he was hiding in the bushes when he heard a gunshot come from a car and thought that his brother had been killed. His brother was fine, but Ricky didn't know that and was so traumatized that he was 'frozen'; he could not speak or move, and would scream bloody murder anytime someone came near him. This is *one* way PTSD looks in children. Another way is bedwetting or forgetting toilet training, behavioral problems or being particularly 'clingy' with a parent or other adult. They might not call it PTSD, but adoption agencies-public or private-warn of these problems when it comes to adopting older children. The state agencies may help pay for the treatment, but it's hard to say exactly what the child will need because every child-and every trauma-is different.

Speaking of treatment, sufferers of PTSD have a variety of options. Psychotherapy-"talk therapy"-in its many forms has proven very helpful in helping a person adjust. One such technique is called "exposure therapy". Basically, the counselor finds out what a person's particular triggers are and gradually reintroduces them into their daily lives. The same technique is employed for patients with bipolar disorder or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and has been very effective. 

Cognitive restructuring therapy is also helpful because it teaches the person to see what happened in a more realistic light. Sometimes we remember things differently from the way they actually happened, or focus more on some parts than others. It's not uncommon for someone to feel guilt over having survived something while others didn't or not having done more to prevent whatever it was from happening. In a lot of cases, though, there was really nothing that could have been done because the situation was completely beyond the patient's control. By helping them see the event-and their reactions-in a more straightforward way, this therapy can go a long way in relieving unfounded feelings of guilt. Support groups are also very helpful because hearing the words, “It wasn't your fault” or similar from people who have “been there” can help drive the point home.

Sometimes doctors will prescribe antidepressants to help alleviate overwhelming feelings of sadness that can get in the way of working through things effectively.

For more information about PTSD from a professional perspective, visit

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml.

PTSD-Yes, It's Real Part 1

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been in the news a lot lately. The medical and psychological communities, along with society in general, are coming to a greater understanding to a condition that is common among the many veterans who are coming home after fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.   It's not just veterans who suffer-It can happen to anyone who has a traumatic experience. But what exactly *is* PTSD? How common is it? I'm going to give you a very “tip of the iceberg” summary of what I've learned about it, with a link to more information.

I know it seems odd for me to be giving so many examples from popular entertainment. After all, scriptwriters are entertainers, not doctors. I'm doing this because a lot of very complex matters such as PTSD can be more easily understood if someone has a "visual" to work from.

When I say, "yes, it's real" in the title, I'm not trying to be rude. It's just that a lot of people who don't suffer from this disorder tell the person who does that they should just "let it go"; that, by "holding onto" whatever it is that happened, they are causing their own pain. This might be true when it comes to things like a breakup or loss of a job, but the events that cause PTSD are much more painful than that.  Also, it's normal to be shaken up right after an event, but symptoms of PTSD can take months or even years to manifest. It's not a given that someone who has a trauma will have these problems, but it's important to realize that a person who does have them needs both professional and personal support.

One of the major symptoms with PTSD is the presence of "flashbacks" that make the person feel as though they are experiencing the event all over again. A perfect example of this is an incident in an episode of Grey's Anatomy where a half-asleep Iraq War veteran sees a ceiling fan and feels as though he is back in the desert treating a friend who had just been shot. Because of this, he nearly chokes his sleeping girlfriend to death. He wasn't trying to hurt her; the flashback *literally* had him thinking he was still in the desert, adrenaline and all.  All flashbacks aren't this vivid, but the sight of the ceiling fan-which looked like a helicopter-triggered him. This isn't uncommon; a rape victim might be triggered if she sees someone who resembles her attacker and feel the same pain she did during the assault. Triggers can be items, sounds, smells-all kinds of things. This can also happen to someone who didn't experience a trauma themselves, but were witness to one and/or had a sudden death in the family.

People who suffer from PTSD may find themselves avoiding situations that remind them of what they went through. For instance, a friend of mine was nearly killed in an accident several years ago. For months afterward, she got very anxious anytime she drove or sat in the front set of a car, so she didn't do it. It took her months to be able to drive a car without freaking out every time a white truck (the color of the one that hit her) came by. They may also have terrifying dreams, be "hyper-vigilant" (i.e. constantly tense), prone to angry outbursts or other anxiety reactions that make it difficult to perform the tasks of daily life or hold down a job. It's not uncommon for a person with PTSD to be emotionally numb, which can cause problems in personal relationships.

For the effects of PTSD on children as well as treatment options, visit Part 2.