| A form of anxiety disorder, | | | | memories. Medications have been found to |
| post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is | | | | lessen PTSD symptoms of anxiety and |
| sometimes formed after someone has | | | | depression whilst furthering sleep. |
| experienced a very terrifying ordeal, | | | | Trauma-specific treatments are currently |
| usually where serious physical damage | | | | being worked on. |
| could or did occur to the person | | | | Other problems can sometime become |
| involved. | | | | associated with PTSD, e.g. alcoholism, |
| Events that can trigger PTSD to occur | | | | substance abuse, co-occurring depression |
| include violent attacks on people e.g. | | | | and other types of anxiety disorder. |
| muggings, rape, human caused or natural | | | | Gastrointestinal complaints, dizziness, |
| disasters, and military combat. Once | | | | problems with the patient's immune |
| someone has PTSD they often find it to | | | | system, headaches or chest pains, |
| be hugely disabling. | | | | amongst numerous other possible bodily |
| Large quantities of research has led to | | | | ailments are not unusual. |
| a much better understanding of how the | | | | What is vital is that quick, effective |
| brain and body are affected by PTSD, | | | | diagnosis and treatment of these |
| various treatments are now available. | | | | conditions occurs, so as to provide the |
| In terms of PTSD symptoms, those | | | | best chance of treatment success. |
| affected tend to re-experience the worst | | | | Upon diagnosis the sufferer is usually |
| parts of their horrible past in the form | | | | referred to a mental health professional |
| of memory flashbacks and nightmares/ | | | | that has specialized for years in |
| frightening thoughts. Certain objects or | | | | dealing with patients displaying the |
| events, e.g. anniversaries, that in some | | | | particular disorder in question. |
| way remind the sufferer of these dark | | | | Individuals more open to developing PTSD |
| thoughts can spark these replays. | | | | are those that have suffered abuse when |
| Another symptom of PTSD is a numbness to | | | | a child or people who've undergone |
| emotions, depression, poor sleeping | | | | highly traumatic experiences. More and |
| ability, anxiety, outbursts of anger and | | | | more factors that can lead to PTSD are |
| general irritability. Powerful emotions | | | | being found by researchers every day. |
| of guilt are also common. The majority | | | | What was once believed to be a sign of |
| of those affected by PTSD try to stay | | | | recovery, emotional numbness, is now |
| clear of anything that may remind them | | | | considered more likely to be a factor |
| of their past ordeals. If symptoms like | | | | promoting PTSD development. |
| these endure for over one month PTSD can | | | | New research has identified the |
| then be diagnosed. | | | | amygdala, a small yet highly complex |
| PTSD can affect any age, from children | | | | structure within our brains controlling |
| right through to the elderly. Symptoms | | | | our bodies fear response, as being |
| are likely to show themselves within | | | | abnormally activated in cases of PTSD. |
| three months of a particular traumatic | | | | The memory section of our brains, the |
| event. | | | | hippocampus, may be functioning |
| Around 3.6% of U.S. adults between the | | | | abnormally in association with PTSD, |
| ages of 18-54, 5.2 million people in | | | | providing the various re-living of past |
| all, suffer from PTSD in any given year. | | | | nightmarish events. |
| War zones have been visited by roughly | | | | PTSD often manifests its self through |
| 30% of men and women with PTSD. The | | | | unusual levels of particular hormones. |
| Vietnam War saw one million veterans | | | | Cortisol has often been seen in lower |
| develop this anxiety disorder. Soldiers | | | | than usual quantities whilst |
| that fought in the Gulf War also had a | | | | norepinephrine and epinephrine has been |
| high number, estimated at up to 8%. | | | | found at abnormally high levels. |
| Once apparent this illnesses duration | | | | Natural pain-relieving opiates released |
| and severity are variable, lasting from | | | | when people feel they are in danger may |
| just six months to many years. | | | | be what contribute to emotional |
| Through research effective treatments | | | | distancing. These chemicals are released |
| such as those involving | | | | for longer than normal durations, often |
| cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure | | | | lasting after the terrifying event has |
| therapy and group therapy have been | | | | taken place. |
| realized. This treatment works by | | | | Research into improved understandings of |
| getting the person affected to | | | | how neurotransmitter systems operate |
| repetitively re-live their nightmares, | | | | with memories of high significance may |
| in a controlled environment, with the | | | | prove fruitful with reducing the early |
| aim of them becoming more able to deal | | | | development of PTSD via psychological |
| with and leave behind the damaging | | | | interventions or medications. |