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