| For those who experience it, post-traumatic | | | | For those who have been diagnosed with |
| stress disorder can be an incredibly debilitating | | | | post-traumatic stress disorder, there are some |
| disease that can prevent you from living a full life. | | | | ways to treat it. The most common form of |
| This disorder can bring back moments of severe | | | | treatment is through psychotherapy. A therapist |
| stress so clearly that it is almost as though you | | | | has several tools at his or her disposal and can |
| are reliving the moment all over again. | | | | work with the sufferer to root out the causes of |
| First diagnosed in war veterans, post-traumatic | | | | the disorder and help cure it. As well, a |
| stress disorder was initially named "shell shock" | | | | psychiatrist is the best person to talk to in order |
| then "battle fatigue". However, by the time of the | | | | to actually diagnose PTSD in the first place, helping |
| conflict in Vietnam, it was given the name | | | | the sufferer to at least understand what is |
| "post-traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD) in order | | | | happening. Knowing what is wrong is the first step |
| to give a clearer idea of what exactly is at work. | | | | to curing it, after all. |
| As well, it is not only found in war veterans. In | | | | Group treatment is also effective, as it allows |
| fact, it can be seen in people who were abused | | | | people to talk about their feelings of guilt, shame, |
| as children, rape victims, people who have to | | | | anxiety, or depression with others who feel the |
| clean up after disaster, or anyone else who has | | | | same way. This allows people to get comfortable |
| undergone severe stress at any point in their | | | | with one another and talk about their feelings |
| lives. | | | | openly and honestly. By getting the issues out in |
| Unfortunately, the treatment of post-traumatic | | | | the open, it almost spreads it out and allows the |
| stress disorder is still in its infancy. Psychologists, | | | | trauma to dissipate by opening it up to other |
| psychiatrists, and neurologists are still coming to | | | | people. |
| grips with the disease and its causes and effects, | | | | However, there are some medications that can |
| but they are learning new things constantly. | | | | be used to help treat post-traumatic stress |
| In a strictly biochemical sense, PTSD has its root | | | | disorder. Mostly, these drugs are used to treat |
| causes at the moment of stress itself. It seems | | | | some of the symptoms of PTSD, such as |
| that at moments of extreme stress, the | | | | depression or anxiety, allowing the sufferer to at |
| biochemical system in charge of adjusting to | | | | least alleviate the condition. Most of these drugs |
| stress is reset, like a computer. It is as though | | | | take some time to work before they actually |
| the system is so overloaded that it has to shut | | | | show results so, if you have been put onto |
| itself down and restart. Unfortunately, this also | | | | medication for PTSD, give it a few weeks before |
| causes the mind to quickly return to that moment | | | | you start expecting relief. |
| when it had to start and stop, which can cause | | | | However, studies have shown that the best way |
| flashbacks to the moments when the shock | | | | to treat post-traumatic stress disorder is to nip it |
| occurred. | | | | in the bud shortly after the trauma has occurred. |
| The other results of post-traumatic stress | | | | The usual method is to sit down with someone |
| disorder include anger, depression, anxiety, | | | | who has suffered a trauma about 3-10 days after |
| substance abuse, memory problems including | | | | the trauma occurred. This will allow the feelings to |
| amnesia, or any of a host of other mental | | | | be fresh, while it also helps people relieve the |
| disorders. Unfortunately, many of these disorders | | | | trauma by bringing it out before it hides itself in |
| are treated individually without concern for the | | | | the mind. There has been some success with this |
| root cause. This is particularly worrisome because | | | | sort of treatment, though it does require the |
| approximately 3.6% of adults between the ages | | | | trauma to be recognized early. |
| of 18 and 54 are suffering from post-traumatic | | | | Post-traumatic stress disorder is a surprisingly |
| stress disorder and the vast majority of them go | | | | common disorder that often goes unnoticed and |
| undiagnosed and untreated. As well, women are | | | | untreated. However, with improvements in |
| twice as likely as men to experience PTSD after | | | | therapy and medication, there is new hope for |
| a sudden shock. | | | | those who suffer from this debilitating disorder. |