Trauma Is Defined as an Emotional Response to a Terrible Event like an Accident - Essay Example

PTSD and Trauma Introduction This semester I learned that trauma is defined as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Through my reading of the following course material, “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror,” by Judith Herman, it was impressed upon me that immediately after a traumatic event, the victim is left in shock and denial. I have further come to understand that denial exists on a social as well as an individual level and that we need to understand the past in order to reclaim the present and the future. The only way the survivor can take full control of his or her recovery is to take responsibility for it. Trauma affects the victim mentally and it has biological effects that include reactions, unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, and strained relationships. In addition, there can be physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives after a traumatic event. Psychologists can help these victims find constructive ways to manage their emotions. Three fundamental stages of recovery from a traumatic event include: 1. Establishing safety 2. Reconstructing the traumatic story. 3. Restoring the connection between the survivor and his or her community. Recovery is based upon the empowerment of the survivor. It can take place only in the context of a relationship. Trauma has the effect of social support in that the survivor’s social world can influence the eventual outcome of the trauma. The emotional support that is sought takes many forms and changes during the course of resolution. The emotional support that is sought takes many forms and changes during the course of resolution. In the immediate aftermath, the rebuilding of some minimal form of trust is the primary task. Assurances of safety and protection are of the greatest importance. The survivor needs the assistance of others in rebuilding a positive sense of self. Others must show tolerance for the oscillating behaviors of the survivor. The survivor needs the assistance of others in his or her struggle to arrive at a fair assessment of his or her conduct. Harsh criticism, ignorance, or blind acceptance greatly compounds the survivor’s self-blame and isolation. It is important to understand that the recovery process is to restore power and control to the survivor. In that, the first task is to establish the survivor’s safety. A survivor needs help from others to mourn his or her losses. Failure to complete the normal process of grieving perpetuates the traumatic reaction. The community also plays a role in trauma. Once it is publicly recognized that the individual has been harmed, the community must take action to assign responsibility for the harm and to repair the injury. Recognition and restitution are necessary to rebuild the survivor’s sense of order and justice. People are different and we have come to see that some individuals can cope effectively with the emotional and physical demands brought about by traumatic events by using their own support systems. However, other individuals with serious problems that are persistent should seek out professional help. Individuals with prolonged reactions that disrupt their daily functioning should consult with a trained and experienced mental health professional. Psychologists and mental health providers help to education people about normal responses to extreme trauma. Local support groups are available to survivors. These groups discussions can help people realize that other individuals are in the same circumstances and often have similar reactions and emotions. The information that I received from this book explained the characteristics and symptoms of an anxiety disorder called PTSD, which will be the topic of the rest of this paper. 2 Definition of PTSD PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can happen when an individual has experienced extreme trauma. According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994) states that PTSD is the result of an extreme trauma where a person “experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others” (p. 427). In addition, the individual’s response “involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror” (p. 428). Many soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars came back to the United States suffering from PTSD. Also, there are many traumatic events that have happened in the world such as 9/11, the Tsunamis, and Hurricane Katrina that have 3 Symptoms of PTSD There are several symptoms of PTSD. Some of the symptoms include: 1. Re-experiencing the event of the trauma – in this case the individual may act or feel that they are still in the event. This can be triggered by noises or situations that seem similar to the individual’s experience. 2. Avoidance or numbing of the event – the individual may have reduced interest or participation in significant activities; they may also feel disconnected from others. 3. The individual may experience increased arousal and anxiety – they may feel irritable or have anger outbursts. They may also have difficult falling or staying asleep because they are feeling the effects of the trauma again. (Smith and Siegal par. 12) 4 Types of PTSD There are five types of PTSD, which are normal stress response, acute stress disorder, uncomplicated PTSD, comorbid PTSD and complex PTSD. Normal stress response happens when a healthy adult has experienced one “discrete traumatic event” (National Center of PTSD par. 2) as an adult and this experience brings back memories that turn into “intense bad memories, emotional numbing, feelings of unreality (National Center of PTSD par. 2) and feeling as though they have been cut off from their other relationships. This level of PTSD brings recovery quickly if the individual received debriefing that describes the event. Acute stress disorder happens when an individual begins to have panic attacks, where they are confused in their thoughts, when they have trouble sleeping, they feel suspicious and they find that they are unable to take care of their daily self-care; they may also have difficulty going to work or dealing with relationships. During this phase, the individual may find themselves withdrawing from their relationships with friends and family (National Center of PTSD par. 3). Another type of PTSD is uncomplicated PTSD where the individual is engaged in behaviors that are avoidant in nature. As an example, they may have ongoing re-experiencing of the event, avoid stimuli that they associate with the trauma, they may experience numbing of their emotions and they may have increased arousal of symptoms (National Center of PTSD par. 4). Comorbid PTSD often has at least one other major psychiatric disorder that is also associated with it. Someone with this type of PTSD may also have depression, other anxiety disorders, alcohol or substance abuse or they may also experience panic disorders (National Center of PTSD par. 5). Finally, complex PTSD, which is sometimes called “Disorder of Extreme Stress” (National Center of PTSD par 6), happens when an individual has had a traumatic experience that happened over time. At issue are events that may start in childhood like sexual abuse or torture. As they grow older or as they become adults, they may exhibit behaviors like aggression, eating disorders, exhibit self-destructive behavior, have extreme emotional challenges or may act out sexually. Of all the types of PTSD, this one can take many years to treat and the individual may need a team of trauma specialists to work with and a “structured treatment program” (National Center of PTSD par. 6). These types of PTSD may be exhibited as symptoms for specific individuals and there may be difficulty separating the symptoms in order to diagnose them. 5 The Five Stages of Recovery from PTSD There are five stages of recovery from PTSD that people experience. The outcry stage, also called the “emergency” stage is the first stage that people experience when going through therapy for PTSD. In this stage the individual may still be acting out his trauma and experience rapid breathing, their blood pressure can elevate and they can have a feeling of fear and helplessness (Christina R. par. 1). The next stage is the denial phase where the individual attempts to become numb to the feelings they are having and ignore that the trauma happened. The individual attempts not to feel any emotion because it can trigger other emotions from the trauma. The third phase called the intrusive-repetitive phase. The individual begins to have nightmares of the trauma or mood swings that trigger them to be aggressive. Some victims will experience “intrusive images” or their startle responses may be higher than usual (Christina R. par. 3). The reflective or transition phase (also called the healing phase) is where the individual begins to put the trauma in perspective and they are able to move forward with their lives. They understand that they have a choice to let go of the negative trauma and move on to situations that are more positive. The final phase is called the integration phase, and this is where the victim is able to find an inner peace because they have been able to overcome the trauma and realize that it was something that happened to them, but they do not have to dwell on it any longer. 6 Conclusion Trauma affects us all. Trauma has affected my life personally when my health was t high risk during my last pregnancy. My health was at risk when I lost a child who was a twin during my second trimester and my medical complications spiraled out of control. I gave birth at just 23 weeks to my daughter who also had medical health complications. My medical complications left me debating about my family’s religious beliefs. I also had to deal with the grieving stage of the loss of a child. I sought the support from the hospital staff during my hospitalization stay. Academically, I will continue to develop an understanding of my role as a case manager. On a professional level, I will use my monthly supervision and what I have learned this semester to help individuals affected by trauma and to help them find constructive ways of dealing with the emotional impact of trauma and PTSD with the patients I meet at work. Works Cited American Psychiatric Association. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV). Fifth Edition. 1994. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Print. Christina R. “5 Stages of Recovery for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” Gather. 23 March 2007. Web. 23 December 2011. National Center of PTSD. “Types of PTSD”. PsychCentral. 1999-2011 (updated 24 Dec 2011). 24 December 2011. Web. Smith, Melinda. and Segal, Jeanne. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Treatment, And Self-Help”. Help Guide: A Trusted Non-profit Resource. October 2011. 23 December 2011. Web. 1. Read More