Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Post Traumatic Stress

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder refers to a situation where an individual finds difficulty move on upon experiencing a harmful or terrifying situation Brewin, Andrews and Valentine 748.

The experiences introduce to an individual a sense of danger, disconnectedness, anxiety or painful memories. An individual experiencing post Traumatic stress feels helpless because their safety is threatened Brewin, Andrews and Valentine 749()

In reality, post traumatic disorder does not only occur as the result of physical threat. It is also associated to mental cognition that, may contribute to the feeling of helplessness and danger. In the case of danger directly affecting a close friend or family member, an individual may feel terrified and find it difficult to get over the situation. Prolonged feeling of the threat results to post traumatic stress disorder Brewin, Andrews and Valentine 750()

Causes of Traumatic Stress Disorder

It is derived from the definitions that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results from exposure to a traumatic event entailing bodily harm or mental disturbance. Any trauma that brings with it a sense of insecurity to an individual life, their emotional and physical well being may cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The events that may cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder include road accidents causing physical injuries to the victim. A road accident also has potential to alter the mental balance of an individual leading to an increased sense of insecurity to witnesses and even those who are close to the victims Silver et al. 1240()

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results if the victims have continued affiliation to the road accidents over a prolonged period finding difficulty to fight the feelings insecurity. Other events that may cause post Traumatic Stress Disorder include kidnapping, war combat, medical diagnosis that threatens life, torture, natural disaster, terrorist attack, rape, mugging being the victim of kid, physical or emotional assault, or even civil conflict.

Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Following the events that cause trauma to an individual there are sever biochemical changes in the brain that are inevitable to the victim. These changes include: reoccurrence of thought, Arousal (lack of sleep) and avoidance Silver et al. 1238()

These are recollections and flash back to the event that was traumatic. The recollections come about as nightmare or hallucinations with the individual having a difficulty to control their occurrence. Essentially the flash backs or recollections are triggered by the association which happens unconsciously. The reoccurrence of thought makes an individual experience mentally the traumatic event.

Trauma victims suffer from lack of sleep and failure to concentrate. They find difficulties with falling to sleep owing to the fear of nightmares or even because of mental disturbances that keep them hyper vigilant. The individual is also considered to be highly irritable and exhibits an exaggerated response to situations that are startling.