8615 Ridgely’s Choice Drive
Suite 212
Baltimore, MD 21236
Tel: (410) 529-
Fax: (410) 529-
Suite 212
Baltimore, MD 21236
Tel: (410) 529-
Fax: (410) 529-
WebMaster: Edward Lehwald
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Overview
By Martha Miller, L.C.S.W.- C
Two years ago on her daily jog through the park, Susan was raped by a man who stepped out of the bushes with a knife. She continues to have nightmares and vivid intrusive memories that cause feelings of terror. She feels numb much of the time and is unable to feel the old joy that accompanied her before the rape.
Joseph spent time in Vietnam and his family and friends say he has never recovered. A helicopter flying overhead will cause panic and sometimes it would seem that he has “blanked out” for short periods of time.
One rainy night, Allison was in a serious auto accident that resulted in multiple physical injuries. Driving now causes her great anxiety. The sounds of shattering glass, automobile horns, or tires on wet pavement often send her into a panic. She blames herself for the accident even though the other driver was clearly at fault. All of these individuals suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
By Martha Miller, L.C.S.W.-
Two years ago on her daily jog through the park, Susan was raped by a man who stepped out of the bushes with a knife. She continues to have nightmares and vivid intrusive memories that cause feelings of terror. She feels numb much of the time and is unable to feel the old joy that accompanied her before the rape.
Joseph spent time in Vietnam and his family and friends say he has never recovered. A helicopter flying overhead will cause panic and sometimes it would seem that he has “blanked out” for short periods of time.
One rainy night, Allison was in a serious auto accident that resulted in multiple physical injuries. Driving now causes her great anxiety. The sounds of shattering glass, automobile horns, or tires on wet pavement often send her into a panic. She blames herself for the accident even though the other driver was clearly at fault. All of these individuals suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Recent statistics tell us that 4% of North Americans will be exposed to major traumas in their lifetimes. Many of these individual people will suffer from PTSD. The precipitant of PTSD is direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or a threat to one’s physical safety, or witnessing such an event involving another person. The symptoms of PTSD include intense fear, helplessness or horror (or in children the response can involve disorganized or agitated behavior). The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced by the individual in one or more of the followin g ways:
1. recurrent and intrusive distressing memories or dreams;
2. acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring;
3. intense distress at exposure to cues that resemble the event;
4. persistent avoidance of anything associated with the trauma;
5. numbing of feelings and a sense of negativity about the future;
6. persistent symptoms of irritability or outbursts of anger, difficult y concentrating, hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response; and difficulty falling asleep.
These symptoms need to have lasted for more than one month.
1. recurrent and intrusive distressing memories or dreams;
2. acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring;
3. intense distress at exposure to cues that resemble the event;
4. persistent avoidance of anything associated with the trauma;
5. numbing of feelings and a sense of negativity about the future;
6. persistent symptoms of irritability or outbursts of anger, difficult y concentrating, hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response; and difficulty falling asleep.
These symptoms need to have lasted for more than one month.
Traumatic events can have a major impact on one’s belief system and feelings. Basic assumptions about one’s own invulnerability, beliefs that events are predictable, controllable, or fair or that life is meaningful can be turned upside down and create a sense of loss and disillusionment. A person’s basic faith in a just and wise God can be shaken, leading to a spiritual crisis.
Although it is understandable that someone might want to avoid talking about an event that brings up negative emotions, “telling the story” is an important step in the healing process. Relaxation techniques and other stress reduction skills can be learned. The healing process moves from a perspective of victim to survivor through constructing a new meaning and purpose for the suffering that occurred. As more people who have experienced severe trauma are telling their stories and finding healing, a greater understanding of how to effectively treat PTSD has developed. The human mind and and spirit is very resilient in its ability to transform pain into hope and positive contributions to self and others.