Complete info on stress disorder and psychological intimidation.

All you need to know about stress disorder- post traumatic stress disorder
Life is all about ups and downs that one has to cross in order to move on to the next phase in one’s life. A sick and ailing child or a parent, death of a loved one, or even physical or sexual harassment in any form can lead to a lot of trauma that could cause undue stress. Some people learn to cope with the situation while others face an unending trauma that can lead to both physical as well as metal stress. This is called post traumatic stress disorder. This is often seen among people who experience sudden and unexplained calamity in their life that threatens to disrupt one’s life forever.

Post traumatic stress disorder

People suffering from post traumatic stress disorder are often found to re-live the traumatic moments of their lives either in the form of recurrent nightmares or even flashbacks that disturb one’s peace. Complex post traumatic stress disorder occurs when the individual is exposed to the stressful situation for long periods of time which results in long term scarring of the mind of the individual. Such complex post traumatic stress disorder was initially evidenced in large numbers among U.S war veterans in World War II.

Causes of post traumatic stress disorder

An individual who wither experiences or is a witness to severe violence, physical or sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape or even murder is susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder. Witnessing or being a part of a massive accident that has lead to the loss of loved ones or lead to severe injury to oneself can also lead to stress disorder. Psychological intimidation is one of the major factors that contribute to stress disorder

Symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder

The individual replays the events that lead to the incident and is unable to carry on with normal life. Some of the important symptoms include

Disturbed sleep.
There will be an inability to recall some or all of the major events that lead to the incident.
A feeling of numbness towards certain situation that could result in complete lack of feeling.
An inability to participate actively in one’s daily activities.
Complete avoidance of situations, places and other memories related to the particular incident.
A feeling of emptiness or a feeling that living will never be normal again.

Such feelings are common among people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, however if the duration of such symptoms is within 30 days then the condition is called acute stress disorder. If the symptoms extend beyond 30 days it is called post traumatic stress disorder.

Genetics factors

It has long been found that certain people are better able to cope with a difficult situation while certain others find it difficult. Now evidence states that the presence of certain mutations results in certain individuals being at an increased risk for post traumatic stress disorder. The most evident of these is studies that were performed on twins. Monozygotic twins showed increased chances of a twin developing this stress disorder while the other twin is exposed to war. This was not true for dizygotic twins.

Acute stress disorder

Individuals who experience or witness a traumatic situation and develop symptoms within 2 days of the incident for a maximum period of 4 weeks are said to experience acute stress disorder.

Symptoms of acute stress disorder

The most common symptom is detachment or complete lack of feeling that the individual is faced with. There is minimal emotional feeling and the person will not be able to express any attachment
An inability to remember certain important details regarding the particular incident
Irrational behaviour or extreme caution exerted which may be unnecessary
Distress when exposed to any situation or place that reminds one of the situations.
Inability to sleep well during the night

Stress disorder can affect the lives of individuals unless help is not extended. Consulting a good psychologist will benefit the individual immensely in ensuring that the episode is left behind and the individual can get back to normal life.

Treatment for stress disorder

There are various treatment measures that are provided to a person who has post traumatic stress disorder. The treatment process begins with a complete explanation of the problem that the person has and the resulting health problems that may arise. When an individual understands that nothing is wrong with them and that many people under similar circumstances go through similar stress disorder, they will be better able to cope with their situation and accept treatment for the same.

Some of the most noted changes that a person with post traumatic stress disorder goes through are extreme anger and / or severe anxiety. Anxiety post traumatic stress is seen among many individuals who suffer from stress disorder and containing this anxiety post traumatic stress is imperative to helping the patient get back to normal. The treatment for stress disorder, therefore, aims at providing techniques that would help one in controlling such feelings.

Counselling is an important aspect of the healing process and this counselling is not only restricted to the individual but is extended to the entire family. Counselling the entire family will help the family understand the condition of the patient and will help them understand the needs of the patient and patient care.

Patients are encouraged to put aside their fears by carrying out breathing exercises that will aid in easing their mind. Medicines are prescribed for patients who find it hard to cope and are unable to cope with daily chores. These medications, if taken for at least a year, limit the recurrence of post traumatic stress disorder.A good support system will help the patients recover faster, allowing them to get back to their normal lifestyle

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