Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay Samples

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional illness that develops as a result of highly unsafe experience. PTSD develops differently from person to person and may even occur in relatives of those who actually witnessed the traumatic event. The major difference between a normal reaction to the abnormal events and post-traumatic stress disorder lies in the duration of time when symptoms are present. A normal reaction to such significant stress can last for days, weeks, or even months; however, the symptoms of distress gradually decrease. In case of a PTSD, these symptoms will not go with the lapse of time. In fact, the patient’s condition may become worse.
According to US Department of Veterans Affairs (2014), there are three types of PTSD symptoms:

Re-experiencing the traumatic event;

Avoiding reminders of the trauma;
Increased anxiety and emotional arousal.
Re-experiencing the traumatic event may include flashbacks, nightmares, and intense physical reactions to reminders of the event. Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind about the patient of the trauma, inability to remember its important aspects, loss of interest in activities and life in general, irritability, sleep disturbances, and concentration difficulties may also be the signs of PTSD (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2014). These symptoms are similar to depression and anxiety disorder and, thus, may cause wrong diagnosis. However, PTSD is often followed by these illnesses and, thus, diagnosis and treatment should be more complex in this case. Treatment involves CBT and medicine as in case of the mentioned mental disorders. However, treatment may depend on the source of trauma, its nature, and the age of the patient at the moment when it occurred (Sidran Instute, 2000).

References

Sidran Institute. (2000). What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Retrieved from http://www.sidran.org/resources/for-survivors-and-loved-ones/what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/
US Department of Veterans Affairs. (2014). Symptoms of PTSD. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/symptoms_of_ptsd.asp