With the popularity of television crime dramas and movies, most everyone has heard of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. But what you don’t usually see in these depictions is just how insidious and destructive this condition can be, not only for the person experiencing symptoms, but for their family and larger community, as well.
PTSD is defined as an anxiety disorder that most often occurs after a traumatic or life threatening incident. It is characterized by the feeling that you are re-experiencing the traumatic event. It causes intense emotions and physical reactions, along with a desire to avoid anything that might remind you of the event.
It is especially important that we re-acquaint ourselves with this condition now, because as President Obama brings home over 30,000 troops from the Middle East, it is highly likely that we will see an upswing in PTSD in our veterans.
While symptoms of PTSD may lay dormant for weeks, months, or years, when they are present, they are extremely disruptive and can even become life threatening.
The basic types of PTSD symptoms can be categorized into four different groups:
- Re-living (or revivification) of the traumatic event. This is often characterized as flashbacks or nightmares/terrors.
- Avoidance. This is characterized by avoiding situations, people, or places that may trigger memories of the traumatic event.
- Numbness. This is characterized by a lack of interest in people, places, and things that you used to enjoy.
- Hyperarousal/Hypervigilance: This is characterized by always feeling like you are on guard, alert, or jittery. This can also manifest as insomnia, irritability, anger, or having trouble concentrating.
As our troops return home, it is likely a lot of them will experience states of hyperarousal and revivification. If not treated appropriately, this can lead to even more disruptive behaviors, such as relationship problems, employment problems, addictions, and even suicide.
So, what can be done to help our veterans re-assimilate more easily into “regular” society again?
First, we can recognize that any of these symptoms that last more than about four weeks, cause great distress, or interfere with the activities of daily living, probably indicate PTSD and should be treated by a professional. The longer symptoms go unabated, the harder it may be to treat them and the more likely that other, concomitant and destructive conditions will develop.
Second, we can support their efforts at treatment and get treatment for ourselves, as well. Even if you are only a bystander to traumatic event, you, too, can often experience symptoms of PTSD. And if your spouse is suffering from PTSD, it is quite likely that you will benefit from some level of treatment, too.
Lastly, treatment for PTSD should be multi-pronged and multi-dimensional. Medications are fine for the short term, but can present their own problems if expected to treat an issue for a lifetime. Talk therapy can be helpful, but may only allow for the event to be relived, without helping to process it out of the mind and body, and usually only deals with the conscious mind. Hypnosis is often used to treat anxiety conditions, of which PTSD is one. Hypnosis can address the initial sensitizing event from a safe distance then reframe the event, allowing the mind and body to de-sensitize, and eventually release, any reaction to the event. Hypnosis deals with both the conscious and subconscious mind, allowing for a more complete healing from the trauma. Reiki can induce a deep state of relaxation that can help allow the mind and body to heal. And Reiki may be perfect for the loved ones who are “innocent bystanders” to the havoc that PTSD can inflict on the family.
It will be extremely important that we are alert to the potential signs and symptoms of PTSD and support our loved ones that may need to seek treatment in order to end the cycle of trauma. With help, non-judgment, and love, they can get their lives back on track. We owe them that much.
Be well ~
Shawn Marie Howe
