...PTSD is a real medical condition. It is the brain’s natural biochemical reaction to an abnormally stressful situation or series of stressful situations. It all begins with a person perceiving a situation in such a way as to create fear, which in turn begins the fight or flight response. When you have fear, your brain immediately goes to work sending the information on two different paths simultaneously. One path is extremely fast and is designed to react first, ask questions later; ‘better safe than sorry’ is the amygdala’s motto. The other path takes its time analyzing the information and comparing it to things in memory and paying attention to other possible clues. When your senses detect a sound, motion, or smell, they send this information to the thalamus. The thalamus doesn’t know if...
Words: 464 - Pages: 2
...Medical knowledge has grown throughout the years and has helped this year's society immensely. Back in earlier societies, it didn't help with much. In earlier societies, people didn't know that veterans got PTSD and did not know how to treat it either, but as society evolved, they learned about how much the vets go through and found an effective way to treat them. When vets came home in earlier societies, people spit on them and showed disrespect, after they had just risked their lives for them and their country. The people didn't know anything they had been through and just added more pain and suffering to the soldier. The soldiers expected appreciation for their service but instead were given disappointment. Even after the war had been over for a while, they...
Words: 1506 - Pages: 7
...Do you know someone who has PTSD and you don’t know how to help them or where to take them? PTSD is a very complex disorder and can be tough to treat. It can be hard to not only the person who has it but also the families who have to deal with this for even sometimes many years. All over the world, some organizations help deal with PTSD but they can be hard to find or not near where you live. There are many effects of PTSD and can be hard to get rid of it for some people. People get PTSD in many ways, for example, veterans get it from war, and other people can get it by losing someone they love. PTSD is not a very common disorder only about 8% of Americans deal with PTSD (PTSDsupport). It is possible for children to get PTSD but it is more common for adults. Typically in children, the symptoms lasts a couple of...
Words: 1214 - Pages: 5
...disorder or PTSD. This paper will show and explain what PTSD is and what may trigger the mental illness. PTSD can affect individuals from all paths of life. For this reason, I included the effects of PTSD on different groups of people. These groups are broken three categories, the general impart of PTSD on ordinary people, PTSD effect on children and PTSD effect on veterans. There many ways of treating PTSD in all three groups. This paper will go in detail of all the most effective and common used treatments of PTSD and their potential side effects. However, there is an alternative treatment or a way of life above all men kind invention. That is a Christian and living by Jesus Christ’s words. Therefore you will see the potential benefits of accepting Christ as our savior. In the final part of this paper, it includes a personal story of a hero who servers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who is not safely home but suffering from PTSD. The Lord is the only way to true happiness and fulfillment. The doors are opened to anyone who wishes to enter, even the ones who denied and betrayed our Lord. In Matthew 21:22 God said “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a disorder caused by anxiety. PTSD can be categorized into two types of acute and chronic PTSD: if symptoms persist for less than three months, it is termed “acute PTSD,” otherwise, it is called “chronic PTSD” (Javidi & Yadollahie, 2012). PTSD often...
Words: 3725 - Pages: 15
...traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a behavioral condition that occurs in individuals who have been exposed to a traumatic event. In this paper, PTSD is examined through multiple studies as an example of a human behavioral trait in an effort to discover the extent of its heritability as well as to challenge Erik Turkheimer’s “first law” of behavioral genetics. From twin studies and family studies of individuals with PTSD, it is apparent that the heritability of PTSD is correlated with multiple factors such as sex, family history, and educational background. The environmental factor of nonshared experiences before experiencing a traumatic event can also significantly influence PTSD development in both monozygotic and dizygotic...
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...examined has to do with active duty soldiers and their PTSD that they encountered while on active duty. The issue being examined also has to do with treatment during or after active duty. This is significant due to the effects of PTSD on soldiers and in order to determine if PTSD can be slowed before it reaches its peak or if soldiers should wait until they are no longer serving to seek treatment. According to Winter (2009), “Hotopf assessed a large probability sample of initial invasion troops from the UK with diverse roles in OIF 1-2 years post deployment and compared their PTSD rates with non-deployed troops. Using the PCL, they found relatively low and comparable rates of probable PTSD (4%). Subsets that subsequently deployed during the OIF insurgency war did not have higher rates. By contrast, PCL-based probable PTSD rates were appreciably lower among the non-deployed service member”. The reason behind recording this information is because it is crucial in determining whether or not soldiers should receive treatment for PTSD during or after active duty. There have been many tests done finding results of PTSD in active/non active duty soldiers. Those results rank higher when it comes to PTSD being much more of an issue for active duty servicemen. Therefore, making PTSD a point of interest when it comes to treating it promptly and not waiting until the soldiers become inactive or non-deployed. Review of Literature PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a disorder that occurs...
Words: 1403 - Pages: 6
...People right in any neighborhood can develop the disorder and have never stepped foot near an army, navy, or marine base in their life. There are many ways for a person to develop post-traumatic stress without going to war, which most people are probably unaware of when they start to read about it. Although every person suffers differently and the effects and symptoms of PTSD are frequently different with each person, they all suffer from the same disorder. Post-traumatic Stress or more commonly known as PTSD is a regular reaction to an uncharacteristic experience that is far outside normal human experience, causing substantial distress and damage to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally. When people have experienced a tragic life experience, many develop symptoms of PTSD because of the tragedy. Tragic experiences can range from going to war and seeing horrific scenes, a bad car accident that injured themselves and possibly others, and childhood situations such as molestation or loss of a parent or close family members. Many people associate PTSD with people that only were in the military, however anyone can suffer from PTSD from other sources as well. Post-traumatic stress can affect not only the person who endured the horrific incident, but also the people closest to them that witnessed the incident, the first responders to the accident, or situation, as well as close friends and family to the...
Words: 1520 - Pages: 7
...develop the disorder and have never stepped foot near an army, navy, or marine base in their life. How could this have happened you ask? Well there are many ways for a person to develop post-traumatic stress without going to war, which most of you are probably unaware of when you started reading about it. Although every person suffers differently and the effects and symptoms of PTSD are frequently different with each person, they all suffer from the same disorder. Post-traumatic Stress or more commonly known as PTSD is a regular reaction to an uncharacteristic experience that is far outside normal human experience, causing substantial distress and damage to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally. When people have experienced a tragic life experience, many develop symptoms of PTSD because of the tragedy. Tragic experiences can range from going to war and seeing horrific scenes, a bad car accident that injured themselves and/or others, and childhood situations such as molestation or loss of a parent or close family members. Many people associate PTSD with people that only were in the military, however anyone can suffer from PTSD from other sources as well. Post-traumatic stress can affect not only the person who endured the horrific incident, but also the people closest to them that witnessed the incident, the...
Words: 1548 - Pages: 7
...What is post-traumatic stress disorder? What can cause PTSD and how does it affect that individual and the people around them? When the subject of PTSD arises, the “average” persons’ first thoughts of PTSD are combat veterans. The fact of the matter is, PTSD has many ways of rearing its ugly face into society. PTSD is caused when an individual if any situation where they have experienced a tremendous event, whether it be through observation or have experienced the event directly. Examples that may cause post-traumatic stress disorder are: child abuse, child neglect, a physical altercation, sexual molestation, rape, combat exposure and among many other things which can include witnessing a death ( In World of Criminal Justice, Gale, 2002). Although all are serious experiences that can cause PTSD, concentration on this paper will be focused on the cause and effects of the veterans that have been exposed to combat. Combat exposure not only affects the people that are in the military but also the civilians that are directly exposed to combat. What causes post-traumatic stress disorder? The medical community has only recently recognized stress due to combat as PTSD. It did not have a name until the Vietnam War. During World War I, PTSD was called "shell shock" and as "battle fatigue" during World War II. Medical historians described PTSD-like symptoms as "Da Costa’s Syndrome" during the Civil War ( In World of Criminal Justice, Gale, 2002). In combat situations, military veterans...
Words: 1016 - Pages: 5
..."Of two million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, 10 percent are estimated to have PTSD" (Barglow 1). Annually, an exceeding number of veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When left untreated, PTSD has unruly effects on its victim. Bringing awareness and using sufficient forms of treatment can diminish the repercussions of PTSD. Since PTSD is a growing issue found in veterans, increased awareness and effective treatment plans need to be established to abate the advancement of the ailment. Symptoms and Diagnosis In order to understand how to treat PTSD, the cause of the debilitating illness first needs to be addressed. Lloyd A. Taylor from The Citadel Psychology Department claims that experiencing an event such as casualties, trauma, or disasters can cause an individual to respond with feelings of powerlessness or anxiety....
Words: 683 - Pages: 3
...Risks of Chronic Trauma on PTSD PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disease which stems from traumatic events. Individuals that experience long term traumatic events are almost guaranteed to face the effects of PTSD during their lifetime. Post-traumatic stress disorder stems from mental anxiety that doesn’t seem to go away following a treacherous event. However, chronic trauma can take the symptoms of PTSD and multiply their intensity by a hundred times “I had been afraid for too long; I was too exhausted, too hungry, to feel anything with proper intensity” (Benioff, 221). The main character of the book, Lev, had faced months of hunger and terror. He couldn’t take it anymore. Therefore, the only way he could feel better was to give up....
Words: 512 - Pages: 3
...the military since 2007 and have witnessed several of my friends change during this time period. I have only one friend who is seeking help for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) I find it interesting that even though they are suffering they will not seek help. My question is why are most military troops less likely to seek help for PTSD? The mental health in our military troops is becoming more of a concern. It has been found that one in eight US soldiers returning home from either Iraq or Afghanistan has PTSD. The major problem occurring from this is soldier are for one reason or another not seeking any help for this issue. This problem has been going on for as long as there has been war. Fortunately our society is starting to understand the effects war has a a person and are paying more attention to this issue. It is important that our society pay more attention to this problem because their can be lasting negative effects if soldiers do not seek treatment. The short term effects of PTSD are sleeplessness, panic attacks, intense fear, nightmares, self destructive thoughts, and depression. The long term effects of PTSD are subsidence abuse, anger management issues, loneliness, and severe depression. In 2012 the military sent out a survey to military spouses and found out that over sixty percent of soldiers believed they have PTSD but will not seek help. The wives also provided explanations as to why they will not seek professional help for this problem. Some of the reasons...
Words: 1267 - Pages: 6
...Stressful experiences manifested effects through the activation of several mechanisms that linked to the onset of a variety of affective disorders. Investigations on the interaction between stress and memory experiences focused mainly on behavioral and neurological mechanisms of memory conformation (such as conditional fear), and fewer studies on the fear memory extinction as a treatment for psychiatric conditions based on learned fears Such as phobias, PTSD, and general anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Pavlovian conditional fear is widely used as a model for stress induction and anxiety disorders. The induction of conditional...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
... Individuals suffering from post-dramatic stress disorder (PTSD) could find a great deal of relief in the facilities and support groups available throughout the country. Post-traumatic stress disorder has been an issue haunting Americans for generations; the lack of a viable cure also makes its common existence extremely dangerous. It’s understandable that victims and their family members would do anything to help this terrible mental disorder, and with modern medicine and psychiatric evaluation techniques; a sigh of relief can be taken. For years this condition has been seen a form of mild psychosis rather than a treatable medical condition, the instability involved in the victims of this illness isn’t easily ignored. The world around us is filled with terror and angst, so much that often the human mind tends to bend and break rather than adapt to these wild events. The effects of traumatic events vary from person to person and it isn’t without trail that studies begin to unravel what causes PTSD, and from that moment civilization has been on an evolutionary path to break down and understand what can be done to help. The most common association with PTSD is the mental state of soldiers returning from war, these individuals experience violent and graphic scenarios and often fall victim to instability in the mind. Events like going to prison and domestic abuse are also common factors in the acquisition of PTSD. There is however hope for any individual suffering from this terrible...
Words: 1537 - Pages: 7
...there. – ARMY COMBAT ENGINEER, POST-IRAQ Transition can mean the big picture of how a warrior has to try to adjust back into society, but the short term is very critical, from when a warrior leaves the battlefield to when they hit the streets at home. If there’s one thing I learned from my experiences, it was that there was no transition at all. –VIETNAM VETERAN Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become the major medical issue with our soldiers returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. For many soldiers, it is a badge of honor to have served but for most, it is a start to an endless battle of finding the courage to continue to serve or be labeled an unfit soldier for the military and useless to their family. PTSD affects not only the soldier’s way of life but the core of who the soldier is. For this reason, the government should take special care informing society what is PTSD, who gets PTSD and what types of treatments are available to them. Government must ensure there are programs in place to assist soldiers and family members in dealing with PTSD issues. The Department of Defense and Veterans Administration to encourage service members and veterans to seek help early, before problems...
Words: 2079 - Pages: 9
