** Traumatic & Post-Traumatic Stress: What Is PTSD?
By award-winning author and stress-relief expert Susie Mantell
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a clinical diagnosis for a constellation of symptoms sometimes following catastrophic or traumatic events such as chronic abuse, combat, rape, assault...terrorism. The body-mind-spirit is literally "stressed" beyond capacity, ravaged by events that may defy language. Processed though the individual's filter, symptoms may be episodic in nature, diffuse, migratory or intense, and sometimes delayed.
INTRUSIVE PHENOMENA: Vivid sensory "flashbacks," sleep disturbance, anxiety or feelings of grief, depression, that "intrude" in a process of integrating what's occurred into a revised reality.
AVOIDANCE: Physical isolation, or "emotional numbing," not thinking about or discussing the event, compulsive or addictive behaviors to escape. (If medication is indicated, a trusted mental-health professional or physician can help determine that, then monitor dosage and modify as needed over time.)
THE STARTLE RESPONSE: A healthy degree of caution makes a lot of sense. That's really what anxiety is intended for--a signal that something isn't right and danger may be present. Good to know. The startle response, even seen in healthy infants, is Mother Nature's warning that makes us twitchy at big booming sounds. (Other than on July 4th, big booms are not usually good news.) Hyper-arousal and hyper-vigilance can get "stuck," following disaster. (Late one night, just after the September 11 attacks, I needed to get up and look out the window to "see" the thunder storm. The following week was less so.)
Not all stress is abnormal, nor debilitating, nor PTSD.
Remember that the human psyche can withstand considerable distress, and while many are deeply troubled, even permanently affected by events, one's personality, past, proximity and even biological makeup influence how we catalyze stress responses.
SAMPLING of PTSD-RELATED WEBSITES
Note: This is not an endorsement nor a complete list; rather a few well-known organizations, most with little/no commercial bias or gain. It's intended as a starting point. See which you like or don't, find more, seek reliable, unbiased resources. (Ads here are clearly differentiated from health content.) Always check for most current information available.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
http://www.ncptsd.org
SIDRAN FOUNDATION (Traumatic Stress)
http://www.sidran.org
PTSD ALLIANCE
http://www.ptsdalliance.org
WEBMD (on PTSD)
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1683.50018
MAYO CLINIC (on PTSD)
http://www.mayohealth.org/home?id=DS00246
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE--NIH MEDLINE PLUS
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
ABC NEWS ( 3 articles)
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/stress_disorder010916.html
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/WTC_onedge010928.html
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Healthology/sleeping_advice.html
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Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tips are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com