Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Paperback) | Released: 20 Jun 2020

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a persistent and sometimes crippling condition precipitated by psychologically overwhelming experience. It develops in a significant proportion of individuals exposed to trauma, and untreated, can continue for years. Its symptoms can affect every life domain - physiological, psychological, occupational, and social. Post-trauma stress reactions have been recognized throughout history. They are described in classical Greek literature and in the early literature of scientific medicine, but it was first diagnostically defined in modern times in the 1980 American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The surge of scientific and clinical interest in the condition over the past two decades has been largely due to awareness of problems associated with returning Vietnam combat veterans and advocacy by the feminist movement on behalf of rape victims. PTSD has not been documented in other groups including abused children, victims of crimes, accidents, and natural disasters. Not all trauma survivors develop PTSD. About 20% of crime victims, across type of crime, will meet diagnostic criteria. The rates are substantially higher for some crimes. For example, more than half of rape victims are afflicted. However, most crime victims do have some initial PTSD symptoms that subside over time. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that is either felt or observed as a result of a traumatic experience. Symptoms can include hallucinations, visions, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the incident. Some people who have been through traumatic incidents may have some issues with adjustment and coping, but now with time and a good self-care they typically get better. If the symptoms get worse, last months or even years, and disrupt in your social functioning, you may have PTSD. Contrary to these attitudes, people with anxiety disorders are unable to cope. Disorders of anxiety often tend to highlight particular concerns and fears, like losing one's work for specific reasons. OCD is often related to obsessions with abstract concerns like germs, however. Following the APA's recommendation of excluding OCD from the list of anxiety disorders, it is often recognized or viewed by many mental health professionals as an anxiety disorder. For example, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America [ADAA] has a page dedicated to OCD. We all experience stress in our lives. Because the large proportion of health problems are caused or affected by stress, it is important to recognize how stress affects your body and to practice successful stress management methods to make stress work for you instead of against you. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, massage, or yoga can activate the body's relaxation response and ease symptoms of PTSD. Avoid alcohol and drugs. When you're struggling with difficult emotions and traumatic memories, you may be tempted to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. So what are some things you can do, in addition to CBT and any other treatments recommended by your doctor, in order to keep your PTSD symptoms under control?