| September 28, 2005 | Keeping An Open Mind |
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Once again Hurricane season has brought chaos, massive destruction and panic into our lives. We have borne witness yet again to the terrifying forces of nature and some of you will have experienced this as a trauma that might plague you after the winds die down and the season changes. It seems fitting therefore for me to write about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in this month’s newsletter. When bad things happen we absorb and record them. Like the hard drive of a computer the mind stores frightening events whether we like it or not. Unlike the computer however, the emotions we feel at the time of the event get stored as well. As always, I welcome your comments or questions about this topic or any other you mi... |
What Is PTSD?
As I stated before, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder. It became better understood after the Vietnam War when careful studies were conducted on combat soldiers and their readjustment into society. You don't have to be a combat soldier, however, to be faced with the kind of trauma that can cause PTSD. Being involved in or even witnessing a natural disaster like the recent hurricanes for example, can trigger an extreme stress response that, in some, can result in Post Traumat... |
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Getting Help
Recovering from any mental health problem is almost always a gradual process. PTSD is no exception. Memories continue to come up but the objective of treatment is to disconnect the intense feelings that those memories bring. De-mystifying PTSD by learning about the condition and trauma in general is a good start. Acquiring coping strategies and integrating them into everyday life is very important. Relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis and thought control for example, can empower a ... |
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