Dealing With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
For those who experience it, post-traumatic stress disorder can be an incredibly debilitating disease that can prevent you from living a full life.
This disorder can bring back moments of severe stress so clearly that it is almost as though you are reliving the moment all over again.First diagnosed in war veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder was initially named "shell shock" then "battle fatigue".
However, by the time of the conflict in Vietnam, it was given the name "post-traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD) in order to give a clearer idea of what exactly is at work.
As well, it is not only found in war veterans.
In fact, it can be seen in people who were abused as children, rape victims, people who have to clean up after disaster, or anyone else who has undergone severe stress at any point in their lives.Unfortunately, the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is still in its infancy.
Psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists are still coming to grips with the disease and its causes and effects, but they are learning new things constantly.In a strictly biochemical sense, PTSD has its root causes at the moment of stress itself.
It seems that at moments of extreme stress, the biochemical system in charge of adjusting to stress is reset, like a computer.
It is as though the system is so overloaded that it has to shut itself down and restart.
Unfortunately, this also causes the mind to quickly return to that moment when it had to start and stop, which can cause flashbacks to the moments when the shock occurred.The other results of post-traumatic stress disorder include anger, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, memory problems including amnesia, or any of a host of other mental disorders.
Unfortunately, many of these disorders are treated individually without concern for the root cause.
This is particularly worrisome because approximately 3.6% of adults between the ages of 18 and 54 are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and the vast majority of them go undiagnosed and untreated.
As well, women are twice as likely as men to experience PTSD after a sudden shock.For those who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, there are some ways to treat it.
The most common form of treatment is through psychotherapy.
A therapist has several tools at his or her disposal and can work with the sufferer to root out the causes of the disorder and help cure it.
As well, a psychiatrist is the best person to talk to in order to actually diagnose PTSD in the first place, helping the sufferer to at least understand what is happening.
Knowing what is wrong is the first step to curing it, after all.Group treatment is also effective, as it allows people to talk about their feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression with others who feel the same way.
This allows people to get comfortable with one another and talk about their feelings openly and honestly.
By getting the issues out in the open, it almost spreads it out and allows the trauma to dissipate by opening it up to other people.However, there are some medications that can be used to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mostly, these drugs are used to treat some of the symptoms of PTSD, such as depression or anxiety, allowing the sufferer to at least alleviate the condition.
Most of these drugs take some time to work before they actually show results so, if you have been put onto medication for PTSD, give it a few weeks before you start expecting relief.However, studies have shown that the best way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder is to nip it in the bud shortly after the trauma has occurred.
The usual method is to sit down with someone who has suffered a trauma about 3-10 days after the trauma occurred.
This will allow the feelings to be fresh, while it also helps people relieve the trauma by bringing it out before it hides itself in the mind.
There has been some success with this sort of treatment, though it does require the trauma to be recognized early.Post-traumatic stress disorder is a surprisingly common disorder that often goes unnoticed and untreated.
However, with improvements in therapy and medication, there is new hope for those who suffer from this debilitating disorder..
Getting Help for Troubled Teens
Do you have troubled teens in your home?
If your child is one that does not talk to you, has pulled back out of your family or is continuously ill, there is a need to talk to them.
Sometimes, they will blame you.
Other times, they have just dug a hole that is so large that they just can not seem to get back out.
In any case, all teens that are facing life changing, life altering things need help.
How can you find help for your troubled teens?
The first place to start is with your child's doctor.
No matter what you are worried about, they are likely to have the first real advice for you.
The first thing you need to do no matter if you are worried about drugs, alcohol or depression is to get them physically checked out to insure they are healthy.
Then, talk to the doctor to determine what the next course of action is.
Remember, doctors are not going to talk about you or your child to anyone else.
Depression > Getting Help for Troubled Teens
Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers
There are far too many people still living in bondage to things of the past, even in the body of Christ. Defeated thinking has become a way of life for too many believers. It is time for the people of God to start living up to their full potential, and get back what the enemy has stolen. This is only possible when you allow God to take every issue of your past, and destroy each yoke. Having been set free from a past of depression and abuse, Michelle offers readers an opportunity to live up to their full potential, while being released from issues of their past.Michelle is also speaking about her book in a variety of venues including, book clubs, ladies retreats, Bible Studies, Workshops and Conferences.
She will be at a booksigning on Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 from 1-3pm at Family Christian Bookstore in Irving, Texas (972-986-1026). For more information please visit www.pressonpublishing.com..
Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers
Depression > Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers
Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
Salt Lake City, Utah (ContentDesk) September 2003 - Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
Each has faced incredible odds for winning in today's job market.
Yet, each has discovered a positive self-image through an innovative job skills program called BOOST and a company that cares.Here is an opportunity to learn from the experience of real people as they share intimate details of their personal challenges.
David stutters, Stella has no legs, Marilyn wheels an oxygen tank to work, Joel is blind, Debbie needs a kidney transplant, Darryl has polio, Marette and Paul have cerebal palsy, Ginger has a brain tumor, both Susans have serious depression, and Tu has lived a life beyond imagination. Celebrate their personal and professional success!
Read these inspiring stories of transformation and gain greater perspective about the challenges that you face in...
Depression > Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
Salt Lake City, Utah (ContentDesk) September 2003 - Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
Each has faced incredible odds for winning in today's job market.
Yet, each has discovered a positive self-image through an innovative job skills program called BOOST and a company that cares.Here is an opportunity to learn from the experience of real people as they share intimate details of their personal challenges.
David stutters, Stella has no legs, Marilyn wheels an oxygen tank to work, Joel is blind, Debbie needs a kidney transplant, Darryl has polio, Marette and Paul have cerebal palsy, Ginger has a brain tumor, both Susans have serious depression, and Tu has lived a life beyond imagination. Celebrate their personal and professional success!
Read these inspiring stories of transformation and gain greater perspective about the challenges that you face in...
Depression > Dignity is a compilation of stories about 12 extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over adversity in their search for independence.
New Research Shows that Activating Brain's "Safety Circuit" Can Buffer Against Stress
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have identified a "safety circuit" in the brain which, when activated, seems to buffer against stressful and anxiety-provoking events, according to a newly-released study in the journal Neuron. "This new finding has enormous implications for healing anxiety and related disorders, including depression and PTSD," says psychologist Dr. Bob Murray, co-author of the highly-acclaimed Creating Optimism: A Proven, 7-Step Program for Overcoming Depression (McGraw-Hill, paperback 2005). "The key healing factor is enabling people to activate that safety circuit. In our Uplift Program, we've been teaching people how to do just that, and now we have an even greater understanding of that safety mechanism in the brain." The Columbia researchers discovered that when mice were in an unsafe situation there was increased activity in a region of the brain called the amygdala, which processes emotions and is activated in fear responses.
As long as...
New Research Shows that Activating Brain's "Safety Circuit" Can Buffer Against Stress
Depression > New Research Shows that Activating Brain's "Safety Circuit" Can Buffer Against Stress
Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right
This time of the year is supposed to be happy. A time when family is warm and welcoming.
A time for loving and feeling loved. We watch the annual TV specials which emotionally choke us up. We watch those traditional, mushy movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life which bring sentimental tears to our eyes.
We watch those heartwrenching Hallmark commercials which make us sob dramatically. All of these portray the ideal and they always end happily.
But real life isn't like that.Watching and listening to all the hype and sweetness reminds many of us of our losses. We think of the things we won't have this year, or any year ever again. The holiday season is actually the season of much depression and sadness.
Just imagine for a moment how many losses a person of 70, 80 or 90 may have endured. To help us understand those losses, here is a partial list.
- Hair
- Energy
- Parents
- Taut skin
- Hearing
- Stamina
- Career ...
Depression > Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right
Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right
This time of the year is supposed to be happy. A time when family is warm and welcoming.
A time for loving and feeling loved. We watch the annual TV specials which emotionally choke us up. We watch those traditional, mushy movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life which bring sentimental tears to our eyes.
We watch those heartwrenching Hallmark commercials which make us sob dramatically. All of these portray the ideal and they always end happily.
But real life isn't like that.Watching and listening to all the hype and sweetness reminds many of us of our losses. We think of the things we won't have this year, or any year ever again. The holiday season is actually the season of much depression and sadness.
Just imagine for a moment how many losses a person of 70, 80 or 90 may have endured. To help us understand those losses, here is a partial list.
- Hair
- Energy
- Parents
- Taut skin
- Hearing
- Stamina
- Career ...
Depression > Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right
Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers
There are far too many people still living in bondage to things of the past, even in the body of Christ. Defeated thinking has become a way of life for too many believers. It is time for the people of God to start living up to their full potential, and get back what the enemy has stolen. This is only possible when you allow God to take every issue of your past, and destroy each yoke. Having been set free from a past of depression and abuse, Michelle offers readers an opportunity to live up to their full potential, while being released from issues of their past.Michelle is also speaking about her book in a variety of venues including, book clubs, ladies retreats, Bible Studies, Workshops and Conferences.
She will be at a booksigning on Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 from 1-3pm at Family Christian Bookstore in Irving, Texas (972-986-1026). For more information please visit www.pressonpublishing.com..
Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers
Depression > Christian Publishing Company Releases New Book, Entitled "Living Shackle-Free" by Michelle Lea Bowers