Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – What Causes It?

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was referred to as, ‘combat fatigue’, after World War One, and, ‘shell-shock’, after World War Two. However, post-traumatic stress disorder is not something only suffered by soldiers. PTSD can happen to anyone who experiences something traumatic in their life. Most people will experience some of the symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic experience, however, usually, the symptoms will reduce after 4-6 weeks on their own. If the symptoms continue after this point, further treatment is required. PTSD is treatable.

What can be classed as trauma?

There are loads of different types of trauma. The most obvious kind would be disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, railway or plane crashes. However, bullying can also be considered a traumatic event, along with the death of a parent, medical trauma, and sexual abuse. The sudden death of a loved one can cause PTSD. Trauma can change the way that the brain responds to situations in future.

Symptoms of PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder can cause the physical symptoms of anxiety (for example, sweating, shakiness, clamminess, palpitations), as well as irritability, mood swings, flash-backs, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, being hyper-vigilant (tense and jumpy, ready to escape). Somebody with PTSD may attempt to avoid their feelings altogether, which can lead to avoiding anything that may trigger even the slightest memory of their trauma. 

What is the treatment?

Someone with PTSD may be referred to counselling or other forms of psychotherapy. Usually, medications aren’t prescribed unless the PTSD is very severe. Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing is also a form of treatment that seems to have a good effect on those suffering from PTSD. According to the Center for Anxiety Disorders (https://centerforanxietydisorders.com/ptsdsudden-death-loved-one/),“...a study funded by the Kaiser Permanente HMO found that 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with PTSD after just six 50-minute sessions.”  

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a form of therapy. The therapist will make side to side movements (usually hand tapping, or lights). Then they will ask the patient to recall the traumatic event. Usually, there will be at least 6 sessions of this. It is thought to help the brain process the traumatic event properly. 

Conclusion

PTSD can happen to anybody, after any event that a person finds traumatic, whether it be war, abuse, a bereavement, or bullying. If you have symptoms of PTSD, then it is worth going to your GP to see if you can be referred for some kind of therapy. 

 

Teaching About Alcoholism – It’s A Tough Topic

Why is Teaching About Alcoholism Important? 

Unfortunately, alcoholism is often blamed on the alcoholic themselves. It is looked at as a simple problem with a simple solution. While on the outside, it does definitely appear this way, it is often a lot more complicated than that. There needs to be more understanding of how to support somebody who is addicted to alcohol. 

Alcoholism is dangerous:

In moderation, although still bad for us, alcohol’s effect can be managed easily and we can recover. However, alcoholism can be very dangerous. Although the liver is a very forgiving organ, too much alcohol consumption on a regular basis can push it to the limit. Alcohol also has a bad effect on other organs in the body, and overuse can affect appetite, leading to an overall lack of self-care. Being run-down puts an alcoholic at higher risk of other issues.

Alcohol detox is a lot more difficult than it sounds:

Detoxification from alcohol can be very difficult. Some people might try detoxing at home, or some in an in-patient facility. Either way, it is a huge challenge, and some may face health risks even detoxing. If somebody is too dependant on alcohol, they may need medication to help wean themselves off of the alcohol. Completely cutting out alcohol at this stage can be dangerous, with some of the worst side effects being seizures or even death. Medical supervision is ideal for these cases. 

Relapse is a part of addiction:

Every addict faces a huge amount of judgement when they relapse. Relapses are common because addiction is just not an easy thing to defeat. Unfortunately, this is a difficult thing to change peoples’ perspectives on. Judgement is something that can bring out feelings of shame in somebody suffering from addiction, making them more secretive. They may hide a relapse out of shame and this could lead to further self-harm.

Underlying mental health problems:

A lot of addicts have underlying mental health problems that drive them to substance abuse. It is a way to numb the pain that they may be feeling. This is something not often obvious to those who judge somebody with alcoholism or any other addiction. 

Biological Factors:

Genetics and physiology can play a part in alcoholism. Some people have no trouble limiting their alcohol intake, while others really struggle to know when to stop. According to an article from Alcohol Rehab Guide, there are certain chemicals in the brain that can make someone more susceptible to alcohol abuse, and this could explain why alcoholism seems to run in families. 

Other Factors:

There are plenty of other factors that can play a part in the development of alcoholism. For example, living closer to shops or venues that sell alcohol may make you more likely to drink alcohol regularly. Culture, family and social circles can also have an impact on whether you drink a lot of alcohol or not. Pair this with a stressful new job or any kind of big life change and this can make a person more susceptible to alcoholism.

So there we have it, alcoholism is a lot more complex than just, ‘choosing to drink too much’.