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What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ?
If you have experienced a major trauma like war, torture, abuse in childhood, car accidents, fires or violence you may continue to feel terror long after the event is over. You may experience nightmares or flashbacks for many years after the event. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was introduced into the American Psychiatric Association’s official manual in 1980. PTSD is a label for the range of symptoms that may be experienced days, weeks, months or even years after being exposed to a traumatic event or series of events. These traumatic events range from experience of war, child abuse, domestic violence, rape, robbery, assault or car accidents. Sometimes PTSD arises from witnessing the trauma of another person, particularly a friend or relative. The events usually involve threat to the person’s life or physical integrity. The immediate feelings are helplessness, horror and/or intense fear. PTSD is unique amongst mental disorders because the person has to have been exposed to a previous event that is considered traumatic in order to be diagnosed with PTSD. The symptoms that commonly occur in people suffering from PTSD have been divided into three categories: Intrusions, Hyper-alertness and Avoidance. Intrusions: Re-experiencing the events as flashbacks or nightmares that occur suddenly, without conscious control. These are very distressing, disrupting sleep and normal activities of life. Hyper-alertness: A state of hyper-vigilance or increased sensitivity to things such as a phone ringing or the sudden appearance of a person which leads to a physical reaction (e.g. jumping with fear; feeling nauseous) which is out of proportion to the stimulus. The person is edgy, agitated and appears to be on the lookout for a perceived danger. Avoidance: The person tends to avoid anything (e.g. certain places, going out at night, being alone) that may result in a memory of, or a feeling from, the original traumatic experience. This symptom particularly impacts upon interpersonal relationships. The person may report feeling emotionally numb; unable to experience their usual feelings for people and things, and will often act very impersonally to people with whom they are closest. Often the person finds it difficult to trust others or to feel safe and secure anywhere. As this continues the person becomes detached from friends, colleagues and family, thus adding to his/her isolation. The person may experience physical signs such as rapid breathing, sweating and becoming agitated. Poor sleep patterns (due to insomnia and nightmares) affect concentration and memory, and thus can lead to a deterioration of work and study performance. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is rarely diagnosed on its own. It is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, panic attacks, social phobia, agoraphobia or other psychiatric illnesses. Many people recovering from the after-effects of trauma abuse alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, thus complicating the situation further. Substance abuse is addressed within PTSD treatment.
SYMPTOMS The symptoms that commonly occur in people suffering from PTSD have been divided into three categories: Intrusions; Hyperalertness; and Avoidance. Intrusions: Re-experiencing the events as flashbacks or nightmares that occur suddenly, without conscious control. These are very distressing, disrupting sleep and normal activities of life. Hyperalertness: A state of hypervigilance or increased sensitivity to things such as a phone ringing or the sudden appearance of a person which leads to a physical reaction (eg jumping with fear; feeling nauseous) which is out of proportion to the stimulus. The person is edgy, agitated and appears to be on the lookout for a perceived danger. Avoidance: The person tends to avoid anything (eg certain places, going out at night, being alone) that may result in a memory of or a feeling from the original traumatic experience. This symptom particularly impacts upon interpersonal relationships. The person may report feeling emotionally numb; unable to experience their usual feelings for people and things, and will often act very impersonally to people with whom they are closest. OTHER CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS OF PTSD Often the person finds it difficult to trust others or to feel safe and secure anywhere. As this continues the person becomes detached from friends, colleagues and family, thus adding to his/her isolation. Furthermore, the person may experience physical signs such as rapid breathing, sweating and becoming agitated. Poor sleep patterns (due to insomnia and nightmares) affect concentration and memory, and thus can lead to deterioration of work and study performance. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is rarely diagnosed on its own. It is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, panic attacks, social phobia, agoraphobia or other psychiatric illnesses. Many people recovering from the after-effects of trauma abuse alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, thus complicating the situation further. Substance abuse is addressed within PTSD treatment. Immediate intervention after trauma in the form of counselling, where a person can recount the details of the event, express their feelings and become aware that their reactions are a normal part of coping with traumatic stress, can sometimes prevent an acute reaction from becoming chronic (a long-term problem). TREATMENT There is a range of effective psychological and pharmacological treatments available. Therapists treating PTSD aim to provide a safe and trusting environment in which the person can deal safely with the impact of the event/s. Treatment often involves basic counselling - listening and allowing the person to tell his/her story. Further treatment may involve cognitive behavioural therapy and group work. The aim of therapy is to help people accept the original trauma without being so overwhelmed by memories or planning their lives around avoiding situations that remind them of the trauma. Anti-depressants, anxiety medication and/or sleeping medications may assist a person to cope with the symptoms whilst learning to gain some control over their behaviour, thoughts and feelings again. Often these symptoms need to be treated to provide symptom relief so a person can participate effectively in other treatment –i.e group therapy. Individual therapy followed at some later point by group therapy is sometimes considered a useful treatment pattern for PTSD. Group therapy can be of great value as it helps people regain a sense of community and practice their interpersonal skills and healthy ways of relating to people. RELUCTANCE TO SEEK TREATMENT Almost all people with PTSD can be assisted to some extent by treatment. However, often people are reluctant to ask for help. Reasons that a person may not want to seek help my include: • Fear that instead of helping them, therapy will only make them feel worse about themselves HOW TO BE A GOOD HELPER TO SOMEONE WITH PTSD • Listen when the person talks of his/her feelings: don’t judge
GETTING HELP • Your local Community Health Centre - see listing under ‘Community Health Centres’ in White Pages Sources:
Diet change strategies: The best place to get quality supplements is from a natural healthcare provider. There are dozens of supplements marketed on supermarket shelves today, but many of these do not receive standardization. It is important if you decide to use supplements that you get the best quality supplement possible. Black Cohosh – This may affect one’s hormones, which may be one cause for symptoms of some mental health disorders. Damiana – Often used to help lessen depression, but may cause mania in people with bipolar disorder. Ginseng – May help provide more energy to people who feel fatigue during depressive states. Gotu Kola – May help address symptoms of anxiety. St. John’s Wort – One of the most popular of herbal supplements supported with scientific research that may help lessen mild depression. Again, one should use with caution and can interact with other medications including antidepressants.
Vitamin & Nutrient Associations
If you suffer from mental health disorders, it is important you eat well to nourish your body. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals can contribute to your symptoms. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in anyone can contribute to symptoms including anxiety, depression and poor health. A good quality multivitamin is a good start, especially if you do not have a history of eating well. Even if you do eat well, not all people absorb the vitamins and nutrients from their foods completely, so a multivitamin may help correct any shortages. Many therapists recommend patients with bipolar disorder take extra B vitamins because these vitamins may affect our moods. A deficiency in vitamin B of any type may result in symptoms of depression or anxiety. B vitamins are also often recommended to people to help lessen fatigue. For most, B vitamins help energize the body. There are many forms of B vitamins, so your best bet is a complex tablet containing all the B vitamins. For your information, here is a breakdown of the B vitamins by category. • B-1 – Also known as “Thiamin.” This may impact anxiety, irritability and improve blood circulation in the brain and body. • B-6 – Also known as “Pyridoxine.” This B vitamin may help reduce irritability. Doctors sometimes recommend it to patients with premenstrual irritability and agitation. You can take too much however, so be sure you consult with your doctor. • B-12 – This vitamin helps convert what you eat into fuel for your body. It is most helpful for reducing drowsiness. • Folic Acid – Important for preserving the body’s systems and biochemical balance. Careful however, as this supplement may interact with some of the more commonly prescribed mood stabilizers including Depakene. Other vitamins that may prove helpful may include vitamin E, which may combat the risk of seizures often associated with the use of traditional medication therapies. Here are some other supplements and nutrients that may prove useful for combating the symptoms of mental health disorders. • SAMe (pronounced Sammy) – This supplement may affect levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, but carries with it a risk of mania. • Tyrosine – Often used in combination with B vitamins, this amino acid is a precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine, important neurotransmitters in the body. What this means is your body needs tyrosine to make norepinephrine and dopamine. • GABA – May help relieve some symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, racing thoughts and tension in patients with bipolar or related disorders. • Essential Fatty Acids – Essential fatty acids are important for our entire body to work properly. They nourish the brain and may help reduce symptoms of depression. You can get essential fatty acids by eating more fatty fishes and flax seed or by taking an Omega 3 supplement. Some healthcare providers recommend as much as 5,000 I.U. or more for patients with severe depression. Be sure you check in with your doctor. Most over-the-counter supplements contain only 1,000 I.U. per serving. • Lecithin – This substance may help stabilize mood swings. If you plan to use this supplement, you should do so while working with a natural health care provider. • Calcium – Calcium is a mineral our bodies need for proper neurotransmitter production. Look for a supplement with calcium and magnesium to heighten the effects. A lack in magnesium can often lead to insomnia and anxiety. • Zinc – This important and often ignored mineral is often lacking in many people’s diet. It can help combat colds and may help reduce some symptoms of depression or other mental disorders. Remember, as with herbal supplementation you should embark on vitamin and nutritional therapy under a skilled practitioner’s guidance. Even when we try to eat well, we're disadvantaged. The nutritional content of most food has been compromised over the years, not only by deficient soils and modern production, transportation, storage and processing methods, but also by the enormous amounts of chemical and artificial substances added to promote growth, storage life, taste and appearance. It's for this reason that more and more medical authorities are advocating the use of vitamin and mineral supplements. However, finding them in the right combination can be both confusing and costly. Aloe Vera Juice is a refreshing and anti-bacterial drink, you might find that taking this daily, diluted in some filtered water will not only refresh you like ‘a shower inside you’ but also assists in dealing with any digestive issues you may also be experiencing. You may find benefit from our information on detoxification as well as a bit about detoxing because of change of diet Most mental health disorders are complex and often misunderstood, that affects millions of people every year. It is important that patients understand their disorder is one that they can live with, and even learn to enjoy life with. There are many misconceptions surrounding mental health disorders. There are times when a patient’s symptoms may become very serious. In cases like this it is critical a person seek professional care and guidance. A mental health disorder can manifest in many different ways. It can for example, manifest as a mild disorder with mild mood swings, or a major mood disorder with swings that are very extreme. There are many approaches to treating a mental disorder. A patient should always work with a competent doctor or other healthcare provider they can rely and trust on in times of need. Also important to one’s health is his or her ability to build a supportive wellness team. Your wellness team can help you during the tough times, offering support and helping you make critical decisions when you may not be up to it. The most important step a patient can take, the one that will ultimately lead to their success and fulfillment, is to take a proactive role in their recovery and in their care. To do this, you must first embrace and accept the fact that you have a mental health disorder. Once you do this, life gets a lot easier. You can then help manage your disorder by working actively with each member of your wellness team as well as with members of your family and your healthcare team to create an action plan that allows you to live a happy, healthy life. Many people live with mental health disorders. Your job is to learn to not only live with, but also learn to enjoy life with bipolar disorder or any serious ailment. Congratulations on taking a step in the right direction, one that will lead to your long-term recovery and happiness. We wish you well in your search for solutions to this problem and your movement towards better health in all areas.
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