Stress Essay, Research Paper

The Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that may develop in people after a horrible experience. This is a big reaction to extreme stress. There are many causes, symptoms, and treatments for the post-traumatic stress disorder.

There are many causes this disorder has, and this includes: coming out of war, being raped, or attacked, child abuse, natural disasters, car accidents, and even people who witness traumatic events could develop this disorder. A person who has experienced a bad traumatic event has a better chance of developing this disorder than a person who experienced a less traumatic event develops. This works the same way with people who witness something horrible. Some people also have biological or psychological problems that make them more likely to develop this disorder. Or having anxiety disorders in their families that may have inherited genetics to react more severely to stress and trauma than other people. Persons early childhood experiences that made them feel that events are uncontrollable have a greater chance of getting this disorder. Some people are kind of like protected from this disorder by having a strong social network with their friends and family. In war veterans they call this disorder shell shock or combat fatigue.

People with this disorder ?relive? the event again and again though nightmares and memories during the day. They will sometimes have flashbacks where they will fall into their own world and relive images, and sounds from the trauma. Because of their extreme anxiety and distress from the event, they will try to avoid anything that would happen to remind them of it. They may seem emotionally numb, detached, irritable, and easily startled. They may feel guilty about surviving a traumatic event that killed other people because they now think that they should have done something. Other symptoms include trouble concentrating, depression, and sleep difficulties. Symptoms of the disorder usually begin shortly after the traumatic event, but some people may not show symptoms for several years. If left untreated, the disorder can last for years. Post-traumatic stress disorder can ruin someone?s life. The emotional pain of reliving the trauma, the symptoms of the disorder may cause a person to think that he or she is ?going crazy.? People with this disorder may have angry outbursts at family members. At other times, they may seem to have no affection for their loved ones. Some people try to mask their symptoms by abusing alcohol or drugs. Others work very long hours to prevent any down periods when they might relive the trauma. Such actions may delay the onset of the disorder until these individuals retire or become sober.

Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder may involve psychotherapy, psychoactive drugs, or both. Psychotherapists help individuals confront the traumatic experience, work through their strong negative emotions, and overcome their symptoms. Many people with post-traumatic stress disorder benefit from group therapy with other individuals suffering from the disorder. Physicians may prescribe antidepressants or anxiety-reducing drugs to treat the mood disturbances that sometimes accompany the disorder. Studies have found from 1 to 14 percent of people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder at some point during their lives. The findings vary widely due to differences in the populations studied and the research methods used. Among people who have survived traumatic events, the prevalence appears to be much higher. The disorder may be particularly prevalent among people who have served in combat. For example, one study of veterans of the Vietnam War found that veterans exposed to a high level of combat were nine times more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder than military personnel who did not serve in the war zone of Southeast Asia.

In conclusion, the post-traumatic stress disorder is an extreme illness that has many causes, symptoms and treatments.