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Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The
terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pittsburgh have had a tremendous
effect on all Americans across the country.
Most people who are exposed to a terrifying event have symptoms of severe
stress in the days and weeks following the event, but the symptoms usually
decrease over time and then disappear. However,
some will go on to develop PTSD. PTSD is a real illness that needs to be treated.
People may get PTSD after living through this, or other terrible
experiences.
Symptoms
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Having
nightmares and scary thoughts about the terrifying event
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Staying
away from anything that reminds you of the event
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Feeling
jumpy and very upset when something happens without warning
-
Having
a hard time trusting or feeling close to other people
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Feeling
guilty because others died and you lived
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Having
trouble sleeping, muscles are tense
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Feeling
angry and unable to care about or trust other people
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Being
on the lookout for danger
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Feeling
like the terrible event is happening all over again - this feeling often
comes without warning
Facts
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For
most people, PTSD starts at least one month after the terrible event.
For some people, signs of PTSD don’t show up until years later.
-
PTSD
can happen to anyone at any age. Children
can have PTSD.
-
It’s
not your fault and you don’t have to suffer.
-
With
treatment, some people get better within six months, while others may have
the illness much longer.
-
You’re
not alone. In any year, 5.2
million Americans have PTSD.
-
Having
PTSD is not a sign of weakness.
What you can do to help yourself
-
Understanding
what you’re feeling and taking positive steps can help you cope.
Talk to a professional. Treatment
will help.
-
Stop
drinking or using drugs. This
is a common way to cope with upsetting trauma symptoms, but it actually
leads to more problems.
Treatments
A combination of treatments is usually recommended.
-
A
doctor may give you medicine to help you feel less afraid and tense and help
you sleep better.
-
Working
with a therapist helps many people with PTSD.
References
and for more information:
-
National
Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov
(External Site)
The
National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org
(External Site)
National
Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder www.ncptsd.org
(External Site)
American Psychological Association www.apa.org
(External Site)
The
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies www.istss.org (External
Site)
American Psychiatric Association www.psych.org
(External Site)
TIPS FOR ADULTS
A disaster of any size will cause unusual stress in people who have been directly and indirectly impacted by it. Each person will
react differently and a range of responses to a disaster are normal and to be expected. Emotional responses to disasters can
appear immediately or sometimes months later.
The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have had a profound impact on all Americans nationwide. Understanding
what you’re feeling and taking positive steps can help you cope with this disaster.
Here are some common responses to disasters:
*Disbelief and shock
*Fear and anxiety about the future
*Disorientation, apathy and emotional numbing
*Irritability and anger
*Sadness and depression
*Feeling powerless
*Extreme hunger or lack of appetite
*Difficulty making decisions
*Crying for “no apparent reason”
*Headaches and stomach problems
*Difficulty sleeping
*Excessive drinking or drug use
Most of these reactions will decrease as time passes and you focus attention on daily activities. Because everyone experiences
stress differently, don’t compare your progress with others around you or judge other people’s reactions and emotions.
What You Can Do
Talk about it. Not expressing your feelings will keep you from being able to work through what happened. By talking
with others, you will relieve stress and realize that other people share your feelings.
-Get plenty of rest and exercise. Remember to eat well. Avoid excessive drinking and risk-taking activities.
-Spend time with your family. If you have any children, encourage them to discuss their concerns and feelings with you.
-As soon as it feels comfortable, go back to your usual routine.
-Do things that you find relaxing and soothing.
-Recall other times you have experienced strong emotions and how they were resolved.
-Do something positive that will help you gain a greater sense of control (for example, give blood, take a first aid class or
donate food or clothing).
-If you feel overwhelmed by the disaster, ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. Talk with a
counselor, trusted relative, friend,
social worker, minister or rabbi.
-If you have strong feelings that won’t go away or if you are troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek
professional help. People who have existing mental health problems and those who have survived past trauma may also want
to check in with a mental health care professional. Being unable to manage your responses to the disaster and resume your
regular activities may be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a real and treatable illness. Help is available.
The National Mental Health Association has several resources available to help you and others cope with the disaster, including
Time for Reassurance, Talking with Kids, and fact sheets on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, coping with loss and
other topics. To obtain this information, go to www.nmha.org
(External Site) or call our
toll-free line 800-969-NMHA (6642).
The information on
this Web site is presented for educational purposes only. It is not a
substitute for informed medical advice or training. Do not use this
information to diagnose or treat a mental health problem without consulting
a qualified health or mental health care provider.
On campus, please call the Counseling and Wellness Center
100 Willard Hall, 832-1945 or:
The
Ruth Boyea Women's Center
http://www.ccsu.edu/WomenCtr/default.htm
University Health Services
http://www.ccsu.edu/healthservice/default.htm
Police
http://www.ccsu.edu/Police/default.htm
For more information call the PTSD Information Line at
(802) 296-6300 or send email to:
ncptsd@ncptsd.org.(External Site)
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