PTSD By Linda Gale Jacobs

A different view….

The Calm before the storm

Your Sitting in your living room somewhere in the heart of Tornado Alley watching your favorite show. You’ve been reading the severe thunderstorm warnings scroll across the bottom of the screen that include the county you live in and your under a Tornado watch , when you suddenly hear the warning sirens go off in town. Your Mom and Dad tell you to head for the safe room or cellar. Your scared now, terrified.

Your in a dark cold room now and loud banging and roaring noises are going on outside the door and the door is shaking. It becomes deafening and your ears pop from the change in the air pressure. Then it gets deadly quiet.

Your dad opens the door …. Sunlight comes through…your home is gone , everything that was safe and familiar to you is gone , along with your neighbor hood. You survived. Some of your neighbors did not and others are walking around with injuries screaming for their loved ones that they can’t find.

The stage is set for PTSD from a natural disaster.

THE AFTERMATHPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

PTSDThis is an anxiety disorder that develops after a traumatic event such as rape, child abuse ,war, natural disasters and near death experiences.

Biological BasisHippocampus-MemoryAmygdala-infuses memories with strong emotionPre-frontal cortex-judgment and planning

TreatmentsPsychotherapy-is therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client, patient, family, couple, or group.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy a type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns or treat mood disorders such as depression.

Medications-Anti- psychotics Zoloft , Celexa , Prozac, Paxil

Referencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZWrSc5xx14