Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - More Information

        I was raped when I was 25 years old. For a long time, I spoke about the rape on an intellectual level, as though it was something that happened to some one else. I was very aware that it had happened to me, but there just was no feeling. I kind of skidded along for a while.

        I started having flashbacks. They kind of came over me like a splash of water. I would be terrified. Suddenly I was relieving the rape. Every instant was startling. I felt like my entire head was moving a bit, shaking, but that wasn’t so startling. I felt like my entire head was moving a bit, shaking, but that wasn’t so at all. I would get very flushed or a very dry mouth and my breathing changed. I was held in suspension. I wasn’t aware of the cushion on the chair that I was sitting in or that my arm was touching a piece of furniture. I was in a bubble, just kind of floating. And it was scary. Have a flashback can wring you out. You’re really shaken. The rape happened the week before Christmas, and I feel like a werewolf around the anniversary date. I can’t believe the transformation into anxiety and fear.

        Post –Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. Often, people with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. PTSD, once referred to as shell shock or battle fatigue, was first brought to public attention by war veterans, but it can result from any number of traumatic incidents. These include kidnapping, serious accidents such as car or train wrecks, natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, violent attacks such as a mugging, rape, or torture, or being held captive. The event that triggers it may be something that threatened the person’s life or the life of someone close to him or her. Or it could be something witnessed, such as destruction after an accident.

        Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. They may also experience sleep problems, depression, feeling detached or numb, or being easily startled. They may lose interest in things they used to enjoy and have trouble feeling affectionate. They may feel irritable, more aggressive than before or even violent. Seeing things that remind them of the incident may be very distressing, which could lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the event are often very difficult.

        Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashback or intrusive images. A flashback may make the person lose touch with reality and re-enact the event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days. A person having a flashback,, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, usually believes that the traumatic event is happening all over again.

        Not every traumatized person gets full-blown PTSD, or experiences PTSD at all. PTSD is diagnosed only if the symptoms last more than a month. In those who do have PTSD, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the trauma, and the course of the illness varies. Some people recover within six months, others have symptoms that last much longer. In some cases, the condition may be chronic. Occasionally, the illness doesn’t show up until years after the traumatic event.

        Antidepressants and anxiety-reducing medications can ease the symptoms of depression and sleep problems. Sometimes anti-psychotic or tranquilizer medications are used to help deal with the flashback. Psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, is an integral part of treatment. Being exposed to a reminder of the trauma as part of therapy – such as returning to the scene of a rape – sometimes helps. And, support from family and friends can help speed recovery.

How to Get Help for PTSD
        If you have symptoms of anxiety, a visit to the family physician or psychiatrist is usually the best place to start. A physician can help you determine if the symptoms are due to an anxiety disorder, some other medical condition, or both. Most often, the next step to getting treatment for an anxiety disorder is referral to a mental health professional.
        Among the professionals who can help are psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. However, it’s best to look for a professional who has specialized training in cognitive – behavioral or behavioral therapy and who is open to the use of medications, should they be needed.
        Psychologists, social workers, and counselors sometimes work closely with a psychiatrist or other physician, who will prescribe medications when they are required. For some people, group therapy or self-help groups are a helpful part of treatment. Many people do best with a combination of these therapies.
        When you’re looking for a health-care professional, it’s important to inquire about what kinds of therapy he or she generally uses and whether medications are available. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the therapy. If this is not the case, seek help elsewhere. However, if you’ve been taking medication, it’s important not to quit certain drugs abruptly, but to taper them off under the supervision of your physician. Be sure to ask your physician about how to stop a medication.
        Remember, though, that when you find a health care professional you’re satisfied with, the two of you are working as a team. Together you will be able to develop a plan to treat your anxiety disorder that may involve medications, behavioral therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, as appropriate. Treatments for anxiety disorders, however, may not start working instantly. Your doctor or therapist may ask you to follow a specific treatment plan for several weeks or months to determine whether it’s working.

        The Taylor Health System provides outpatient and inpatient treatment programs; call 1-800-883-3322, ext. 118 to arrange for an inpatient assessment or 410-465-3333 to set up an outpatient evaluation.

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