Post Traumatic Stress disorder or PTSD is a very real and very curable problem. Anyone, even an infant can acquire symptoms of PTSD upon experiencing a serious trauma.
When my brother first saw the movie "Forest Gump" he nearly hit the floor during the scenes about Vietnam. Not because of the film, but because of the realistic sounds of the gunfire. It had been decades since he was in Vietnam but the piercing sound of gunfire that seemed to be coming from behind the movie viewers was enough to take him back to fright-filled days at war.
In today's world of 24/7 news coverage of terrorism, war and crime, it is even possible for someone to develop PTSD by immersing themselves in videos and newscasts about an event in which they had no actual involvement. This was made clear to clinicians after 911, and again during the Virginia Tech shootings.
After the Virginia Tech shootings however the process of developing PTSD was more widely understood, and after a few days nearly all of the footage was taken off the air. For those who had already watched hours of video, and who were already at risk for PTSD, it was too late.
Children are particularly at risk of developing intense stress reactions upon watching real or realistic events on film or television. Intense fear can cause them to regress into more childlike behaviors like wetting the bed, moodieness or having nightmares.
If you suspect that you or your child is experiencing serious effects of stress it is important that you get help immediately. Otherwise the stress can hang on for year, and can develop into phobias and other psychological problems.
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Showing posts with label stress disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress disorders. Show all posts
Tuesday
Profile of a Mass Murderer
In light of the horrific mass murder at Virginia Tech this week I am focusing this blog on the symptoms of a Mass Murder. These studies were published a few years ago in The Journal of Psychiatry. More information about paranoia, schizophrenia and other disorders can be found at Psych-Net Mental Health.
These statistics were derived from a study of mass murders age 13-19 who killed 3 or more people in one event. The sample consisted of males with a median age of 17.
The majority were described as loners
Most abused alcohol or drugs
Almost half were bullied by others
Preoccupied with violent fantasy
Had a violent by history
23% had a documented psychiatric history but only 6% were judged to have been psychotic at the time of the mass murder
Depressive symptoms
A history of antisocial behaviors
A precipitating event in most cases-usually a perceived failure in love or school
Most subjects made threatening statements regarding the mass murder to third parties
The majority of the sample clustered into three types:
the family annihilator,
the classroom avenger,
and the criminal opportunist.
The adolescent mass murderer is often predatorily rather than affectively violent and typically does not show any sudden or highly emotional warning signs. Although the act of mass murder is virtually impossible to predict because of its extremely low frequency, certain clinical and forensic findings can alert the clinician to the need for further, intensified primary care, including family, school, community, law enforcement, and mental health intervention.
These statistics were derived from a study of mass murders age 13-19 who killed 3 or more people in one event. The sample consisted of males with a median age of 17.
The majority were described as loners
Most abused alcohol or drugs
Almost half were bullied by others
Preoccupied with violent fantasy
Had a violent by history
23% had a documented psychiatric history but only 6% were judged to have been psychotic at the time of the mass murder
Depressive symptoms
A history of antisocial behaviors
A precipitating event in most cases-usually a perceived failure in love or school
Most subjects made threatening statements regarding the mass murder to third parties
The majority of the sample clustered into three types:
the family annihilator,
the classroom avenger,
and the criminal opportunist.
The adolescent mass murderer is often predatorily rather than affectively violent and typically does not show any sudden or highly emotional warning signs. Although the act of mass murder is virtually impossible to predict because of its extremely low frequency, certain clinical and forensic findings can alert the clinician to the need for further, intensified primary care, including family, school, community, law enforcement, and mental health intervention.
Thursday
Bi Polar Disorder
Vincent Van Gogh once wrote:
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
Modern Psychologists have surmised that Vincent Van Gogh had Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD). BPD is a brain disorder that causes one's moods to swing between mania and depression. In its most severe form it can cause one to loose touch with reality.
With Van Gogh, the deterioration of his mental status is apparent in his artwork; however most will agree that his best work was done during the last years of his life. So how is it that we are often eager to classify the mentally ill as unimportant to society? Presumably many of the worlds most gifted artists and scholars were affected with BPD. On the other hand, most were sent to asylums or were left to peddle for food in the streets.
What is Bi-Polar Disorder?
People affected with BPD may swing back and forth from depression to mania on a regular basis or they may experience a "calm" or "normal" period between episodes.
Symptoms of Mania:
1. Inappropriate elation
2. Inappropriate irritability
3. Severe insomnia
4. Grandiose notions
5. Increased talking
6. Disconnected and racing thoughts
7. Increased sexual desire
8. Markedly increased energy
9. Poor judgment
10. Inappropriate social behavior
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some have many. Also, the severity of symptoms varies with individuals.
For more on BPD go to Psych-Net.com
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
Modern Psychologists have surmised that Vincent Van Gogh had Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD). BPD is a brain disorder that causes one's moods to swing between mania and depression. In its most severe form it can cause one to loose touch with reality.
With Van Gogh, the deterioration of his mental status is apparent in his artwork; however most will agree that his best work was done during the last years of his life. So how is it that we are often eager to classify the mentally ill as unimportant to society? Presumably many of the worlds most gifted artists and scholars were affected with BPD. On the other hand, most were sent to asylums or were left to peddle for food in the streets.
What is Bi-Polar Disorder?
People affected with BPD may swing back and forth from depression to mania on a regular basis or they may experience a "calm" or "normal" period between episodes.
Symptoms of Mania:
1. Inappropriate elation
2. Inappropriate irritability
3. Severe insomnia
4. Grandiose notions
5. Increased talking
6. Disconnected and racing thoughts
7. Increased sexual desire
8. Markedly increased energy
9. Poor judgment
10. Inappropriate social behavior
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some have many. Also, the severity of symptoms varies with individuals.
For more on BPD go to Psych-Net.com
Wednesday
Preventing Mental Illness in Your Children
This Research Study May Save Your Child's Life
According to Dr. Will Sears, a well renowned pediatrician and author of many parenting books, a remarkable study just came out this month which shows that allowing your baby to cry (instead of nurturing the child and attending to its needs), can lead to brain damage and mental illness.
The study was taken over a 40 year period with infants and toddlers. The most striking findings show beyond doubt that when children cry and work themselves up into a crying frenzy, their body goes into stress overload causing the major arteries to the brain to tighten and close down. Once this happens the babies brain cannot get enough oxygen and the brain begins to die from oxygen deprivation resulting in permanent brain damage.
Babies who's mothers nurture them and attend to their needs were more likely to understand that crying is their child's only way to communicate their fears, discomfort and needs. Dr. Sears stated that babies who are put to sleep in a room away from parents, behind bars in a crib, in the dark will feel abandoned and frightened. Whereas babies who are quickly comforted when they cry are 80% less likely to develop panic disorders, depression and stress related illness later in life. Even SIDS is reduced by over 50% when the child is not allowed to cry, but is nurtured instead (More on SIDS in a later article).
The researchers agree, it is impossible to spoil a baby with love and nurturing. That is exactly what they need to grow into healthy, confidant and secure adults. But believing that your child needs to "cry it out" or to "cry herself to sleep" may be causing permanent damage.
Stop expecting too much from your little child and start seeing the world through their little eyes. Empathizing with your child will help you keep your cool when those nighttime rituals begin to feel like a chore.
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