Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The material below is separated into two sections. The first deals with Treatment and Recovery, the second deals with PTSD and Families.

Treatment & Recovery
What Is PTSD?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may develop in some people following a traumatic experience. It can affect people of any age, culture or gender.

PTSD comprises three groups of symptoms. The first relates to frequent memories of the trauma, which can take the form of repetitive thoughts, images, and dreams. The second group is avoidance symptoms: that is, staying away from reminders, withdrawal from social interaction, and difficulty responding emotionally to others. Finally, PTSD is characterised by heightened arousal, with reduced sleep, increased jumpiness, irritability and anger.

In time, the symptoms of PTSD disappear in most people. In a proportion, however, they can persist. Occasionally, they may appear some time, even years, post-trauma.

When To Seek Treatment
Not all people who experience trauma require treatment. Most are able to recover with the help of family and friends. However, if the event was especially severe, or the person had other problems in their life at the time, survivors may need professional help to restore well-being. A range of mental health professionals can assist.

Untreated, PTSD can become a chronic disabling disorder, so it is important that effective diagnosis and treatment is obtained at the earliest opportunity. Help should be sought where the individual:

-Experiences problems which are severe or last for more than a few months

-Is constantly on edge or irritable

-Has difficulty responding emotionally to others

-Increasingly uses alcohol or other drugs

-Becomes unusually busy to avoid dealing with issues

-Has a strong need to share experiences, but no-one is available or able to listen

What Does Treatment Involve?
Many treatments are available, but most include the following components:

Education to improve understanding about common reactions to trauma. This helps to provide reassurance and would include a discussion of what may be expected in treatment and the steps involved in recovery.

Stress management to assist the individual in managing the distress associated with post-trauma reactions. These strategies may include relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, and strategies to deal with the troublesome memories. The survivor may be encouraged also to resume a normal routine in order to provide structure and security. In this way, the person may begin to feel able to cope again with the demands of everyday life. Specific treatment to help the person control their alcohol and drug use may also be required.

Dealing with the memories to enable the survivor to confront what has happened. This requires individuals to work cautiously through the traumatic experience at their own pace and to reflect on the meaning of the event. Thus, although survivors cannot change or forget what occurred, they may be able to view it and the world differently. The goal is to be capable of remembering what happened without being overwhelmed by distress. When this occurs, the symptoms of PTSD can be expected to reduce in intensity.

Drug treatment Several medications have the potential to alleviate symptoms of PTSD and various drugs may be used depending on the specific problems of each person. The most common at this time are the “new generation” antidepressants. Long term medication (up to a few years) may be required in some cases. It is important that medication be managed by a medical practitioner who has a thorough knowledge of PTSD and its pharmacological treatments.

Treatment may involve other components also. You may wish to talk to your doctor or therapist about what it will involve.

What Can You Do If You Are Suffering From PTSD?

Acknowledge the symptoms of PTSD which may be affecting you
Recognise that PTSD can be difficult to deal with and that recovery does not occur without effort. It is not simply a matter of snapping out of it.

-Review your lifestyle for appropriate adjustments; e.g., balance the daily stresses of your life with pleasurable and relaxing activities

-Take up stress reduction methods, such as exercise and relaxation, and pay attention to your physical health, especially sleep and diet

-Recognise, and try to cut down, those things which do not work, particularly the overuse of alcohol, caffeine and prescription medications

How Can You Help Someone With PTSD?

-Offer general support. In traumatised people, support and security offered by loved ones is very important to recovery. Offer to help out with everyday tasks and show them you care

-Provide a listening ear for the survivor to talk about what happened.

-Having the opportunity to discuss, and make sense of, the experience is often crucial in helping people to deal with trauma.

-Equally, remember that not everyone will be ready to talk about the trauma at the same time

-Adopt a helpful and realistic attitude to what the person is capable of: expect neither too much nor too little

-Acknowledge and attempt to understand the individual’s reactions to what they have experienced. This may be as simple as recognising that PTSD can cause the same person to react in different ways (for example; with extreme anger or numbed feelings) at different times

-Support the individual to seek further assistance if they choose to. Getting professional help with the symptoms of traumatic stress can sometimes be very important

PTSD and Families

What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological reaction to the experience of overwhelmingly traumatic events, especially those which threaten life. Such events include, but are not limited to, assault, sexual assault, combat, natural disaster, and accidents. PTSD can affect people of any age, culture or gender.

PTSD and Families
The symptoms of PTSD not only affect the sufferer, but also may impact severely on other family members. Relationships with partners and children may become strained and difficult. PTSD may cause the sufferer to reject, or withdraw from, the very people who care most.

PTSD is understood in terms of three groups of symptoms. They can affect individuals and families in the following ways.

Intrusive Symptoms
Traumatic events typically "intrude" into the lives of PTSD sufferers. This can happen in vivid daytime memories or dreams. It can occur suddenly and without obvious cause and is typically accompanied by intense emotions, such as grief, guilt, fear or anger. Sometimes, these intrusions can be so strong or vivid that the individual may believe the trauma is re-occurring.

These symptoms can be frightening not only for the individual experiencing them, but also for other family members. These intrusive symptoms can cause families to feel worried about the PTSD sufferer or perplexed by their behaviour. The individual may make movements or noises when dreaming, which is very disturbing for partners.

Avoidance
Traumatic memories are extremely unpleasant and individuals may try to avoid any situations, people or events which remind them of the incident(s). They may attempt to block out the memories by withdrawing into themselves, cutting themselves off from other people. They may feel unable to respond appropriately to others and to the challenges of everyday life. PTSD sufferers often report being unable to feel emotions, even for those to whom they feel closest. Importantly, this does not mean that they no longer love or care for their family and friends.

This emotional avoidance and numbing inevitably affects relationships. The lack of energy and the tendency to withdraw is difficult for families to understand or tolerate. Family members may feel rejected by a PTSD sufferer who is unable to show appropriate involvement, emotion and affection. This can be particularly hard on children. Family members may feel frustrated at having to take on responsibilities the traumatised person can no longer meet.

Arousal Symptoms
Severe trauma can cause individuals to feel vulnerable and frightened. They may be "jumpy" and feel the need to be constantly on guard and watchful. Sleep is often disturbed and restless. They may feel irritable and angry with themselves and others. This may sometimes lead to aggressive and violent behaviour. Memory, concentration, and decision-making are often affected.

The effect of these symptoms on the family can be severe. Anger and irritability can be one of the most difficult symptoms of PTSD for families to endure, especially when the anger is directed at children. Anxiety can cause many difficulties, especially if the sufferer avoids going to shops or crowded places.

Associated Problems
In addition to the core PTSD symptoms, it is common for sufferers to experience feelings of panic or extreme fear, especially when away from home or other "safe" places. Depression, loss of interest in normal activities, and reduced motivation are also common.

PTSD sufferers often engage in potentially harmful habits and behaviours to cope with their symptoms. Thus, they may abuse alcohol or other drugs as a form of "self-medication" in an attempt to blunt memory. Again, this can be very difficult for families to cope with.

Recognising PTSD
If PTSD is not recognised as the cause of the problems, family members may start to blame the affected person or themselves. They may feel rejected or unloved, and powerless to help the sufferer. It may mean that the family will require help with other problems that they had been coping with before.

Unfortunately, PTSD can be a difficult disorder to recognise because there is often:

A reluctance to talk about the traumatic event(s) and personal reactions, for fear of appearing weak or stupid
Unhelpful attitudes in others; e.g., beliefs that PTSD does not exist or that the survivor should "just pull themselves together"
A variation in the intensity of symptoms over time - the sufferer may be relatively well for long periods between episodes. Sometimes symptoms may not appear for some months, or even years, after the trauma.

What To Do If A Member Of Your Family Has Symptoms Of PTSD

-Offer general support: the security offered by loved ones is critical to recovery

-Encourage the sufferer to talk about what happened and how they are feeling: this is a crucial part of helping. Try not to judge them or offer advice that they cannot follow

-Adopt a realistic attitude regarding what the person is capable of, expecting neither too much nor too little

-Acknowledge and attempt to understand the individual’s reactions to what they have experienced. This may be as simple as recognising that PTSD can cause the same person to react with extreme anger and numbed feelings at different times

-Where symptoms are severe, or last for a long time, the person should be seen by an experienced mental health professional.

Untreated, PTSD can become a chronic and disabling disorder. Diagnosis and effective treatment should be sought at the earliest opportunity. Family members can play an important role in encouraging the individual to seek treatment and in providing on-going support during the treatment process.

You may wish to talk to your family doctor or community health centre about where to get treatment for your loved one.


	home > information for survivors, friends and family > post traumatic stress disorder

		Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) The material below is separated into two sections. The first deals with Treatment and Recovery, the second deals with PTSD and Families. Treatment & Recovery What Is PTSD? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may develop in some people following a traumatic experience. It can affect people of any age, culture or gender. PTSD comprises three groups of symptoms. The first relates to frequent memories of the trauma, which can take the form of repetitive thoughts, images, and dreams. The second group is avoidance symptoms: that is, staying away from reminders, withdrawal from social interaction, and difficulty responding emotionally to others. Finally, PTSD is characterised by heightened arousal, with reduced sleep, increased jumpiness, irritability and anger. In time, the symptoms of PTSD disappear in most people. In a proportion, however, they can persist. Occasionally, they may appear some time, even years, post-trauma. When To Seek Treatment Not all people who experience trauma require treatment. Most are able to recover with the help of family and friends. However, if the event was especially severe, or the person had other problems in their life at the time, survivors may need professional help to restore well-being. A range of mental health professionals can assist. Untreated, PTSD can become a chronic disabling disorder, so it is important that effective diagnosis and treatment is obtained at the earliest opportunity. Help should be sought where the individual: -Experiences problems which are severe or last for more than a few months -Is constantly on edge or irritable -Has difficulty responding emotionally to others -Increasingly uses alcohol or other drugs -Becomes unusually busy to avoid dealing with issues -Has a strong need to share experiences, but no-one is available or able to listen What Does Treatment Involve? Many treatments are available, but most include the following components: Education to improve understanding about common reactions to trauma. This helps to provide reassurance and would include a discussion of what may be expected in treatment and the steps involved in recovery. Stress management to assist the individual in managing the distress associated with post-trauma reactions. These strategies may include relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, and strategies to deal with the troublesome memories. The survivor may be encouraged also to resume a normal routine in order to provide structure and security. In this way, the person may begin to feel able to cope again with the demands of everyday life. Specific treatment to help the person control their alcohol and drug use may also be required. Dealing with the memories to enable the survivor to confront what has happened. This requires individuals to work cautiously through the traumatic experience at their own pace and to reflect on the meaning of the event. Thus, although survivors cannot change or forget what occurred, they may be able to view it and the world differently. The goal is to be capable of remembering what happened without being overwhelmed by distress. When this occurs, the symptoms of PTSD can be expected to reduce in intensity. Drug treatment Several medications have the potential to alleviate symptoms of PTSD and various drugs may be used depending on the specific problems of each person. The most common at this time are the “new generation” antidepressants. Long term medication (up to a few years) may be required in some cases. It is important that medication be managed by a medical practitioner who has a thorough knowledge of PTSD and its pharmacological treatments. Treatment may involve other components also. You may wish to talk to your doctor or therapist about what it will involve. What Can You Do If You Are Suffering From PTSD? Acknowledge the symptoms of PTSD which may be affecting you Recognise that PTSD can be difficult to deal with and that recovery does not occur without effort. It is not simply a matter of snapping out of it. -Review your lifestyle for appropriate adjustments; e.g., balance the daily stresses of your life with pleasurable and relaxing activities -Take up stress reduction methods, such as exercise and relaxation, and pay attention to your physical health, especially sleep and diet -Recognise, and try to cut down, those things which do not work, particularly the overuse of alcohol, caffeine and prescription medications How Can You Help Someone With PTSD? -Offer general support. In traumatised people, support and security offered by loved ones is very important to recovery. Offer to help out with everyday tasks and show them you care -Provide a listening ear for the survivor to talk about what happened. -Having the opportunity to discuss, and make sense of, the experience is often crucial in helping people to deal with trauma. -Equally, remember that not everyone will be ready to talk about the trauma at the same time -Adopt a helpful and realistic attitude to what the person is capable of: expect neither too much nor too little -Acknowledge and attempt to understand the individual’s reactions to what they have experienced. This may be as simple as recognising that PTSD can cause the same person to react in different ways (for example; with extreme anger or numbed feelings) at different times -Support the individual to seek further assistance if they choose to. Getting professional help with the symptoms of traumatic stress can sometimes be very important PTSD and Families What is PTSD? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological reaction to the experience of overwhelmingly traumatic events, especially those which threaten life. Such events include, but are not limited to, assault, sexual assault, combat, natural disaster, and accidents. PTSD can affect people of any age, culture or gender. PTSD and Families The symptoms of PTSD not only affect the sufferer, but also may impact severely on other family members. Relationships with partners and children may become strained and difficult. PTSD may cause the sufferer to reject, or withdraw from, the very people who care most. PTSD is understood in terms of three groups of symptoms. They can affect individuals and families in the following ways. Intrusive Symptoms Traumatic events typically "intrude" into the lives of PTSD sufferers. This can happen in vivid daytime memories or dreams. It can occur suddenly and without obvious cause and is typically accompanied by intense emotions, such as grief, guilt, fear or anger. Sometimes, these intrusions can be so strong or vivid that the individual may believe the trauma is re-occurring. These symptoms can be frightening not only for the individual experiencing them, but also for other family members. These intrusive symptoms can cause families to feel worried about the PTSD sufferer or perplexed by their behaviour. The individual may make movements or noises when dreaming, which is very disturbing for partners. Avoidance Traumatic memories are extremely unpleasant and individuals may try to avoid any situations, people or events which remind them of the incident(s). They may attempt to block out the memories by withdrawing into themselves, cutting themselves off from other people. They may feel unable to respond appropriately to others and to the challenges of everyday life. PTSD sufferers often report being unable to feel emotions, even for those to whom they feel closest. Importantly, this does not mean that they no longer love or care for their family and friends. This emotional avoidance and numbing inevitably affects relationships. The lack of energy and the tendency to withdraw is difficult for families to understand or tolerate. Family members may feel rejected by a PTSD sufferer who is unable to show appropriate involvement, emotion and affection. This can be particularly hard on children. Family members may feel frustrated at having to take on responsibilities the traumatised person can no longer meet. Arousal Symptoms Severe trauma can cause individuals to feel vulnerable and frightened. They may be "jumpy" and feel the need to be constantly on guard and watchful. Sleep is often disturbed and restless. They may feel irritable and angry with themselves and others. This may sometimes lead to aggressive and violent behaviour. Memory, concentration, and decision-making are often affected. The effect of these symptoms on the family can be severe. Anger and irritability can be one of the most difficult symptoms of PTSD for families to endure, especially when the anger is directed at children. Anxiety can cause many difficulties, especially if the sufferer avoids going to shops or crowded places. Associated Problems In addition to the core PTSD symptoms, it is common for sufferers to experience feelings of panic or extreme fear, especially when away from home or other "safe" places. Depression, loss of interest in normal activities, and reduced motivation are also common. PTSD sufferers often engage in potentially harmful habits and behaviours to cope with their symptoms. Thus, they may abuse alcohol or other drugs as a form of "self-medication" in an attempt to blunt memory. Again, this can be very difficult for families to cope with. Recognising PTSD If PTSD is not recognised as the cause of the problems, family members may start to blame the affected person or themselves. They may feel rejected or unloved, and powerless to help the sufferer. It may mean that the family will require help with other problems that they had been coping with before. Unfortunately, PTSD can be a difficult disorder to recognise because there is often: A reluctance to talk about the traumatic event(s) and personal reactions, for fear of appearing weak or stupid Unhelpful attitudes in others; e.g., beliefs that PTSD does not exist or that the survivor should "just pull themselves together" A variation in the intensity of symptoms over time - the sufferer may be relatively well for long periods between episodes. Sometimes symptoms may not appear for some months, or even years, after the trauma. What To Do If A Member Of Your Family Has Symptoms Of PTSD -Offer general support: the security offered by loved ones is critical to recovery -Encourage the sufferer to talk about what happened and how they are feeling: this is a crucial part of helping. Try not to judge them or offer advice that they cannot follow -Adopt a realistic attitude regarding what the person is capable of, expecting neither too much nor too little -Acknowledge and attempt to understand the individual’s reactions to what they have experienced. This may be as simple as recognising that PTSD can cause the same person to react with extreme anger and numbed feelings at different times -Where symptoms are severe, or last for a long time, the person should be seen by an experienced mental health professional. Untreated, PTSD can become a chronic and disabling disorder. Diagnosis and effective treatment should be sought at the earliest opportunity. Family members can play an important role in encouraging the individual to seek treatment and in providing on-going support during the treatment process. You may wish to talk to your family doctor or community health centre about where to get treatment for your loved one.
















Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP 24 hour crisis line (09) 623 1700 email: asah@sexualabusehelp.org.nz The address of this page is www.asah.org.nz/ptsd.htm Important Privacy Notice: If you do not want others to know you have visited this site, click here