What is PTSD?

[babylonsister]

http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAY07/nf051207-1.htm

What is PTSD?

By Richard Harkness
McClatchy Newspapers


Q: I keep reading about our military people coming back from the war in Iraq suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. What exactly is this and is there any treatment?

A: Common harmful events, such as touching a hot stove, lay down memory traces in the brain as a normal protective mechanism.

Horrific traumas, such as those that occur in a war zone, may leave the affected neuronal pathways in an abnormally hyper-vigilant state. That sets the stage for the haunting flashbacks and nightmares, startle reactions, insomnia, angry outbursts and other symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Why do some individuals develop PTSD after an overwhelming trauma and others don't? As with most disorders, some people are innately more vulnerable.

Genes involved in creating fear memories have been implicated. A gene that controls levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood, may help fuel the fear response.

more...

[stellanoir]

1. Not to minimize the severity of this condition . . .whatever happened to simple old fashioned

"shock and recovery." . . .?

PTSD suggests a chronic condition that is incurable and requires life long medication.

Hello big pharma.

Ughhh

[Madspirit]

2. I have PTSD and bipolar

...and there are some things you don't EVER get over. I suggest Psychology 101.
Lee

[babylonsister]

3. There often is no recovery from PTSD.nt

[Betsy Ross]

4. I'm with Lee

Sexually abused as a child, now bi-polar. Have only spent brief periods, less than one year, unmedicated for the last 30 years. Thank G-d for some of the newer medications; they have saved my life and made it worth living.

[stellanoir]

9. glad it's working for you

Different strokes work for different folks is all. take care

Healings to you.

[sandnsea]

10. I have PTSD

I've only really recently begun to understand it changed my actual brain waves. It's not as bad as someone in a war, but I have a very difficult time with fire after my home burned down and husband was burned. I can see how someone in a war zone would have a hard time "letting go" of the danger they were in. If you're brain waves are changed, you can't "let go". It's been 15 years and I've just noticed that I don't wonder about the house burning down every single time I leave anymore.

[pitohui]

14. for some people PTSD is a lifelong condition, they can't just "get over it"

there are different kinds of PTSD, but the war-related is probably the worst because the stress is not a one-time event but something that goes on and on and on for months or even a year -- or even longer now that we have longer tours of duty -- the brain chemistry may be forever changed by chronic exposure to such long-lasting intensity of fear and horror

this is the old "shell shock" that crippled so many in world war 1 and many of us have or have had older relatives who still suffer from PTSD from ww 2 or from vietnam, both long-lasting conflicts

i think of how hard it can be to get over natural-disaster related PTSD, or rape-caused PTSD, which are (usually) events that are over with in minutes, hours, or days, and yet some victims of natural disaster never recover, some rape victims never fully recover, so i think we have to be realistic and accept that if the brain is subjected to the continuing shock of war for months or years on end that a great number of people will not be able to recover

i'm not sure that drugs do much good in some cases but at some point if people are in pain you must give them something

[Monkeyman]

5. PTSD yes Can I help you. Kicks my butt some times

[Wiley50]

6. President Too Shitfaced Drunk

for all of the help our military won't get

[Monkeyman]

7. They are are not getting the help they need now Wiley

Most are put on the dam waiting list

[annabanana]

8. old names: "battle fatigue" and "shell shock". . .n/t

[uppityperson]

12. PTSD in relationship to war has been around forever.

There is no 1 right response for everyone, no 1 right treatment. There are lots of causes, responses, treatments. Some get over it faster, for many PTSD remains with them forever, having to learn how to deal with the problem. There is no 1 "right way" and anyone who tells you that is a fool or a liar or both trying to sell you something.

[EFerrari]

11. Kick

[krispos42]

13. An excuse by Defeat-o-crats to tax the rich and spend more on socialized medicine

Just ask a freeper

:sarcasm: