POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Posttraumatic stress disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder

Introduction

Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a psychological disorder classified in the group of disorders of anxiety, which occurs as a result of exposure to a traumatic event involving physical injury or is threatening or catastrophic nature extraordinarily. It's essential feature is the appearance of characteristic symptoms appear after exposure to this extremely stressful and traumatic event. However, to a degree that the person's mental defenses they cannot cope. In some cases, can also occur due to a deep psychological or emotional trauma, not necessarily physical damage, but usually involves both factors combined. If a mother or father is affected, PTSD can cause negative consequences for parent-child relationship and child development.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that arises after a person goes through a traumatic event that caused intense fear or has witnessed or knows of a violent or tragic event. People who continue to manifest "reliving" the trauma in a period longer than three months of the event and its symptoms can persist for months or years later, with the risk of becoming violent people for himself or for others. This situation is especially dangerous if it is in professional or military police, because they are subjects carrying weapons and that it is precisely those who should ensure the protection and not present a potential danger to civilians (O'Donnella, et. Al.2007).

Discussion

It usually occurs in people who have gone to the front in the war or have been prisoners of war who have been exposed to personal attacks as assault or rape, who have been kidnapped or taken hostage, who have been tortured or have been in fields concentration, which have been involved in car accidents being injured or having witnessed the amputation of another person who witnessed a murder or fragmented bodies have been in accidents or bomb explosions or train and who have witnessed or been direct victims of terrorist acts. Children in inappropriate sexual experiences for age (although there has been violence or actual physical harm, only abuse) are among the traumatic events that cause PTSD. However, when the stressor is the work of another human being the disorder is much more serious than when the product of a natural event (McNally, 2003).

The post-traumatic stress disorder, characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance and hyper-arousal. Re-experiencing can manifest itself in various forms: repetitive, stressful memories (called intrusions or flashbacks), nightmare, feeling like return if the event would be intense, emotional reactions when remembered by some of the traumatic event. Avoid means that not concerned with feelings, thoughts and conversations that relate to the traumatic event involved, like. They also avoid places, people or activities that are associated with the event. So often avoid, for example, victims of auto accidents who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder to drive, or re-visiting the location where the accident happened. Overstimulation can be seen in sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep), irritability, anger, difficulty concentrating, excessive vigilance or exaggerated startle response (O'Donnella, ...