Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from Physiological Aspects



Abstract

In this study, we try to explore the concept of “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from Physiological Aspects. The history of PTSD will examined, including as Sigmund Freud, Pierre Janet and World War One. Post Traumatic Stess disorder causes many people to suffer. As well, medications provide a relief from post traumatic stress disorder. Finally, the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” and tries to describe the overall effect of PTSD from physiological aspects.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from Physiological Aspects

Introduction

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is linked with the psycho- physiological aspect of an individual. The psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms of PTSD concern the impact of cognitive factors, a disorder of arousal and alterations of the central sympathoadrenal system and of the noradrenergic mediation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD as it is better known, is an anxiety disorder caused by an event with a possibility of extreme injury or death. PTSD can occur immediately after the traumatizing event or it can occur more than 6 months after the trauma. PTSD usually gets better around 3 months after it begins and lasts for at least one month, although some people have developed a long-lasting type of PTSD which can last for years. PTSD has been shown to be caused by natural disasters, or virtually any trauma in the world. The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 caused PTSD in many people. Some of the people were not even present at the event and only witnessed it from afar or on TV (Zoellner, 2011).

The avoidance symptoms of PTSD include avoiding social situations, having a general loss of interest, finding it hard to express or feel love or other emotions towards others, shutting you away from society, and not feeling any pain or other sensation. When people have experienced trauma, any reminders or recollection of the trauma is upsetting to the survivor. Because of this, they tend to avoid society or crowded places. In the hyper arousal category of PTSD is where symptoms such as panic attacks, being angry, or having trouble sleeping. Panic attacks can be triggered by many things including but not limited to sounds, such as a helicopter reminding a veteran of combat, a smell, such as smoke reminding someone of a fire, or a sight, such as blood reminding someone of an injury (Sharpless and Jacques, 2010). Post-traumatic stress disorder has been described as a 'thief that steals motherhood' that is, it robs women of happiness during the first several weeks and months as new mothers. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious illness which can have long-lasting traumatic effects on a woman and her family; however, it is treatable. Therefore, early detection and treatment of the problem is both valuable and important.

Discussion

The history of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) encompasses a journey of not only history, but also psychiatry, as the foundation that is PTSD. From research, there is little published on the ...