PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Spirituality

Abstract

The paper talks about the post traumatic stress syndrome and discusses the issues that lead to this kind of stress. The post traumatic stress disorder is mainly related to anxiety but it can extend beyond that leading to depression, anhedonia, insomnia and a state of déjà vu whereby the patient relives the traumatic event over and over. Spirituality is one of treatment measures for PTSD. Spirituality helps a person give meaning to life and its events and develop a positive outlook on life. The beginning of dawn is from the realization that there is a problem that needs to be solved. Most PTSD patients do not understand and realize that they have a problem. They fail to acknowledge it till the point they develop suicidal tendencies. The paper discusses the relationship of PTSD with spirituality in the context of Christianity as religion is a part of spirituality. The Bible and Christianity arouse a person's need for love, care, recognition, support, happiness and self-esteem. By satisfying these needs and making the patient come closer to God, many have benefitted from the spiritual treatment. The treatment best serves the purpose when coupled with psychotherapy, medication, family therapy or any other treatment deemed essential by the medical practitioner.

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Spirituality1

Relationship between PTSD and spirituality3

Issues involving trauma and spirituality3

Giving meaning to the traumatic experience3

Guilt and moral injury4

Bereavement and grief5

Christianity and PTSD5

Proposed treatment for PTSD6

Conclusion7

References8

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Spirituality

Introduction

PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a type of disorder whereby a person witnesses or experiences a traumatic event that involves a threat of injury or death. It is generally recognized as an anxiety disorder. The disorder is not limited to anxiety only. The trauma can also lead to other disorders such as emotional numbness, mild to severe depression, disturbed sleep and memory disturbance in which the patient experiences déjà vu, whereby the event repeats itself in memory of the patient as if the patient were reliving every part of it. In some cases the posttraumatic stress disorder occurs immediately after an event while in other cases it takes about six months for it to show symptoms of trauma. The post traumatic stress disorder can be a short lived disorder and it can also span over a period of several years depending upon the individual patient. PSTD is usually caused by accidents or other such events (Bryant, 1998).

The paper discusses the concept of PSTD and healing strategies. Although there are a range of healing strategies and methodologies for PSTD such as Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, Family therapy, Medication, counseling, and others, but the paper focuses on the healing option for PTSD in spirituality.

Spirituality

It is important to distinguish religion from spirituality. Religion may be defined as the set of beliefs about a person and his relationship with his creator. Spirituality on the other hand forces a person to discover God unlike religion where he is told about God. Hence, in simple words religion is about knowing about God ...