Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

© Michelle Howard Smith - All Rights Reserved

• A childhood experience such as sexual abuse...
• Witnessing the violent murder of a human being such as what occurred on 9/11...
• Seeing your military comrad critically injured or killed during war...
• Narrowly escaping a violent earthquake or tsunami while you see others around you perishing...
• Being held at gun point...
• The sudden death of a loved one...
• Experiencing a serious and painful illness...

Why such dramatic bulleting?  These are very real events that may cause an individual to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which is also known as Acute Stress Disorder.  Being exposed to such life threatening, traumatic events or witnessing such an event for an extended length of time or for a repeated number of times may result in this Acute Stress Disorder.

Traumatic events such as those mentioned above are by no means an exhaustive list of traumas that have a high probability of causing Acute Stress Disorder.  However, when being exposed to such traumas, many symptoms may arise such as:

1. Overexaggerated responses to external triggers that remind the person of the event (ex: jumpyness and increased heart rate)


2. Having flashbacks in specific detail associated with the traumatic event
   
3. Experiencing feelings of numbness or not being able to have emotional responses
   
4. Having panic attacks
   
5. Constant concern and worry about one's safety (this may be vocalized but is often internal and not easily recognized or identified)
   
6. Becoming a hermit, afraid to leave the home

The Role of Hormones in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The more traumatic the experience, the more likely a person is to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Acute Stress Disorder.  This is such a clinically sounding term but the reason this is termed a disorder is because the brain is no longer functioning in a normal manner.  The brain is responding abnormally as a result of the trauma it's been exposed to.  Scientific research has revealed that when a person develops an Acute Stress Disorder, the way the brain stores memories is altered or changed.  An MRI can reveal this and it is unkown if this change is permanent or temporary.

In situations where you are afraid, your body releases adrenaline.  You know how when you have a bad dream and wake up inthe middle of the night?  Your heart is racing and your arms and legs feel tingly all over.  That's adrenaline at work increasing the glucose to your muscles so that you are able to react more quickly than normal.

The body was wonderfully designed by God to react in a way to equip you to protect yourself in a dangerous situation.  It's what's commonly known as the "fight or flight" response.  The problem with sufferers of Post-Traumatic Stres Disorder is they are often experiencing this stress response when there is no real immediate and present danger.  This increases insulin resulting in the release of cortisol to help lower the body's response to the stressor.  The response is commonly a rapid heart beat.  A person with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder usually has higher levels of hormones and the body is unable to produce enough cortisol to shut down the body's stress responders.  Additionally, a person with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder will experience the increased hormones at the very memory of a traumatic event, just as if a real threat were present.

Getting Help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

If you or someone you know has been exposed to a traumatic event or events and are experiencing some of the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, there is help available.  You don't have to suffer alone.  I personally believe that the best help you can get comes from God.  However, God has also placed people in trained positions to help people by way of medical means.  There are doctors and therapist available that can assist with diagnosis and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

NYC Anxiety Control has a treatment program for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  U.S. veterans can receive help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Children can obtain online and phone counselling from Christian Counselling / Counselling Inner Healing Art and Play Therapy.  They provide counselling for Christians and Non-Christians alike.