PTSD

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Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

May 19, 2009 in PTSD by admin

I have heard of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but never understood what it is. Could you provide some information about this disorder?

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is related to surviving a traumatic event, in which you feel your life or someone else’s life is threatened. These events can be catastrophic, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and war zones. Often times the event may be more individualized, such as a serious car accident, physical or sexual abuse, or animal attack.

Most people respond to life threatening event with some fear after the event, but it goes away after a few months. Even if they develop PTSD after the initial trauma, 1 out of 3 people’s symptoms resolve shortly. For those who lives remain disrupted, cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment.  Interestinly, some people do not develop symptoms for months or years after the initial event.

309.81    DSM-IV Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

A. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present:

(1) the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others (2) the person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

B. The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in one (or more) of the following ways:

(1) recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions. Note: In young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.

(2) recurrent distressing dreams of the event. Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.

(3) acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur upon awakening or when intoxicated). Note: In young children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur.

(4) intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

(5) physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

(1) efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma

(2) efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the trauma

(3) inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma

(4) markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities

(5) feeling of detachment or estrangement from others

(6) restricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings)

(7) sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span)

D. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (not present before the trauma), as indicated by two (or more) of the following:

(1) difficulty falling or staying asleep
(2) irritability or outbursts of anger
(3) difficulty concentrating
(4) hypervigilance
(5) exaggerated startle response

E. Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in Criteria B, C, and D) is more than one month.

F. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Specify if:
Acute: if duration of symptoms is less than 3 months
Chronic: if duration of symptoms is 3 months or more

Specify if:
With Delayed Onset: if onset of symptoms is at least 6 months after the stressor

 
Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW, CAP works with many clients suffering from PTSD. For a free 15 minute consultation, call (407)375-1214.

Helpful websites include: www.aest.org.uk; www.ncptsd.va.gov, www.omh.state; www.Sidran.org, www. trauma-pages.com, and www.istss.org

NOTE: you can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.About the Author: Evelyn Wenzel,MSW,LCSW,CAP enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in PTSD, Depression, Addictions, Anxiety, self-injurious behavior, and sexual abuse. She has a diverse background in counseling, which includes working in a hospital setting, drug rehab, school counseling, home health counseling, and private practice. Evelyn has spoken on a variety of topics all over the state. She has spoken at the National Association of Social Workers, Christian school regional conferences, School Social Work National Conference, and school in-services. Some of the topics she has spoken on include: Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents, Sexual Abuse, Mandated Reporting, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders.

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Car accidents

March 31, 2009 in PTSD by admin

I recently received a phone call asking, “Is it possible to have PTSD after a car wreck? I thought this disorder mainly occurred in veterans or child abuse survivors.”Absolutely! Car accidents can certainly be traumatic! You don’t have to experience military combat or childhood abuse to develop it. The probability of developing PTSD increases if you or someone else was seriously injured, felt out of control, believed you were in grave danger, or experienced a previous car accident or another traumatic incident. People rarely expect that a car accident could have such far ranging psychological consequences as PTSD.  After an accident, people may fear riding in a car, driving by the accident site, jump when they hear sirens, experience nightmares, and may not be able to articulate what happened to them. Getting to sleep or remain sleeping at night may become a problem. These are a few of the symptoms that can occur following a car wreck. However after a few months, most people’s fear and anxiety dissipate. However with PTSD, these symptoms continue to persist and interfere with their lives.  I often work with insurance companies and lawyers to provide treatment for their clients.  A self-report test is given initially to see if there are sufficient symptoms to warrent a diagnosis of PTSD. This test also determines the severity of the symptoms and ways in which the accident has disrupted a person’s life. If you have been in a car accident and you are suffering from PTSD, many automobile insurance companies will pay for your treatment. There is no reason to suffer long-term from the consequences of your car wreck. Contact Evelyn Wenzel, MSW, LCSW, CAP at (407) 375-1214 for an initial consultation.Helpful resources on the internet include: Helpful websites include: www.aest.org.uk; www.ncptsd.va.gov, www.omh.state; www.Sidran.org, www. trauma-pages.com, and www.istss.org
NOTE: you can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the author’s contact information below intact.
About the Author: Evelyn Wenzel,MSW,LCSW,CAP enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in PTSD, Depression,Addictions, Anxiety, self-injurious behavior, and sexual abuse. She has a diverse background in counseling, which includes working in a hospital setting, drug rehab, school counseling, home health counseling, and private practice. Evelyn has spoken on a variety of topics all over the state. She has spoken at the National Association of Social Workers, Christian school regional conferences, School Social Work National Conference, and school in-services. Some of the topics she has spoken on include: Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents, Sexual Abuse, Mandated Reporting, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders.

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Man’s Best Friend- 0r Foe? Do Bites create Physical and Psychological Damage

March 31, 2009 in PTSD by admin

Cartoons represent dog bites as silly, seemingly harmless events. The truth is far more serious. A large percentage of dog attacks leave their victims with debilitating scars, both physical and psychological. The sound of dogs barking or even venturing outdoors can become a fear provoking situation. Because dogs target the face, neck and head of a child, reconstructive surgery is often required. Even with these surgeries, a child may remain disfigured. So not only do these children have to face corrective surgery, they also may have difficulty finding friends. It is not unusual for children as well as adults to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from dog attacks. These attacks may remain very traumatic and stress provoking long after the bites occur. If you have suffered from a dog bite and have continued fears, nightmares, and difficulties handling difficult situations with life, contact Evelyn Wenzel, MSW, LCSW, CAP at (407) 248-0030 for a PTSD evaluation. It is possible to recover from this trauma and gain a better capacity to deal with the difficulties stemming from this very terrifying occurrence.The Center for Disease Center and the American Veterinarian Association reveal a great deal of statistical information about dog bites. Did you know that: Children are the most frequent targetsThe highest incident rate is for 5-9 year oldsFor children 10 and under, 77% of injuries are to the face, neck, and headThe family dog was the aggressor in 47% of the attacks on children 4 and under.4.7 million attacks per year800,000 of these require medical attention386,000 require emergency room treatment32 people died in 2007 from dog mauling and 3 of those were in FloridaThree breeds most likely to bit are Pit bulls, Rottweilers and German ShepardsPit bull comprise 1/3 of all fatal dog bitesMale dogs ages 1-5 are three times more likely to bite than spayed or neutered animals Chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than unchained dogsMajority of dog attacks occurred at home or at a friend’s houseInsurance companies pay out about $1 billion dollars per year due to dog bitesNOTE: you can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the author’s contact information below intact.About the Author: Evelyn Wenzel,MSW,LCSW,CAP enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in PTSD, Depression,Addictions, Anxiety, self-injurious behavior, and sexual abuse. She has a diverse background in counseling, which includes working in a hospital setting, drug rehab, school counseling, home health counseling, and private practice. Evelyn has spoken on a variety of topics all over the state. She has spoken at the National Association of Social Workers, Christian school regional conferences, School Social Work National Conference, and school in-services. Some of the topics she has spoken on include: Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents, Sexual Abuse, Mandated Reporting, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. Call(407.375-1214)to set up an appointment for counseling.

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Olympic Swimmer Reveals Childhood Sexual Abuse

March 31, 2009 in PTSD, Sex Abuse by admin

hoelzer swimmingMargaret Hoelzer, a member of the powerful US Olympic Swimming team, returned home from Beijing with three Olympic metals. That in itself would be newsworthy, but she has used her triumphant Olympic performances to announce the secret that she has kept for many years – that she was sexually abused as a child.

It was the father of one of her friends that began the abuse. Margaret stated that it started when she was 5 years old and continued for about 2 years. She didn’t tell anyone about it until she was talking to a friend when she was 11 years old. Her friend urged her to tell her mother, which she did. Gratefully, her mother believed her and contacted the police. Although the perpetrator was arrested, no formal charges were made due to lack of evidence.

Another Olympian, speed skater Chris Witty, who won the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, also used her popularity after the Games to tell her story of sexual abuse. Chris was overwhelmed by the number of people who came forward with their own stories of abuse after her revelation.

But what makes children keep silent after abuse? There are innumerable reasons why a child does not tell that they are being molested, especially if it is a family member who is perpetrating the abuse. Oftentimes the perpetrator will play games with the child that gradually becomes more sexualized over time. Eventually the child may feel guilty that they are responsible some how for the molestation and will remain silent. They may blame themselves because they did not say “no” or fight off the abuser.  For some of these children, the abuse started at such an early age, that it seemed oddly normal. Sometimes the abuser will threaten the child, a pet, or his/her family.  The molester may use violence and fear to silence the child. Research has shown, though, that more often than not, children do not report the abuse until time has elapsed,if they tell at all.

NOTE: you can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the author’s contact information below intact.About the Author: Evelyn Wenzel,MSW,LCSW,CAP enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in PTSD, Depression,Addictions, Anxiety, self-injurious behavior, and sexual abuse. She has a diverse background in counseling, which includes working in a hospital setting, drug rehab, school counseling, home health counseling, and private practice. Evelyn has spoken on a variety of topics all over the state. She has spoken at the National Association of Social Workers, Christian school regional conferences, School Social Work National Conference, and school in-services. Some of the topics she has spoken on include: Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents, Sexual Abuse, Mandated Reporting, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders.

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