Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Can You Die From Ptsd

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The phenomenon is called Vicarious Trauma.

This term is not new. Among health professionals, doctors and nurses, it is an indirect trauma that is defined as the transfer of violent traumatic experiences from a patient to someone in a helping capacity.

In a research published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety, Pam Ramsden says that a majority of the public are being affected by the violent images and videos they see online and are affected by vicarious Trauma.

  • When people see acts of violence in the videos, their sense of security is affected, assaulted
  • It creates feelings of anger, fear, frustration, helplessness.
  • Beholding a brazen act of violence against another human makes us feel attacked
  • We feel anxious that if this can happen to the victim, get posted online, then it can happen to us as well.

We take the place of the victim, feel the sharp weapon against the flesh of our necks, or the icy cold barrel of the gun on our temples. Even after watching the video, we carry with us a residue of the helplessness that we witnessed in the victims, then we lose our appetite, cant sleep at night.

Our brains interpret every rupture of order no matter how minute in our immediate environment as an imminent repeat of what we saw in the video online.

How A Family Honors A Life

Carlos Lopez Jr. had sought care through the VA, says his father Carlos Lopez Sr, trying for more than a year to get an appointment with a VA counselor for his PTSD. All he got, says his mother Juanita Lopez, was a pill.

Carlos Jr. was prescribed an anti-seizure drug called gabapentin, sometimes used to treat chronic pain. After he began the medication, his parents noticed an immediate and significant shift in his mood and demeanor. His nightmares worsened, and he became paranoid. He began asking his family if he was a bad person, if he had hurt someone, if the government was coming to their house. A few days before he died, he told his parents that he thought he was having problems because of the medication. They urged him to stop taking it.

On Sunday, June 24, 2018, Carlos Lopez Jr. shot himself on the balcony of his downtown L.A. apartment.

His parents are adamant that, while suicide was the manner of his death, it was not the cause. PTSD was.

The problem that we have in the country, says Carlos Sr., is that we try to end the story with the word suicide The question should be, Why did he commit suicide?

Theres a problem there thats not being addressed.

Juanita and Carlos Sr. want their sons life and work to be his legacy, not the manner of his death. Passionate, exuberant, successful, a storyteller, a leader these are some of the words Carlos Lopez Jr.s parents have used to describe him.

Know The Warning Signs

If you have bipolar disorder, or youre the friend or relative of someone who does, keep an eye out for suicidal behavior. Some obvious signs of trouble are talking about suicide or death or writing a suicide note.

Some other warning signs are:

  • Feeling hopeless
  • Putting affairs in order, as if preparing for death
  • Doing dangerous or potentially life-threatening things

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What Can I Do

I am thinking about suicide

If you are ever thinking about suicide or feel unsafe:

  • Veterans, call 988 then press 1 after being connected, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. You can also send a text to 838255.
  • Services are available en Español. See Obtenga Ayuda en una Crisis.

Everyone feels down from time to time. If you have thoughts about hurting yourself, seek professional help. Many people who have thoughts of suicide also struggle with depression or with drinking or drug problems. There are many places to get help. See Get Help in a Crisis for resources.

Someone I know is suicidal

You may come in contact with a family member, friend, or coworker who is thinking about suicide. When someone tells you they have these thoughts, you may feel scared and unsure what to do. It is even harder if the person tells you in secret and you feel pressure not to tell others.

If someone you know is thinking about suicide, this is a serious matter. It can be very hard to gauge the level of danger. A mental health professional is the best person to decide how much danger there is.

Someone I know has died by suicide

It is very upsetting when someone you know dies by suicide. Getting over the shock and distress will be especially hard if you felt close to them, if you saw the event, or if you have your own mental health issues.

Ptsd Grief And Bereavement: How It Can Be Caused By Trauma

Female sex hormone may save injured soldiers on the battlefield ...

Keywords: PTSD Grief.

Losing a loved one, especially when you are young, can leave a deep imprint. The PTSD grief and sadness that accompanies a sudden loss can be overwhelming and unfortunately, for some, it is a lifelong burden.

As a therapist working with Post-Traumatic Stress, I have heard my fair share of horrendous stories related to loss.

Many of them came from mothers about losing their child prematurely, often through accident, disease, or birth complications. The other major group is people who have lost one of their parents or a brother or sister while young.

Losing a loved one, especially when you are young, can leave a deep imprint. The PTSD grief and sadness that accompanies a sudden loss can be overwhelming and unfortunately, for some, it is a lifelong burden.

The latter has a tremendous impact on the delicate and developing nervous system and psyche of the person. Traumatic overflow related to loss and bereavement, which cannot be contained and processed at the moment of impact, will inevitably create deep and long-lasting coping mechanisms and reenactments.

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Va Is Expanding Its Caring Contacts Program Based On Promising Evidence That Such Contacts Can Save Lives

Caring contacts are brief, personal, nondemanding follow-up messages sent to patients after they receive care. These messages have been linked to decreased suicide attempts . VA now sends follow-up letters to veterans who receive care at a VA facility or call the Veterans Crisis Line and choose to identify themselves to the call responder . VA researchers are testing the approach with other patient populations, including those seen in VA emergency departments .

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There Is Hope: Seeking Help

Experiencing a traumatic event and/or developing PTSD can have a tremendous impact on a personâs life. The symptoms of PTSD can make a person feel constantly afraid and isolated. In addition, depression is common following a traumatic event and among people with PTSD.

A person may feel as though there is no hope or escape from their symptoms, leading them to contemplate suicide.

It is important to realize that even though it may feel as though there is no hope, recovery and healing is possible. If you are having thoughts of ending your life or if you know someone who is having these thoughts, it is important to seek help as soon as possible.

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Tip : Take Care Of Yourself

Letting your family members PTSD dominate your life while ignoring your own needs is a surefire recipe for burnout and may even lead to secondary traumatization. You can develop your own trauma symptoms from listening to trauma stories or being exposed to disturbing symptoms like flashbacks. The more depleted and overwhelmed you feel, the greater the risk is that youll become traumatized.

In order to have the strength to be there for your loved one over the long haul and lower your risk for secondary traumatization, you have to nurture and care for yourself.

Take care of your physical needs: get enough sleep, exercise regularly, eat properly, and look after any medical issues.

Cultivate your own support system. Lean on other family members, trusted friends, your own therapist or support group, or your faith community. Talking about your feelings and what youre going through can be very cathartic.

Make time for your own life. Dont give up friends, hobbies, or activities that make you happy. Its important to have things in your life that you look forward to.

Spread the responsibility. Ask other family members and friends for assistance so you can take a break. You may also want to seek out respite services in your community.

Set boundaries. Be realistic about what youre capable of giving. Know your limits, communicate them to your family member and others involved, and stick to them.

Support for people taking care of veterans

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Understanding The Recovery Process Of Ptsd

Healing the Nervous System From Trauma: Somatic Experiencing

PTSD is entirely possible to recover from, however, its not always straightforward or simple.

For many people, simply asking for help, or admitting that they are struggling can be the biggest hurdle once youve reached out to a friend or your GP, someone else can then help you when you need it even if its just to listen, or chat about treatment options.

But what happens if your PTSD recovery isnt going the way you want it to? Perhaps youve started treatment and its just not working as fast as you want it to or you feel its not making a difference. Its important to speak to your therapist or GP about your concerns, but most importantly, as hard as it may be, trust the process.

There may be reasons why its not working as quickly for you as youd like, and sometimes you may be putting obstacles in the way of your recovery. Understanding the blockers youre putting in place is the first step to eliminating them. Here are some examples weve come across before, that can slow down or prevent treatment from being as effective as it can be:

If you recognise any of these feelings in yourself, talk with your GP or a loved one. If you can, try to resolve the conflict of the obstacle in your way with the tips above, allowing your recovery process to move forward once more.

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Emerging Evidence Suggests That Screening And Risk Assessments For Suicide Can Be Lifesaving

Screening all patients for suicide risk in mental health, emergency, and primary care settings can detect those who might be thinking about harming themselves, discern their current level of risk, and provide opportunities to offer appropriate careultimately reducing suicide attempts . Screening can be conducted efficiently using validated tools, such as the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions tool, across health care settings . As part of its National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, VA developed Risk ID, a three-stage suicide screening process that has been implemented successfully in VA settings .

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Risk Of Early Death With Ptsd

In addition, several medical conditions associated with advanced aging were more common in people with PTSD. This included type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia.

An increased risk of dementia could be caused by severe brain trauma that occurred during combat. But researchers found that non-combat veterans with PTSD were also more likely to have dementia, compared to those without PTSD.

In addition, seven of 10 studies found a link between PTSD and early death. When the results of the studies were grouped together, the researchers estimated that PTSD increased the risk of dying by 29 percent.

Nine of the mortality studies, however, were done in military settings, so the findings may not apply to people with PTSD who are not veterans.

Although the researchers attempted to combine the findings of several studies, there was still a large amount of variability among the research. This makes it difficult to compare the results.

It also means that the effects seen with PTSD could be due to other risk factors many of which occur alongside PTSD such as smoking, higher alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

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What This Tells Us About Ptsd And Suicide

This study reinforces the urgency of addressing suicidal thoughts in people with PTSD and C-PTSD. It also shows how vital early intervention is in tackling PTSD symptoms and offering robust therapies that achieve sustainable recovery.

Left undiagnosed, untreated or insufficiently supported, PTSD linked depression, despair, isolation and guilt can escalate all too quickly, leaving individuals with the conviction that death is their only escape.

Also, new focus needs to be placed on the support provided to those who survive suicide attempts. Research into PTSD and suicide has shown that 15% of people who survive, eventually complete the act. That number needs to be drastically reduced.

You Can Bring The Past Into Your Present

Death Broken Heart Quotes. QuotesGram

If you can remember who you used to be then you can identify what you valued back then and see how that aligns with what you value now. Offering yourself new experiences that link up to old values is one way of creating a connection between your past and your present. If you cant remember a self before trauma, then you can use your imagination to create an image of who that would have been, identify what values that represents, and also create new experiences that allow you to embody those values.

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Can Ptsd Be Prevented In People Who Experience Trauma In The Military

Although trauma in military combat cannot be prevented, providing training for the military before exposure to trauma may help prevent PTSD. Thats one area that we dont actually know a lot about, and theres a lot of funding happening right now to try to figure out how to prevent PTSD , Moore says.

Research suggests that certain types of training, like stress inoculation therapy which models exposure of the battlefield can work like a buffer when individuals in the military do experience trauma, Moore says.

Also, teaching people in the military how to reduce their stress levels and create healthy habits like eating healthily, getting enough sleep, and finding ways to de-stress when theyre not on duty can help.

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Heres What Some Of Our Veteran Caregivers Have To Say About Ptsd:

After caring for my husband, for 20 years, I am afraid to answer my phone, open mail, or attend doctor appointments, fearing more bad news. I just want to hide. Lynn R.

If you sleep with one ear open, you startle easily. Loss of sleep triggered by this startle reflex, will lead to ptsd. People who fail to understand my situation dont believe me, but thankfully medical professionals do. Angela M.

After 27 years caring for my very vulnerable son, I can tell you that it is indeed PTSD. For a mother, the fear of something happening to your child is much worse than anything that could happen to yourself. I have an anxiety disorder and have suffered from depression. You live in terror every time you hire a new respite worker, and only trust yourself as a caregiver. Your decisions carry so much weight that some days you feel they will crush you. Dawn D.

Being part of caring for my MIL definitely has caused PTSD. Its a complete nightmare, and now I am scared of her! She talks about cutting people and watching them bleed! I know its the dementia, but she scares the hell out of me! I have nightmares about all of it! Vickie B.

Anecdotally, caregivers who take care of a family member who is or has been abusive are more likely to talk about suffering from caregiver PTSD.

I used to think that I would ignore my stepfather who abused me, but when it came down to itI had to treat him better than me. Jennifer K.

What should you do if you feel you have caregiver PTSD?

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Who Is At Risk For Post

You can develop PTSD at any age. Many risk factors play a part in whether you will develop PTSD. They include:

  • Your sex women are more likely to develop PTSD
  • Having had trauma in childhood
  • Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
  • Going through a traumatic event that lasts a long time
  • Having little or no social support after the event
  • Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
  • Having a history of mental illness or substance use

How Can Parents Help

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If your child has been through trauma, here are things you can do:

  • Help your child feel safe. They may need extra time, comfort, and care from you for a while.
  • Help your child relax. Invite them to take a few slow breaths with you. Breathe in while you count to 3. Breathe out while you count to 5.
  • Do things together that you enjoy. Trauma can make it harder to feel the positive emotions that naturally help kids recharge. Play, laugh, enjoy nature, make music or art, cook. These activities can reduce stress and build your childs resilience.
  • Reassure your child. Let them know they will get through this. And that you are there to help.
  • Let your childs doctor know what your child has been through. Get a referral to a mental health professional .
  • Tell your childs teacher that your child went through a trauma. Kids with PTSD may have more trouble focusing on schoolwork. Ask for your child to have extra help or more time to do schoolwork if they need it for a while.

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