Saturday, March 23, 2024

Is Trauma And Ptsd The Same Thing

Don't Miss

They Are The Sameand They Are Different

Is Complex PTSD different than Comorbid BPD & PTSD?

Shell shock is a term originally coined in 1915 by Charles Myers to describe soldiers who were involuntarily shivering, crying, fearful, and had constant intrusions of memory. It is not a term used in psychiatric practice today but remains in everyday use.

In a previous post, a question was asked of me by a young veteran of the Iraq War about the difference between post-traumaticstress and shell shock. He wrote:

“… I experienced an abrupt, highly jarring event during my first tour of combat in Iraq that caused me thereafter, for a couple of years, to react bracingly to the sound of low-flying aircraft. This reaction, to me, was ‘shell shock.’

During my second tour, I was exposed to prolonged combat, a constant sense of hopelessness, and an environment characterized by above-average friendly casualties. Although I failed to admit to its occurrence initially, my reaction upon return from this tour was something I consider more akin to post-traumatic stress. For a few years, for example, I dove fairly heavily into alcohol consumption.Methods less detrimental to my health, such as writing and reading, have replaced alcohol presently. However, the cause for all of these activities is the samea desire for mental escape, which I relate to a prolonged state of reaction to my probable post-traumatic stress.”

Is shell shock the same as PTSD? This is an intriguing question one that I’ve been scratching my head over for the last couple of weeks.

Was My Trauma Really Bad Enough To Affect Me

No one type of trauma is worse than another. You can even experience the same type of traumaor even the same eventas someone else and have different reactions to it. If something hurts you, it hurts, and your natural emotional reaction is valid.

It can be helpful to think about big T trauma and little t trauma. Big T trauma is what most people think of when it comes to traumatic eventsthings like physical or sexual abuse, terrorism, and catastrophic accidents.

Little t trauma refers to events that might not be so obvious, but can still overwhelm our capacity to copethings like your parents arguing a lot at home, or abruptly moving to a new town. Little t traumas may sound less serious than big T traumas, but they can build up and cause just as much distress as one big event.

Helping Children Progress Toward Growth

So, knowing this, how can parents help their children follow a trajectory toward post-traumatic growth, instead of post-traumatic stress during this time? Dr. Schlechter says the following are some ways to leave a positive MARK on your children:

  • Model resiliency. Facing adverse life experiences head-on builds resilience during times of uncertainty we are forced to dig deep to find strengths, skills, and abilities that we did not think we had. Our children are watching us pivot through these challenges and are learning how to handle stress, change, and challenge.
  • Add golden memories. This time can be used to play the board games that sat on our shelf, start the family exercise routines that we couldnt find the same time slot to do together, put back those family meal times, and include some new ways to interact with one another. COVID-19 has paused life the way we knew it, but it hasnt stopped the opportunity to build it differently.
  • Rally alternative ways. When our old solutions no longer yield the results they did, we are made to practice flexibility, higher-order problem solving, and a mental shift. This process starts to rewire our brain to evolve and think differently.
  • Keep what you have learned from this time. Take stock of what you appreciate this time has done for you and for your children. Perhaps you have a new appreciation of down time, a bigger place in your life schedule for family and friends, and a new meaning associated with your worklife balance.

Also Check: Feritriphobia

Avoid Spending Lots Of Time Alone

Being around other people has been shown to make you less likely to experience poor mental health after a traumatic event. While this might not be possible, if you live alone you might want to see if you can move in with family or a close friend after a traumatic event. If this isnt possible, try to spend more time with people close to you, or stay in contact with them over the phone or through video calls.

How Is Depression Treated

Pin on Recovering Trust &  Love after Betrayal Trauma

There are many treatment options for depression. You should be assessed by a healthcare professional who can decide which type of treatment is best for you. In many cases, milder forms of depression are treated by counseling or therapy. More severe depression is treated with medicines or with both therapy and medicine.

Research has shown that certain types of therapy and medicine are effective for both depression and PTSD. Since the symptoms of PTSD and depression can overlap, treatment that helps with PTSD may also result in improvement of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that is proven effective for both problems. CBT can help patients change negative styles of thinking and acting that can lead to both depression and PTSD. A type of medicine that is effective for both depression and PTSD is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor . See Treatment Basics for more information.

You May Like: Which Organization Sets The Standards For Diagnosing Eating Disorders

How Does Acute Stress Disorder Differ From Ptsd

The primary differences between acute stress disorder and PTSD involve the onset, duration of symptoms, symptoms experienced and treatment options used to address each condition.

  • Onset: While acute stress disorder lasts 028 days after a trauma occurs, an individual must experience symptoms at least one month after a traumatic event to be diagnosed with PTSD
  • Duration of Symptoms: Symptoms of acute stress disorder last between three days and four weeks, while symptoms of PTSD must last for at least a month and may persist for several years
  • Symptoms Experienced: Acute stress disorder is typically characterized by dissociative symptoms, while PTSD may involve re-experiencing, avoidance, heightened arousal and marked changes in mood and cognition
  • Treatment Options: Short-term psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are most commonly used to address acute stress disorder, while long-term psychotherapy, medication and EMDR therapy can help relieve PTSD symptoms

When Should You Contact A Professional

You should seek professional help if symptoms persist and interfere with day-to-day activities, school or work performance, or personal relationships.

Experiences with traumatic stress can appear much different for children. Signs that a child may need professional help to cope with a traumatic event include:

  • emotional outbursts

Also Check: What Does Phobia Mean

What Are The Symptoms Of Ptsd

An individual may develop PTSD symptoms after experiencing or witnessing something life-changing. You may feel scared or hopeless. PTSD symptoms may begin to interfere with your everyday life.

These PTSD Symptoms May Include:

  • Disturbances in sleeping patterns
  • Extremely vigilant
  • Being easily startled or feeling jumpy

Furthermore, someone struggling with PTSD may experience the trauma again. Re-experiencing trauma in the following ways may help with PTSD symptoms:

  • Flashbacks
  • Scary dreams
  • The stress of any kind, whether psychological or physiological

These PTSD symptoms may occur as a result of mental images, thoughts, and feelings, or they may be triggered by real events, places, or objects. In people with PTSD, they may attempt to avoid symptom occurrence by avoiding stimuli that trigger PTSD symptoms.

The Following Examples are Examples of Avoidance:

  • The PTSD symptoms may be so painful to you that you dont want to remember, talk about, or feel anything about it.
  • People, places, and activities that remind you of the trauma may annoy you.
  • Details about the occurrence or occurrences could escape your memory.
  • Your interest in something you used to care about may wane.
  • Feeling disconnected from people may make you feel detached from yourself.
  • Feeling or seeming blunt might be the case.
  • It may be hard for you to envision a normal life, future, or lifespan.

Are Bpd And Complex Ptsd The Same Disorder

Why two people with the same trauma don’t both get PTSD

Me at age 3 in the zone. Was the template for my BPD already laid down?

Ruji, a new commenter on this blog, made an interesting observationthat BPD should be divided into at least two subtypes: Empathy Challenged/Character Disordered and Highly Sensitive Person with Emotional Dysregulation . I agree with her. Rujis idea is remarkably similar to The World Health Organizations two subtypes of BPD:

1. F60.30 Impulsive typeAt least three of the following must be present, one of which must be :

marked tendency to act unexpectedly and without consideration of the consequences marked tendency to engage in quarrelsome behavior and to have conflicts with others, especially when impulsive acts are thwarted or criticized liability to outbursts of anger or violence, with inability to control the resulting behavioral explosions difficulty in maintaining any course of action that offers no immediate reward unstable and capricious mood.

2. F60.31 Borderline typeAt least three of the symptoms mentioned in F60.30 Impulsive type must be present , with at least two of the following in addition:

disturbances in and uncertainty about self-image, aims, and internal preferences liability to become involved in intense and unstable relationships, often leading to emotional crisis excessive efforts to avoid abandonment recurrent threats or acts of self-harm chronic feelings of emptiness.demonstrates impulsive behavior, e.g., speeding, substance abuse

Also Check: What Is The Fear Of Puke Called

Unwanted And Intrusive Memories

When memories seem to turn against us, they can be traumatic in their own right, especially when they are memories were trying to forget. These unwanted and intrusive memories may look like the following symptoms:

  • Reliving traumatic events over and over or having flashbacks of the event
  • Recurring memories of the event while waking or sleeping
  • Upsetting nightmares
  • Physical and/or emotional distress triggered by sights, sounds, and even smells that remind you of the traumatic event

Complex Ptsd And Perfectionism

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder and perfectionism often occur together. What drives someone with C-PTSD towards clinically significant perfectionism? Generally speaking, perfectionism becomes clinically significant when it results in an excessive or unrealistic need to perform to exceedingly high, self-imposed standards. The drive for perfection is so strong that it can interfere with work, education or relationships. For individuals with C-PTSD, the need for absolute excellence can become a means of dealing with fear and anxiety created by ongoing trauma. Let’s examine how trauma drives these unrealistic expectations, and how to set more realistic goals.

Recommended Reading: Pristiq Ocd

What Are The 5 Stages Of Ptsd

What Are the Stages of PTSD?

  • Impact or Emergency Stage. This phase occurs immediately after the traumatic event. …
  • Denial Stage. Not everybody experiences denial when dealing with PTSD recovery. …
  • Short-term Recovery Stage. During this phase, immediate solutions to problems are addressed. …
  • Long-term Recovery Stage.

What Professional Help Is Available

Healing From Complex Trauma &  PTSDCPTSD Children Exposed ...

If you have experienced a traumatic event, and have persistent difficulties, your GP might refer you to a professional who specialises in helping people cope with traumas.

There are a number of different treatments to help treat PTSD. These include psychotherapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and Eye movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing . You might also be offered antidepressants if you have found other treatments arent working.

You can find out more about all of these treatments in our PTSD resource.

Medication can sometimes be helpful following a trauma, but it is still important to see your doctor regularly to check how you are doing.

Also Check: 3 Phases Of Schizophrenia

More Information And Support

Birth Trauma Association provides information and support to women who have had a traumatic birth.

Anxiety UK: run by people with anxiety disorders, Anxiety UK offers information, support and therapies for people experiencing anxiety.

No Panic provides Online and telephone support for people suffering from panic attacks, phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and anxiety disorders.

MIND is a mental health health charity providing information, support, local groups and an online chatroom.

BabyCentre: offers a traumatic birth support group where you can chat and share your experiences with others going through the same thing.

Does James Bond Have Ptsd

He suffered for many years with PTSD and found he had been passed right through the medical and psychiatric system without success. Determined to create his own treatment Rob developed Paradigm Therapy ® a gentle and non-invasive talking therapy that eliminates PTSD symptoms without re-traumatising the sufferer.

Read Also: What Is The Fear Of Spoons Called

What Risks Are Associated With Ptsd

Alcohol and drug use

You might use drugs or alcohol to help you to manage your symptoms.

Drugs or alcohol can make you more unwell and more likely to try and harm yourself or take your own life.

Mental health conditions

Symptoms of PTSD can be made worse by other disorders such as:

  • depression
  • substance abuse, and
  • memory problems

Most people with PTSD will have at least 1 other mental health condition. The most common disorders are:

  • depressive disorders,
  • substance use disorders, and
  • anxiety disorders.

Other mental health conditions have the some of the same symptoms as PTSD. This may be why PTSD is hard to diagnose.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

In severe cases PTSD can last long enough and have a large impact on day to day life. This can cause suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Physical health issues

PTSD has been linked to physical symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus and blurry vision.

It has also been linked to physical illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

You can find more information about:

Drugs, alcohol and mental health by clicking here.Depression by clicking here.Suicidal feelings How to cope by clicking here.

What Triggers Autophobia

BPD & Trauma: One and the Same? | Dr Frank Yeomans

What causes autophobia? Autophobia is an irrational anxiety that develops when a person fears they may end up alone. While there may not be an actual threat of being alone, the person will still be unable to control their symptoms. The person may be unable to function normally until they no longer feel alone./span>

Read Also: Psychogenic Blackouts Anxiety

How Can I Help Myself

  • Talk to your partner, family or a friend about what happened and how you are feeling, if you can.
  • Try not to feel guilty or embarrassed. These thoughts and feelings are not your fault.
  • Dont use alcohol or smoke to try to cope with your feelings. This may harm you or your baby.
  • Accept that recovering takes time dont be hard on yourself.
  • Accept the help that is offered to you.

Information For Carers Friends And Relatives

If you are a carer, friend or relative of someone who hears voices, you can get support.

How can I get support?

You can do the following.

  • Speak to your GP about medication and talking therapies for yourself.
  • Speak to your relatives care team about a carers assessment.
  • Ask for a carers assessment from your local social services.
  • Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas.
  • Join a carers support group for emotional and practical support. Or set up your own.

What is a carers assessment?

A carers assessment is an assessment of the support that you need so that you can continue in your caring role.

To get a carers assessment you need to contact your local authority.

How do I get support from my peers?

You can get peer support through carer support services or carers groups. You can search for local groups in your area by using a search engine such as Google. Or you can contact the Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service and we will search for you.

How can I support the person I care for?

You can do the following.

  • Read information about PTSD.
  • Ask the person you support to tell you what their symptoms are and if they have any self-management techniques that you could help them with.
  • Encourage them to see a GP if you are worried about their mental health.
  • Ask to see a copy of their care plan, if they have one. They should have a care plan if they are supported by a care coordinator.
  • Help them to manage their finances.

You can find out more about:

Don’t Miss: Can You Blackout From A Panic Attack

Causes Symptoms And Risks

PTSD is caused by experiencing or witnessing single, repeated or multiple events. For example:

  • serious accidents
  • physical and sexual assault abuse. This could include childhood or domestic abuse
  • work-related exposure to trauma. Such as being in the army
  • trauma related to serious health problems or childbirth
  • war and conflict torture

Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD.

The risk of getting PTSD depends on how the experience affects you. PTSD is more likely to develop if the traumatic event:

  • is unexpected,
  • Self help

How can the NHS help me?

You can speak to your GP about your concerns. They will be able to talk to you about treatment options and coping strategies. You dont have to do what your GP thinks that you should do. But you should listen to them.

Make sure that you understand the pros and cons of your treatment options before you make a decision.

Your treatment with be managed by your GP or the community mental health team . In some cases, your treatment maybe shared between both primary and secondary care. Healthcare professionals will agree who will monitor you.

Some people will get care under the Care Programme Approach . This means that you will have a care plan and care coordinator to make sure that you get the support that you need.

Look at the following section for more information on NHS treatment.

Adult social services

What other help is available?

There may be a different service available, such as employment or isolation support.

More articles

Popular Articles