Ptsd In Military Veterans
For all too many veterans, returning from military service means coping with symptoms of PTSD. You may have a hard time readjusting to life out of the military. Or you may constantly feel on edge, emotionally numb and disconnected, or close to panicking or exploding. But its important to know that youre not alone and there are plenty of ways you can deal with nightmares and flashbacks, cope with feelings of depression, anxiety or guilt, and regain your sense of control.
Changes In Physical And Emotional Reactions
Sometimes referred to as arousal symptoms, these symptoms emerge in reaction to the trauma and include things like:
- Easily startled
- Feelings of detachment from friends and family
- No interest in things that once brought you joy
- Inability to experience positive emotions
- Emotional numbness
- Memory problemseven difficulty remembering key details of your trauma
PTSD symptoms may come and go over time. Seeking treatment can help you recognize certain triggers so that you can manage the emotions they bring about if you cant avoid these triggers.
Ptsd Can Be Treatedyes Theres Hope
If you are overwhelmed by symptoms or negative thoughts that you suspect are related to PTSD, you should contact your health care team to discuss the possibility of a PTSD diagnosis. You can also contact a local mental health facility, like McLean, to get the help you need. You dont have to struggle on your ownthere is a path to recovery.
If you recognize the symptoms in a friend or loved one, you should always reach out to them and offer support. Whether they accept your help or not, knowing that youve offered can be incredibly helpful to those who are affected by mental illness.
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Depression And Suicide Risk
Depression usually does not lead to suicide ideation. But, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, studies have shown that about two percent of people who have been treated for depression in an outpatient setting will die by suicide. If the treatment is inpatient, the number doubles to four percent. Men are more likely to die by suicide after depression than women. Find hotlines and organizations for support in our emergency mental health resources directory.
Manic Episode And Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I disorder, at one time referred to as manic-depressive disorder, is defined by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, which is a period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that is accompanied by increased energy or activity, which results in clinically significant impairment in functioning or the need for hospitalization . The prevalence rate of child/adolescent mania and/or bipolar disorder is extremely rare. In the DSM-5 field trials in the United States and Canada based on child clinical populations , the combined bipolar I and II prevalence was 6 percent using DSM-IV and 5 percent using DSM-5. Bipolar I disorders are characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes and one or more MDEs bipolar II disorders are characterized by one or more MDEs and at least one hypomanic episode .
The diagnostic criteria for manic episodes have undergone several changes between DSM-IV and DSM-5. Criterion A now requires that mood changes are accompanied by abnormally and persistently goal-directed behavior or energy. Second, wording has been added to clarify that symptoms must represent a noticeable change from usual behavior, and these changes have to be present most of the day, nearly every day during the minimum 1-week duration.
DSM-IV to DSM-5 Bipolar I Disorder Comparison.
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How Do Children And Teens React To Trauma
Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but their symptoms may not be the same as those seen in adults. In young children under the age of 6, symptoms can include:
- Wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet
- Forgetting how or being unable to talk
- Acting out the scary event during playtime
- Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult
Older children and teens usually show symptoms more like those seen in adults. They also may develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They also may have thoughts of revenge.
For more information, see the National Institute of Mental Health brochure, Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Disasters and Other Traumatic Events.
What Are The Different Types Of Depression
Major depression is the classic type of depression and whats diagnosed, or labeled, as MDD . People with major depression have symptoms of depression most of the day, nearly every day, for episodes of at least two weeks and can experience recurrent episodes throughout their lives. Under MDD, you can further break down depression into several specific subtypes:
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Ptsd Is A Common Mental Health Condition That Affects More Than Just Veterans Learn More About Facts And Statistics Related To This Condition As Well As Treatment Outcomes
Megan Hull is a content specialist who edits, writes and ideates content to help people find recovery. As a Florida born-and-raised… read more
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While most often associated with experiencing wartime trauma,post-traumatic stress disorder may occur following exposure to any traumatic event. PTSD can develop in response to natural disasters, accidents or violent experiences. PTSD facts indicate that a majority of adults experience at least one traumatic event during their life, but most do not go on to develop PTSD. According to PTSD statistics, a relatively small percentage of those who experience trauma develop PTSD. However, PTSD facts and statistics indicate that the disorder is more common than many people estimate.
Are you or a loved one dealing with a life-altering trauma and are struggling to cope? Contact Mental Health America at 1-800-273-TALK to find help today.
Older Adults With Ptsd: Brief State Of Research And Evidence
Although lifetime exposure to potentially traumatic events among older adults is fairly high, rates of full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder are estimated at about 4.5%, a rate lower than that for middle-aged and young adults. Nevertheless, PTSD seems to be an under-recognized and under-treated condition in older adults. Assessment and treatment can be challenging in this population for various reasons, including potential cognitive or sensory decline and comorbid mental and physical disorders. This article provides highlights of the empirical research on PTSD in late life, including information on its effects on cognition and physical health. The bulk of this piece is spent on reviewing the theory, description of, and efficacy for an evidence-based psychotherapy, Prolonged Exposure , for PTSD. A detailed successful application of PE with an older veteran with severe, chronic PTSD in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System is presented. Evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD can be safely and effectively used with older individuals.
- Previous article in issue
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Top 10 Depression Statistics For 2021
- The disorder is most common in young adults aged 1825.
- About 31% of people living in poverty have been diagnosed with the disorder.
- Approximately one in eight women experience postpartum depression.
- As many as 37% of university and college students in the US have depression.
- An astounding 66.5% of trans teens have depression, statistics confirm.
- Depression rates are three times higher among people with HIV.
- An impressive 60% of children and adolescents with depression dont get any treatment at all.
- As many as 30.9% of survey respondents experienced symptoms of depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- India is the most depressed country, with 6.5% of its population having some form of a serious mental disorder.
- Every day, approximately 110 Americans take their own life, and about 3,500 attempt to do so.
How Can I Find Help
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, an online resource for locating mental health treatment facilities and programs in your state. For additional resources, visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK . You also can text the Crisis Text Line or use the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
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Limitations Of The Study
In this study, 25 different studies were included to test the hypothesis that men and women show a difference in age distribution of PTSD prevalence. Possible limitations due to a lack of representativeness in the samples, undetected cohort effects, and biases due to method failure are likely to have influenced the results. However, a great strength of the study is the size of the population by which each age group has reached a certain representative size. All the data has been analysed by retrospective analysis and no contact has been made with any participants in the process of the present study. Possible reporting biases could, therefore, have gone undetected or have been deleted due to ambiguity. A large part of the total sample consisted of convenience samples. This of course must be viewed as a potential limitation of the study and must be taken into account when interpreting the results of PTSD prevalence.
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
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Though Its Often Associated With The Horrors Of War Post
All of us will encounter stress throughout our daily lives. When a strong emotional response to an extremely stressful or disturbing event impairs a persons ability to cope, its often considered to be traumatic.
While trauma doesnt always directly lead to post-traumatic stress disorder , it is beneficial for those who have witnessed or experienced traumaas well as their loved onesto know the signs and symptoms of PTSD, ways to treat it, and how to seek help.
Trauma can vary in severity and impactin fact, approximately one in three people who experience severe trauma also experience PTSD.
Despite its more common association with soldiers returning from combat situations and the horrors of war, PTSD is a condition that can apply to anyone who has witnessed or experienced traumatic, life-threatening, or life-changing events.
According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD is a common condition affecting 10% of women and 4% of men at some point in their lives.
Risk And Protective Factors Of Traumatic Stress In Children
Not all trauma-exposed children develop traumatic stress syndromes. Several risk and protective factors play a role in the development of syndromes such as PTSD. In one study of terrorism exposure, children more directly affected by terrorism were more likely to report PTSD. Likewise, those with more frequent reminders of traumatic experiences were more likely to experience PTSD, and those with support-seeking behavior were less likely to report PTSD.9 The severity of injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes has been shown to be associated with the development of PTSD. Previous trauma and pre-existing anxiety disorders increase the risk of PTSD.1 A variety of genetic and neurobiological factors play a role in the development of PTSD.10 The developmental age, number of trauma exposures, family systems, and neighborhood factors may play a role in the development of PTSD after trauma.
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Binge Eating Disorder Was Only Recently Recognized As A Disorder
In 2013, binge eating disorder was finally categorized as a recognizable and treatable diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders produced by the American Psychiatric Association. This was incredibly important to the treatment of the disease, since a diagnosis that can be documented leads to greater access to care for sufferers. For example, most health insurance companies wont provide coverage for mental illness treatments that dont have an officially recognized DSM-5 diagnosis. Since its now listed as a disorder, many insurance plans cover treatment.
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Tip : Support Ptsd Treatment With A Healthy Lifestyle
The symptoms of PTSD can be hard on your body so its important to take care of yourself and develop some healthy lifestyle habits.
Take time to relax. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, massage, or yoga can activate the bodys relaxation response and ease symptoms of PTSD.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. When youre struggling with difficult emotions and traumatic memories, you may be tempted to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. But substance use worsens many symptoms of PTSD, interferes with treatment, and can add to problems in your relationships.
Eata healthy diet. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day. Omega-3s play a vital role in emotional health so incorporate foods such as fatty fish, flaxseed, and walnuts into your diet. Limit processed food, fried food, refined starches, and sugars, which can exacerbate mood swings and cause fluctuations in your energy.
Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can trigger anger, irritability, and moodiness. Aim for somewhere between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Develop a relaxing bedtime ritual and make your bedroom as quiet, dark, and soothing as possible.
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Differences In Sociodemographic Characteristics And Attack
Table 1 presents the results of the statistical tests carried out to examine the differences between the groups of participants who suffered an attack in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood in their sociodemographic characteristics and the characteristics related to the attacks.
As expected, compared to the groups that suffered the attack in childhood or adolescence, the group of participants who suffered the attack in adulthood had a significantly higher current mean age , included a higher percentage of people injured in the attacks , and a lower percentage of relatives of people killed in the attacks , and was assessed a shorter time after suffering the attack . However, no differences were found between the three groups of participants in the percentage of women or of relatives of those injured in the attacks , nor were there any differences between the group that suffered the attack in childhood and the one that suffered it in adolescence in terms of their current mean age, the percentage of people injured in the attacks or the relatives of people killed in the attacks or the mean time since the attack .
The Spread Of Binge Eating Disorder In The United States
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, binge eating disorder currently affects approximately 1.2 percent of all people in the United States. It is diagnosed twice as frequently among females as it is among males, and it usually begins when an individual is around the age of 21. The lifetime prevalence of binge eating disorder in the United States is 2.8 percent.
Eating disorders in general have been on the rise in recent years. In fact, according to a study published in Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, the prevalence of eating disorders on college campuses has increased sharply over the past 13 years, now impacting more than 20 percent of male students and more than 30 percent of female students. Binge eating disorder is the most commonly diagnosed eating disorder of all, and its incidence only continues to grow.
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% Of People Dealing With Depression Also Have An Anxiety Disorder
In some cases, a severe anxiety disorder accompanies depression. In a nutshell, an anxiety disorder can induce feelings of nervousness or panic. It is often associated with a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or even dizziness and nausea. Anxiety statistics mark the link between the two disordersa tandem bound to take its toll on ones quality of life.
Effects Of Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder affects people in a number of ways. In some cases, individuals who have binge eating disorder become overweight because of their excessive calorie intake during episodes of binging. People who have this disorder may also experience psychological complications because of their binge eating episodes. For example, many people with binge eating disorder become socially isolated because of shame associated with binging episodes and/or their appearance. Problems functioning at work and poor quality life are common among people with this disorder as well. Among people who become obese because of binge eating disorder, additional medical conditions may develop. Examples include sleep-related breathing disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, type 2 diabetes and joint problems.
Binge eating disorder often occurs simultaneously with certain psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and depression.
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When To Get Help For Ptsd
If youre experiencing symptoms of PTSD, understand that youre not alone. According to the National Center for PTSD, 8 million adults have PTSD in any given year.
If you have frequent upsetting thoughts, are unable to control your actions, or fear that you might hurt yourself or others, seek help right away.
See your healthcare provider or a mental health professional immediately.
How Should People With Eating Disorders Seek Help
The first port of call for a sufferer should always be their making an appointment with their GP. The Beat Helpline is available for support and information, and can give people suggestions for how to approach their doctor. After seeking advice from your GP, it can be useful to search Beats HelpFinder to find specialised eating disorder help near you.
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