Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
From ZombieSquadWiki
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. Most child and adult survivors experience one or more of these normal stress reactions for several days:
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Symptoms and Effects
Emotional reactions: temporary (i.e., for several days or a couple of weeks) feelings of shock, fear, grief, anger, resentment, guilt, shame, helplessness, hopelessness, or emotional numbness (difficulty feeling love and intimacy or difficulty taking interest and pleasure in day-to-day activities)
Cognitive reactions: confusion, disorientation, indecisiveness, worry, shortened attention span, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, unwanted memories, self-blame
Physical reactions: tension, fatigue, edginess, difficulty sleeping, bodily aches or pain, startling easily, racing heartbeat, nausea, change in appetite, change in sex drive
Interpersonal reactions in relationships at school, work, in friendships, in marriage, or as a parent: distrust; irritability; conflict; withdrawal; isolation; feeling rejected or abandoned; being distant, judgmental, or over-controlling
Most disaster survivors only experience mild, normal stress reactions. Disaster experiences may even promote personal growth and strengthen relationships. However, as many as one out of every three disaster survivors experience some or all of the following severe stress symptoms, which may lead to lasting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or depression:
Dissociation (feeling completely unreal or outside yourself, like in a dream; having "blank" periods of time you cannot remember)
Intrusive reexperiencing (terrifying memories, nightmares, or flashbacks)
Extreme attempts to avoid disturbing memories (such as through substance use)
Extreme emotional numbing (completely unable to feel emotion, as if empty)
Hyper-arousal (panic attacks, rage, extreme irritability, intense agitation)
Severe anxiety (paralyzing worry, extreme helplessness, compulsions or obsessions)
Severe depression (complete loss of hope, self-worth, motivation, or purpose in life)
Causes and Risk Factors
Survivors are at greatest risk for severe stress symptoms and lasting readjustment problems if any of the following are either directly experienced or witnessed during or after the disaster:
Loss of loved ones or friends Life threatening danger or physical harm (especially to children) Exposure to gruesome death, bodily injury, or dead or maimed bodies Extreme environmental or human violence or destruction Loss of home, valued possessions, neighborhood, or community Loss of communication with or support from close relations Intense emotional demands (e.g., rescue personnel and caregivers searching for possibly dying survivors or interacting with bereaved family members) Extreme fatigue, weather exposure, hunger, or sleep deprivation Extended exposure to danger, loss, emotional/physical strain Exposure to toxic contamination (such as gas or fumes, chemicals, radioactivity)
Some individuals have a higher than typical risk for severe stress symptoms and lasting PTSD, including those with a history of:
Exposure to other traumas (such as severe accidents, abuse, assault, combat, rescue work) Chronic medical illness or psychological disorders Chronic poverty, homelessness, unemployment, or discrimination Recent or subsequent major life stressors or emotional strain (such as single parenting) Disaster stress may revive memories of prior trauma, and may intensify preexisting social, economic, spiritual, psychological, or medical problems.
