Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Question: Why do people with post-traumatic stress disorder have a hard time in relationships? If you have Ptsd and have a hard time in relationships tell me what you have done to help solve this problem. Please only answer if you are a Psychologist or a someone that has gone threw post-traumatic stress disorder.

Answer: Probably because of mood changes. A lot of people don't want to be patient enough to tolerate ups and downs of someone that has PTSD. Many with PTSD have depression, they can also be happy but at times they get very down and many withdraw. It's hard to feel close to someone who withdraws emotionally or "shuts down". The best thing to do it to find someone who is understanding of this and who also understands that when you do have those low moments or moments of withdrawal, it's not permanent, your mood will go back up. They just have to give you your space during those moments. I think it's also very important for ones with PTSD to get help through therapy. That can help stabilize moods. The therapist can work with you to be able to avoid shutting down. When a person shuts down, it makes the other person in the relationship feel helpless and many people can't stand feeling helpless so they get angry or irritated and then lash out at the person who is already suffering because of something horrible that happened to them in the past. It's sad. But there are people out there who understand!

Question: What's the difference between bipolar and post traumatic stress disorder? If you read my questions I post, you can tell that it's post traumatic stress disorder. Don't tell me you diagosis, but what the difference is, please. I go through mad abuse.

Answer: Bipolar disorder is a bio-chemically caused mental disorder that often results in episodes of mania and dpression in varied degrees of length and intensity...altho it hasn't been proven it tends to run in families therefore there may be a genetic connection... Post-traumatic stress disorder is the result of an event or situation that the sufferer has experienced, lived thru...etc. It is not genetic in nature....it is in response to an emotionally traumatic experience..... racing thoughts.....insomnia....reduced inhibitions....rapid speech...thoughts that everthing is interconnected such as seeing obscure 'patterns' when patterns to things and situations are not there...promiscuity.....outrageous spending sprees.....these are some of the symptoms of mania....it can progress into halucinations and paranoia if not treated......

Question: How do I know if I have post traumatic stress disorder? I've researched my "ailments" and think I have self diagnosed my self with post traumatic stress disorder, how would I know for sure?

Answer: If there been any trauma in your life that brothers you all the time

Question: Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder more common in a certain age group? Is there an age when you are more prone to developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? and why?

Answer: These is not really an established age group where post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops. PTSD can develop at any age, including childhood, but research has shown that the median age of onset is around 23 years. Researches have found that it is more common in migraine sufferers and during adulthood. However there are certain events where people are more prone to developing PTSD. Whether someone reacts to an event with a post-traumatic stress disorder is largely dependent on the severity of the event, or stressor, itself. Sexual assault, for one, is more likely to produce PTSD than other horrible experiences. The disorder also frequently occurs after violent personal assaults such as rape, mugging, or domestic violence; terrorism; natural or human-caused disasters; and accidents. For example, some studies have found that PTSD develops in about: 1 in 5 fire-fighters. 1 in 3 teenager survivors of car crashes. 1 in 2 female rape victims. 2 in 3 prisoners of war. Hope this helps! :)

Question: My husband suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. He is a train driver and someone jumped in front of? his train, he also found a body on the line. The doctor diagnosed him with post traumatic stress disorder, can he claim personal injury compensation? We live in England I can't decide on a best answer as they were all very helpful, thank you to everyone for your answers.

Answer: If both people were dead it will be pretty difficult since there is no one to sue. Personal injury comp is basically suing the other person for injuries you receive because of them.

Question: What are some vietnam movies/other works that show post traumatic stress disorder in soldiers? I need some work/ art to compare with actual accounts of post traumatic stress disorder. Does anyone have any good movies/ or other works that I can use. Thank you.

Answer: Rambo - First Blood. It is an older movie, but it shows first hand what that stress can do to you and what happens when it overwhelms you.

Question: How do I deal with sever post traumatic stress disorder? My husband just retired from the US Army and was diagnosed with sever post traumatic stress disorder. A lot of our soldiers are coming home with this. His mood swings are really, really bad. We have been married for ten years and I love him with all my heart so I won't leave him. I just need to know if anyone can give me some pointers on dealing with this or something that might have worked for them. It is not an easy thing to deal with.

Answer: This requires professional help. He needs to talk to a psychologist and begin therapy immediately or it can become worse. You may want to see one as well in order to understand his condition and to talk about the effects it is having on you. This condition is just as hard on loved ones as it is on the person effected. Please remember that he has been through a lot, and seen things most of us can not even imagine.. This is just his brains way of coping. Try not to take it personally. Rely on the support of your family and friends. It will take time but this can be treated successfully. Good luck.

Question: What is better a better treatment therapy or Medicine for post traumatic stress disorder? What are the pros and cons for therapy and for medicine when dealing with post traumatic stress disorder?

Answer: It depends on where the person is at. If they are experiencing really bad symptoms and a tremendous amount of anxiety you probably want to try medication in conjunction with therapy. The meds will take the edge off and you will be better able to work through the underlying issues. Meds alone will not help much, because you have left the underlying issues unaddressed and they will get worse over time so the meds will become less effective.

Question: How to deal with post traumatic stress disorder in kids? I have post traumatic stress disorder from child abuse. How do kids deal with this and other information. I also know someone with this that is 8 years old too.

Answer: Hi, sorry to hear you have been abused, so have I. I am older now and in time life does get better. You need to get away from the abuse first, you can report it to a school counselor. You can also go to a school counselor or doctor to help you get through it. Has anyone taken yout to a counselor. They can give you ideas for your age to help you deal with the abuse issues. Like reading a funny book or participating in a dance class, writing a journal of how you feel, to let out some of the fear, there are games they play in counseling to help you build your self-esteem and trust. Mostly you need someone professional to guide you and your friend. If this is not possible you can call childrens and families to report the abuse or emergency 911. If you are still being abused you need for it to stop so you can get better...if the abuse has stopped you need an adult counselor who can walk you through the activities and support to help you understand the abuse was not your fault and make a plan to have ready if your ever in danger again. Like someone to call and come get you, emergency 911, pack a bag of stuff so if you have to leave in a hurry your prepared, this being done will help you too. Get some help from the people around you who can help and stay strong, you will get well with time.----my prayers are with you-melissa

Question: What would be a rhetorical question regarding post-traumatic stress disorder? i need help thinking of questions that will promote discussion regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, any suggestions?

Answer: What events in life merit the stress factor needed to cause PTSD? Are women more susceptible? At what age does a child's suseptibility to PTSD begin to decline? What types of personalities fall victim to pstd the most? Is there a genetic factor? What coping mechanisims keep a very suseptle person from falling victim?

Question: What are the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? What are the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and how do they differ from the symptoms of just stress? What can be done to help someone heal over PTSD?

Answer: Some basic symptoms: effort to avoid thoughts or feelings associated with trauma. efforts to avoid activities arouse recollection of trauma inability to recall an important aspect of event markedly diminished interest in significant activities feelings of detachment from others restricted range of affects increased startle reflex increased dreams of like events intense psychological distress at exposure to events that symbolize or resemble an aspect of event. There are several good sites to look up Mental health issues. One being NAMI.org and then looking up diagnosis. Or Mental Health America.net And as far as counseling you need to look for someone with experience with PTSD. and yes many people live good productive lives. Feel Free to email me if you'd like to chat. God Bless Reggie

Question: How will the veterans of the War in Iraq get proper medical treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? How will our government assure that the veterans of this war will get proper medical attention for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (i.e Shell Shock)? Will the veterans of this war be ignored like far to many Vietnam Veterans did when they returned from their war? What politician running for the 2008 election has an answer for that question?

Answer: they'll get the care they need until a year or 2 after the war...then the ones who sent them there will whine that they're abusing the system like welfare mothers and take all the benefits away

Question: how to play a character with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? this is a topic in itself. I'm doing a piece where I have a character who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . How would I show this , because no where in the piece does it literlaly say i hve this condition , so i would I portray this ? nooo , i am a character suffering from it already . i watched my parents die . how can i portray this ? is it certain movements that ppl with PTSD do ?

Answer: You can say that you were a veteran soldier who participated in Afghanistan. And after seeing someone die a horrible death, you still have those reoccurring thoughts and images.

Question: John McCain has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Can we give the nuclear switch to some one with PTSD? John McCain has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Can we give the nuclear switch to some one with PTSD? Yes, I'm a Psychiatrist. BTW, people with PTSD can't even buy guns. How can they be given the power to anhilate the whole world.

Answer: At first I thought the question presumptuous, but I had to think twice. It's a legitimate question. I assume he has had considerable treatment since he was a POW decades ago. Lots of PTSD pts with treatment recover quite well...and I'd sometimes trust them more than someone who has never had trauma. Interesting question, though. Are Presidential candidates required to divulge medical records? We also have to consider that GW has had control of the button and (so far) we're ok. I'd trust McCain far more with it than I ever have trusted GW with it.

Question: Is it possible to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from watching a graphic horror movie at a young age? If a young child (around the age of 7-8) watches an extremly graphic, and distubring horror movie would it be possible for them to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? What are your opinions on this, is it highly unlikley?

Answer: Possibly the child could be so disturbed and frightened from the movie that they could develop some kind of disorder. But i think it would be more likely if it was some kind of experience they had. but i would think that movies could do the trick as well.. interesting question.. heres a star

Question: Does John Mccain have or suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? What McCain's promoters have carefully edited out of their McCain-for-president equation is his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Department of Defense psychiatrists have evaluated McCain for PTSD several times, the results of which remain locked by privacy laws.

Answer: That is a very good question. I do not know a Vietnam vet that actually fought in battle that does not have some sort of PTSD. Especially someone who was a POW for 5 years in Hanoi Hilton getting daily beatings. The question should be is he a functioning person that can control it. I would say YES, the occasions win you see him lose it and become outraged I am sure is related to that. Thanks, hope that helps some what.