The Affects of Ptsd; the Symptoms, Treatment Options and Prevention

The Affects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, The Symptoms, Treatment Options, and Prevention

Post traumatic stress disorder in the past known as shell shock, is a military term used to describe the behaviors from the stress of combat. The term "shell shock" was first introduced during World War I, shell shock was believed to be a psychiatric illness that came from injured nerves during combat. The idea of shell shock came from the high air pressure of the exploding shells injuring the soldiers caused actual physiological and neurological damage such as; tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, and headaches. In wars before World War I it was assumed that these behaviors were a result of poor discipline because there was no other way to explain why certain people were being affected and were having behavior issues after and during combat. After some time the soldiers that were experiencing shell shock symptoms eventually had mental breakdowns, this made it impossible for them to remain in combat. Post traumatic stress disorder has been around for a long time, it effects people in many ways. There are different ways it can effect an active soldier as well as a veteran. Many people believe post traumatic stress disorder only occurs after (post) combat, this is not the case, post traumatic stress disorder occurs after a traumatic event occurs and soldiers can experience some symptoms or develop post traumatic stress disorder during combat. The relationship between a person's IQ level may determine how post traumatic stress disorder effects the solider or veteran. Soldiers with higher IQ levels may be able to cope better during a stressful event verses a person with a lower IQ level, but soldiers with higher IQ levels may also have a support system, better economical background, and family. While soldiers with lower IQ levels may not have the support of family or do not come from a stable environment. Levels of exposure to combat determine if post traumatic stress disorder develops, as well as determines if it's a mild case or a more severe case of post traumatic stress disorder. Once post traumatic stress disorder is diagnosed the treatment options vary according to the severity of their condition. There are also prevention options for new soldiers as well as soldiers who have returned home and are waiting for deployment.

Studies have shown soldiers with higher IQ levels exposed to similar traumatic experiences as soldiers with lower IQ levels are affected differently by P.T.S.D. Higher IQ levels appear to protect soldiers who have traumatic experiences from developing long-term P.T.S.D. In the article "Cognitive Dysfunctions Associated With PTSD: Evidence from World War II Prisoners of War" the authors explains "after a comparable traumatic experience, one of the differences between those who acquire PTSD and those who do not is IQ--those with lower relative IQs appear to be at increased risk of developing PTSD" (310). People with higher IQ levels may not develop P.T.S.D because they are able to rationalize and make sense of a situation. Soldiers with a higher IQ level are more prepared to deal with combat stress because their background and family support has prepared them for it. Compared to a person with a lower IQ level they may not be able to make sense of a situation, because there is no family to help them and their unstable background has not prepared them for stress, which causes additional stress as they try to work through those experiences, they may be able to get through it on their own or require additional help depending on the symptoms they experience. Symptoms vary depending on how much the soldier was affected by the traumatic experience. Physicians use symptoms to diagnose P.T.S.D. Common symptoms in people who have P.T.S.D are: frightening thoughts, memories of their experience and feeling emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to. Soldiers with P.T.S.D may re-live the traumatic experience through nightmares and disturbing thoughts and memories throughout their day. They can also experience sleep problems, depression, feeling alone, and being easily startled. Once the soldiers return home they may not want to do things they once liked to do because they have lost interest in them. Soldiers who in the past did not have violent behaviors may seem more irritable, aggressive, or even violent than before, P.T.S.D can increase the aggressive behaviors in someone who was already aggressive or violent. Symptoms of P.T.S.D can be triggered by seeing things that remind them of the incident, and can lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Events such as holidays, or gatherings can act as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks. An event such as 4th of July or New Year's Eve may trigger a flash back because of the fireworks and loud noises. Some soldiers with P.T.S.D they may think they are back in combat. In the article Banned fireworks give Midlands soldier a PTSD flashback the author Jordan Sandler explains "When you're living with post-traumatic stress disorder, things like fireworks can bring back painful memories for veterans home from war. This past July 4, one soldier thought he was safe from the explosions since his neighborhood banned fireworks. But, he was wrong" (1). In this article Jordan Sandler interviews Army Specialist Chase Brown. While having a flashback people may not be aware of what they are doing or where they are. Brown explains in the article "I didn't really understand what was going on around me because in my mind I wasn't here. In my mind I was Iraq" (1). The flashbacks for brown became very real on the weekend of July 4 because he was suffering from P.T.S.D, when the fire works started they triggered a flash back "My wife and I and a couple of our neighbors were standing outside, just talking, Some of those artillery rounds started being fired from down the road. The flash from the RPGs, all that was coming back. Death, destruction, the smells, sights, everything. I remember coming in and grabbing my keys and that was it. "I don't remember anything else until my wife was actually able to get me back inside" (1) Brown told WIS News 10. Brown also states in the article that he felt like a zombie, which is very common in people with P.T.S.D. The flashback lasted about 45 minutes, flashbacks can range from minutes, hours and even days. Also, anniversaries of the event can trigger symptoms. Not every traumatized solider gets full-blown P.T.S.D, or experiences PTSD at all. P.T.S.D is diagnosed only if the symptoms last more than one month. Soldiers who do have P.T.S.D, begin having symptoms usually within 3 months of the traumatic experience. P.T.S.D can be difficult to diagnose because some of the symptoms are