| PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder is a serious | | | | understand their pain as they weren't in the same |
| illness that is listed in the APA manual for mental | | | | predicament. A trained counselor is helpful for |
| disorders. Though in the past people would advise | | | | re-adjusting to civilian life even if they weren't in war |
| others to toughen up and not be effected by their | | | | themselves. |
| negative past experiences, this often is not the | | | | If you know someone who seems to have had a |
| answer. Trauma from war, physical abuse, rape, death | | | | trauma in their past, encourage them to seek help and |
| of a parent or bullying can effect one for many years. | | | | show support for the various emotions of avoidance, |
| You can't just apply will power to conquer it. | | | | anger outbursts and isolation that the person may be |
| It is considered an anxiety disorder in the DSM IV | | | | experiencing. Group counseling is another modality that |
| manual and can manifest as nightmares, social | | | | can be helpful. |
| withdrawal, trembling, staying in one's room, | | | | Over the years there have been various names for |
| unpredictable crying bouts and stomach pains. | | | | what is now termed PTSD. For instance, in past the |
| Sometimes a trauma will be remembered during | | | | phrase combat fatigue was used for world war one |
| psychotherapy sessions. This can happen if one was | | | | times. During world war two the terms gross stress |
| molested by a parent, relative or neighbor and the | | | | reaction as well as battle fatigue were used. Sadly, |
| memory was suppressed to deal with daily life. When | | | | many people were told to just buckle up and use |
| the recollections of the past occur, this can be very | | | | more resolve to deal with the negative emotions. Being |
| disconcerting and may create problems in one's | | | | able to show emotions is important in order to feel |
| marriage and family life. It takes time to process heavy | | | | better and restore one's sense of normalcy. |
| emotions from the past and be able to trust and feel | | | | Post traumatic stress disorder can be felt by one's |
| intimate with people in your present life if you were an | | | | family members strongly as mood swings occur and |
| abuse victim. | | | | sometimes physical symptoms requiring bed rest. |
| There are some studies that say one out of six | | | | Getting counseling support is very helpful to heal and |
| returning from war in Iraq have PTSD. There is | | | | be able to get rid of the guilt and accompanying |
| treatment available at va clinics and community mental | | | | emotions. |
| health programs. Many soldiers feel that others can't | | | | |