| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an extremely | | | | - F - The disturbance must cause clinically significant |
| serious condition to have as it is caused by a traumatic | | | | distress/impairment in social, occupational, or other |
| experience. The debate is about whether stress | | | | important areas of functioning. |
| hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD? What is PTSD? | | | | Learning To Manage PTSD |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder | | | | Education about PTSD is advised as a first step in the |
| resulting from exposure to intense trauma such as | | | | treatment of the disorder. Many different types of |
| serving during wartime or being raped. According to | | | | psychotherapy are currently being used in the |
| DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental | | | | treatment of PTSD; however, the most successful |
| Disorders published by the American Psychiatric | | | | ones seem to be those based on a cognitive |
| Association 4th ed), the requirements for a diagnosis | | | | behavioral approach. This approach addresses such |
| of PTSD include the following Criteria: | | | | methods as situational exposure and eye movement |
| - A1 - Exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor | | | | desensitization. A regimen of mood suppression drugs, |
| involving direct experience of an event involving actual | | | | antidepressants, and sleep aids such as Prazosin |
| or threatened death, injury, or other threat to one's | | | | (which suppresses nightmares) may be prescribed to |
| physical integrity; or witnessing an event involving | | | | the sufferer as a means of treating their PTSD. |
| death, injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of | | | | May A Normal Life Be Maintained? |
| another; or learning about unexpected or violent death, | | | | Even though many people suffering from PTSD may |
| serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced | | | | be inclined to live a somewhat reclusive life, there are |
| by a family member or other close associate. | | | | those who chose to try to reintegrate with the general |
| - A2 - The person's response must involve intense | | | | population. All assistance possible should be given to |
| fear, helplessness, or horror. | | | | these individuals so that they are able to transition well. |
| - B - Persistent re-experiencing of the traumatic event. | | | | This is the pinnacle in the treatment of a sufferer of |
| - C - Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with | | | | PTSD. The disorder may not ever go away, but with |
| the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness. | | | | proper medical and mental treatment, Post Traumatic |
| - D - Persistent symptoms of increased arousal. | | | | Stress Disorder does not have to impose a lifetime of |
| - E - The full symptom picture must be present for | | | | isolation. Maybe alternative therapies such as stress |
| >1 month. | | | | hypnosis are worth a look at here. |