PTSD: Emotional And Psychological Reaction To Trauma

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Sharon Knight PTSD Instructor: Carrie Miller Composition II-166 December 12, 2012 PTSD means Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an emotional and psychological reaction to trauma (a painful, shocking experience). PTSD affects the stress hormones and chemicals that carry information between the nerves (PDR 2012). Some causes of PTSD are assault, domestic abuse, a prison stay, rape, terrorism and/or war. No one really knows all the causes of PTSD nor is it documented that everyone that say they have it actually has it. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can make the person feel stressed and angry and it has no age limits. Some symptoms of PTSD are re-experiencing flashbacks-reliving…show more content…
You know that bad things happen but the way you approach traumatic experiences bring about the change. You must be able to maintain some sense of balance; realistically adapt the way you approach or avoid the new situation and thrive as you try to become stronger than before. Dunning (1997) developed a list of “Thirteen C’s of Salutogenesis”, salutogenesis meaning learned resourcefulness, or the ability to use stressful situations for self-direction and growth. This wellness model focuses on retaining control even through traumatic events and finding the benefits and meaning in what has happened to you. The first step is control: a sense of autonomy and an ability to influence what happens around you in your environment. Next step is cohesion: connecting or belonging with concerned others who care about you, your feelings and you experiences. Then there is communication: expressing positive self-discovery and growth with others through words and writings. Next challenge: using stressors events as opportunities for growth and development and seeing hardships as something to overcome or change in some way (however small). Commitment: remaining active in the pursuit of meaning. Then there is connection: forming a bond of trust with others to help healing. Next clarification: accepting that the event and its reasons for occurring go beyond your influence while still looking at what you can change or control. Coherence: making you trauma story…show more content…
I was put on all types of medications; Triazadone , Seroquel, Zoloft, muscle relaxers and Benadryl for the side effects. I felt like I was really losing my mind; I did not know if I was coming or going. It was hard for me to remember things and I missed days of doing things at a time, my timing was off; I was late for everything. I was hospitalized twice. I finally just stopped taking the medicines and made it back to the doctor where I was told I was on too much medicine that could have caused me to have heart

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