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Question: My daughter was recently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from a traumatic accident she suffered several months ago. Can you provide information concerning the disorder? Answer: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological reaction resulting from exposure to severe environmental stress. The traumatic even in your daughter’s life is re-lived through recurrent and intrusive recollections of the event or through recurrent distressing dreams during which the event is re-experienced. Persons suffering PTSD experience an inability to stay focused making it difficult to concentrate or complete tasks. They tend to become numb to their environment, resulting in emotional detachment from people, places and activities that were previously important to them. Depression, anxiety, and hyperarousal are common symptoms. PTSD symptoms may begin immediately following the trauma or not until after a latency period of months or years. Treatment is aimed at decreasing the anxiety and hyperarousal. Behavioral desensitization and training in relaxation techniques are notably effective treating PTSD. Answered by Maurine Richardson |