TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS

S TRAUMATIC DISORDERS: Image

Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Exposure to a serious event where life and limb is threatened.
This is either personally experienced or witnessed.
The consequence of this a powerful memory of the event which is not easily forgotten.
Another natural experience is the 'flight or fight' response which is an reflex designed to protect us.
The brain has to come up with a solution and our body has to enable that solution.
This reflex forces our mind into a heightened state of arousal (awareness of the situation and to decide on course of action), and at the very same time release adrenaline in our bodies to increases the heart rate (pump more blood into the lungs), breathing rate (blood picks up more oxygen), our muscles also tense up and are able to act effectively because of the oxygen (and glucose or fuel that powers our muscles)
The memory of the event can resurface at any time (flashback), with our without any cue (something that triggers or reminds one of the event), whilst one is a awake or even asleep (nightmare).
The recollection of the event is also likely to induce the same physical response as described above.
Naturally one would avoid anything that could potentially trigger a recollection.
Trauma is excruciating and it is expected that one would be in a negative emotional and mental state: anger, guilt, unhappiness and detachment
The 'flight or fight' response is anxiety or fear at its peak and the 'stress system' becomes oversensitive - a more severe startled response than usual, not being able to shut down or fall asleep, being overcautious.

Recollections of this event can occ

Occurs when one is exposed to a severe traumatic event associated with disturbing recollections and hyper-vigilance.
To be able to protect and prevent ourselves from experiencing danger we must be able to remember the event and everything associated with it, from what we saw, to what we heard, and even how it smelt and every other possible association. The more associations the better we will be able to identify the danger and avoid it.
This is one of the key features of a Traumatic Disorder. The recurrent memory of the event and the reaction to that memory as if it were actually taking place whether it be triggered by something that resembles it or in the form of a dream or nightmare rather.
We are more likely to remember things if we are able to make associations or links with other memories and experiences.
Memory is obviously not as simple as this and there are of course many other mechanisms associated with it.
The more significant something is in our lives the more likely we are to remember it and less likely to forget it.
It is not possible to forget about the event but it may be possible to suppress thoughts, feelings etc. which unfortunately compounds the condition.

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S TRAUMATIC DISORDERS: Text

TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS

Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Exposure to a serious event where life and limb is threatened.

This is either personally experienced or witnessed.

The consequence of this a powerful memory of the event which is not easily forgotten.

Another natural experience is the 'flight or fight' response which is an reflex designed to protect us.

The brain has to come up with a solution and our body has to enable that solution.

The memory of the event can resurface at any time (flashback), with our without any cue (something that triggers or reminds one of the event), whilst one is a awake or even asleep (nightmare).

The recollection of the event is also likely to induce the same physical response as described above.

Naturally one would avoid anything that could potentially trigger a recollection.

Trauma is excruciating and it is expected that one would be in a negative emotional and mental state: anger, guilt, unhappiness and detachment

The 'flight or fight' response is anxiety or fear at its peak and the 'stress system' becomes oversensitive - a more severe startled response than usual, not being able to shut down or fall asleep, being overcautious.

​

Recollections of this event can occ

Occurs when one is exposed to a severe traumatic event associated with disturbing recollections and hyper-vigilance.

​

​

This is one of the key features of a Traumatic Disorder. The recurrent memory of the event and the reaction to that memory as if it were actually taking place whether it be triggered by something that resembles it or in the form of a dream or nightmare rather.

We are more likely to remember things if we are able to make associations or links with other memories and experiences.

Memory is obviously not as simple as this and there are of course many other mechanisms associated with it.

The more significant something is in our lives the more likely we are to remember it and less likely to forget it.

It is not possible to forget about the event but it may be possible to suppress thoughts, feelings etc. which unfortunately compounds the condition.