Post Traumatic Stress Disorders: A Case Study

First responders experience much of the same psychological trauma, as they are exposed to the threat of death, and witness the destruction firsthand. Many detach themselves during their work as a coping mechanism but are unable to completely reconnect themselves with reality. Additionally, the jobs of the emergency personnel require frequent exposure to disastrous situations, making it difficult for first responders to completely recover, due to repeated exposure to triggering stimuli (Bunney). As they are exposed to the same situations as the victims, first responders are also at risk of developing mental disorders like PTSD. This evidence shows that people directly exposed to terrorism experience mental disorders at a higher rate. Due to the magnitude of the potential psychological damage a bioterrorist attack could cause, it makes government preparation imperative for minimizing the damage done to direct victims.

The events that unfolded on September 11, 2001 (9/11) at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City, had major repercussions on various levels. Its impact was not limited to structural and financial damage, but transcended to affect the emotional and mental stability of many people throughout the United States. Emergency preparedness protocols at the time of the events were insufficient considering the magnitude and the uncommon nature of the disaster. While structural damage was quantifiable, psychological implications were more complex to identify and consequently treat. Posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), is one of the most common mental health disorders that affects people exposed to traumatic disaster situations. The exposure may

Being prepared for a hurricane is not just the responsibility of first responders like firefighters, law enforcement, and EMS. An entire community from one individual or a family all the way up to state and federal government personnel need to work together and do their part and everybody has their own role to play. It is very important for communities to have strong collaborative planning teams. These teams are made up of governmental, nongovernmental, private, and public organizations and agencies that need to be integrated and share information and also trained together during the planning phase to increase the successfulness of the response to a disaster. Having educated and informed citizens is key for a prepared community, for example they can create evacuation and family reunification plans, compile disaster kits, and engage in trainings and neighborhood preparedness activities so that during an emergency they are able to help themselves, their families, neighbors, and friends. Another way to lessening the effects of a hurricane is to implement mitigation

The aftermath of the shooting at Fort Hood lead to many people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After experiencing a traumatic event like the shooting in Fort Hood many

Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is sometimes considered to be a relatively new diagnosis, as the name first appeared in 1980, the concept of the disorder has a very long history. That history has often been linked to the history of war, but the disorder has also been frequently described in civilian settings involving natural disasters, mass catastrophes, and serious accidental injuries. The diagnosis first appeared in the official nomenclature when Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-I was published in 1952 under the name gross stress reaction. It was omitted, however, in the next edition in 1968, after a long

Post-traumatic stress disorder, better known as PTSD, is steadily becoming a more relevant topic of conversation in our society today. Recently this disorder has received a lot of attention due to the conflicts our military personnel are currently engaged in around the world. Another event that brought PTSD to forefront were the tragedies of 9/11. PTSD is one of the rare disorders that are a direct result of an outside traumatic event. Make no mistake about it, PTSD might be a relatively newly diagnosed disorder, but it has been around for many years. Our military servicemen had reported these conditions for many years before, now we finally have a It is an unfortunate truth that many people in our society are involved in traumatic

When someone hears about Post Traumatic Stress disorder, they assume it only affects those in active duty or military veterans. However, it can affects those who have seen natural disasters, severe child abuse and horrible events. The national comorbidity survey replications did a survey on how many people in the US have PTSD they say, “(NCS-R), conducted between February 2001 and April 2003, comprised interviews of a nationally representative sample of 9,282 Americans aged 18 years and older. PTSD was assessed among 5,692 participants, using DSM-IV criteria. The NCS-R estimated the lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans to be 6.8% (1). Current past year PTSD prevalence was estimated at 3.5% (2).The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among men was 3.6% and among women was 9.7%.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder affects 40 million adults age 18 and over, and has many different symptoms; these include, but are not limited to: nightmares, flashbacks, irritability, depression, emotional instability, insomnia, and poor concentration. Stress disorders occur when someone experiences stress outside the realm of normal experience for adults and children, furthermore, causes of PTSD stem from experiences or the witnessing of a life changing event such as; military combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, serious accidents, physical and/or sexual abuse. Many folks suffer through the disorder, often unaware that such events would leave them with a possible debilitating disorder if left untreated, thus by being aware of the causes

Most of the people that had to live through this hurricane have developed mental problems. People have developed post-traumatic stress disorder because of this awful tragedy. Some of them have also developed serious emotional disturbance. The psychological effects caused by Hurricane Katrina changed the lives of many people, but evidence has been found that suggests that children who experienced this disaster will be at more increased risk of emotional and psychological changes than adults (“Hurricane Katrina” 2). The memories that children have of Hurricane Katrina might slowly disappear, but the memories could also be there for awhile. People say coping is good for the children who have lived through this hurricane. Not only did Hurricane

When humans undergo traumatic events that threaten their safety and wellbeing, they may become vulnerable to nightmares, fear, excessive anxiety, depression, and trembling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological illness that results from the occurrence of a “terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise unsafe experience” (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 2012). This condition often leads to unbearable stress and anxiety. PTSD is significantly prevalent as indicated by data from the National Co-morbidity Survey which shows that at a particular time in their lives, 7.8% of 5, 877 adults in America suffered from PTSD (Andrew & Bisson, 2009). In the general population, the lifetime prevalence is estimated at 8%,

“Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes,” (Feldman, 2009, p.5). There are many different views of psychological studies. However, they all share the basic foundation. They analyze memories, emotions, perceptions, thoughts, and reasoning processes, as well as the body’s functioning and what maintains these. In addition, each field of psychology strives to improve lives. Understanding behavior and mental processes aids in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses (Feldman, 2009, p.5). There is a vast array of recognized mental illnesses. This paper will reflect on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the causes of it, the features and associated features, the major psychological perspectives on PTSD, the

According to a recent article on hurricane impacts on society, Erickson states, “Katrina battered the area with 150-mph winds and destructive storm surges. The region remained at a standstill as $60 billion in federal aid.” This shows how brutal and destructive hurricanes can be. Scientists are continuing to figure out ways to prepare for deadly hurricanes like Katrina and are figuring out why hurricanes are so important. Hurricanes are destructive and devastating and go from a category one up to a category five which is the most destructive. To understand a hurricane, Scientists have to figure out what it is, what the impacts on the environment, infrastructure, and society are, and how to prepare for hurricanes in the future.

In today’s world, there has been one disaster or another, and hurricanes are one of those disasters that always happens. But, for one reason or another we are never prepared or understand the danger of any type of hurricane over a category one. Most of us have been through many hurricanes, like this learner who has lived in Miami, Fla. for over 30 years, and experienced her last hurricane which was Hurricane Andrew. Warnings are always given, first responders are trained to all ways be on alert, and FEMA is supposed to be ready to jump in once the storm has done its damage. But we can never be prepared, because hurricanes are unpredictable, and can become deadly for citizens and create millions of dollars in damages. Within this post we will discuss Hurricane Katrina, preparedness and Emergency management before and after the disaster.

Approximately twenty-five to thirty percent of those who have experienced a traumatic event will proceed to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (Fry, 2016). Those who have experienced a traumatic event and developed PTSD continue reliving it to an extent in which it interferes with their lives. The symptoms of the disorder affect the person’s life by interfering with daily activities and personal relationships with friends and family. There is

Professor Alexander is now director of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research at Robert Gordon University. Ten years after the disaster he managed to find 46 of the survivors; they took the part in the study group on the long term psychological effect of Piper Alpha disaster and PTSD. They agreed to give interviews and completed questionnaires, the study showed that: 97% of the group reported psychological problems (Hull, Alexander, Klein 2002) Some of them needed individual therapy to deal with PTSD and had prescribed medication (Hull, Alexander, Klein 2002).