Sheila Barnett, M.A., Counselor

140 Glastonbury Boulevard
Glastonbury, CT 06033

Phone 860.913.9854

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders text revision (DSM-IV-TR) put out by the American Psychiatric Association states that there are two criteria present in a person who is experiencing PTSD.

            The person was either directly or indirectly involved with an experience(s) that threatened their life or the life of others.

            The second criterion of a person who has been a part of a traumatic event is that their response to the trauma(s) is one of helplessness, intense fear, or horror.

            PTSD may also apply to a person who persistently re-experiences at least one of the following for a time period of more than one month. 

1.     Distressing and reoccurring thoughts, images, or perceptions of the traumatic event.

2.     Repeated dreams that are disturbing and related to the traumatic event.

3.     Feeling that the traumatic event is being relived by experiencing illusions, dissociative flashbacks upon awakening, and hallucinations when intoxicated.

4.     Symbols or cues whether internal or external trigger intense psychological distress when connected to the traumatic event.

5.     The person’s physical body reacts to internal or external cues or symbols that represent a part of the actual traumatic event.

The DSM-IV-TR also states that at least three or more of the following involving avoidance of stimuli along with a numbing of responses must be present.  These three conditions must also be present for more than one month.

1.     The person avoids talking, feeling, or thinking about the traumatic event.

2.     Recollections are avoided by not going to activities, places, and being with people who remind them of the traumatic event.

3.     The person is not able to remember an important aspect of the trauma.

4.     Less participation and interest in important activities.

5.     Feelings of being detached and separated from others.

6.     A full range of emotions and feelings are not present.

7.     Does not believe that life can be normal and long.

The DSM-IV-TR also lists five persistent symptoms that were not present before the trauma and at least two of the five symptoms listed below must be present for more than one month.

1.     Sleep is delayed and often interrupted.

2.     The person has outbursts of anger and is irritable.

3.     The person has difficulties with concentrating.

4.     The person is hyper vigilant.

5.     The person’s startle response is exaggerated.

The above has been paraphrased from the APA’s DSM-IV-TR published in the year 2000.

More information is available on the web.  A good resource for accurate information is the home page for the National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov

PTSD is a serious condition that affects a person’s quality of life and functioning in both their social and personal lives.  I believe that a person does not necessarily have to relive every detail of their traumatic experience in order to eliminate or reduce some or all of the symptoms listed above.  I do feel that a person’s quality of life starts to improve when they begin to work on their present feelings and beliefs about their traumatic event(s).