PTSD
How to Help a Loved One Overcome Trauma
Traumatic events occur every day to untold numbers of people. But no matter how widespread the trauma, what it comes right down to is how trauma affects the individual. Trauma could be the result of a natural disaster, terrorism, mass violence, or it could be closer to home and involve domestic violence or sexual abuse, the loss of a job or economic stability. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start to help a loved one overcome trauma and resume a normal life, but there are some basic things that you can do.
Anger and Aggressiveness Linked to Specific PTSD Symptoms in Veterans
A new study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Veteran Affairs, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine reveals that focusing on particular symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may help health officials better treat anger and aggression issues among veterans returning home from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
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Childhood Cancer Survivors More Likely to Develop PTSD
Young adult survivors of childhood cancers are four times more likely to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than their control group siblings, a Childhood Cancer Survivors Study has found. The study focused on 6,542 childhood cancer survivors over 18 who were diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1986 and 368 of their siblings as a control group.
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Trauma-Induced Changes to Genes May Lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health suggests that traumatic experiences "biologically embed" themselves in select genes, altering their functions and leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Process Identified for Diagnosing PTSD
The first step toward treating those with post-traumatic stress disorder is successfully identifying the problem. According to a post in the Science Daily, researchers at the University of Minnesota VA Medical Center have identified a biological marker in the brains of those who exhibit PTSD.
The study findings are published January 20 in the Journal of Neural Engineering. Apostolos Georgopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., and Brian Engdahl., Ph.D. – both members of the Brain Sciences Center at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and University of Minnesota – led the study.
The Aftermath of Terrorism: How Exposure Affects Alcohol Consumption and Posttraumatic Stress
When a terrorist attack occurs, such as the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, there are many victims apart from those killed or injured in the attack. Many people who experience the effects of exposure to the attack and interpersonal loss can experience posttraumatic stress.
Benefits of a Trauma Recovery Program
Trauma recovery programs are designed to help individuals suffering from trauma or abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or sexual addiction/compulsivity. Such individuals may also be chemically dependent, and may even have co-occurring psychiatric issues. Some patients enter a trauma recovery program after they have completed traditional treatment for addiction and have relapsed. Research shows that there’s a high relapse rate among post-traditional addiction treatment patients who also have PTSD, unresolved sexual trauma or compulsive behaviors.
CBT Treatment Proven Effective for PTSD Veterans
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have left a great deal of soldiers needing to seek comprehensive care back home in the United States. While a bulk of this care has been physical, some are also seeking attention for psychological trauma. Some of this trauma is a result of what the soldiers saw, while some can be attributed to acute pain.
Science Daily recently posted a release that highlighted the common sources of pain. These sources include the head, legs and shoulders. Veterans are also reporting high rates of mental health issues, not the least of which is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and alcohol use disorders.
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Barbara Brawerman Develops Trauma Recovery Program at Promises
Promises’ integrated approach to treating alcohol and drug addiction offers those with a history of trauma or abuse an effective therapeutic approach to reduce future relapse triggers.
Los Angeles-based psychotherapist Barbara Brawerman, Psy.D, MFT, has teamed up with Promises Treatment Centers to develop a trauma recovery program that utilizes EMDR, an innovative method of psychotherapy involving eye movements and bilateral stimulation to desensitize and reprocess traumatic memories. The therapy is especially helpful for those in recovery for alcohol and drug addiction as it helps prevent relapse by addressing situations that trigger dysfunctional emotions.
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