Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

I don't know about you, but I was glued to my television as I watched the Chilean mine rescue earlier this week. It is totally amazing that they could rescue all those miners buried a half a mile below the earth's surface and to have everything run so smoothly. That was indeed a miracle. During the coverage, I heard many doctors interviewed about what the miners will go through as they readjust to life on the surface. Their lives will never be the same again. Many mentioned the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder, so I thought I'd post some information on that topic. The disorder can follow any traumatic event in one's life.

Here is some information from the National Institute of Mental Health:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real illness. You can get PTSD after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, a hurricane, rape, physical abuse or a bad accident. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid after the danger is over. It affects your life and the people around you.

PTSD can cause problems like:

- Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Feeling alone
- Angry outbursts
- Feeling worried, guilty or sad

PTSD starts at different times for different people. Signs of PTSD may start soon after a frightening event and then continue. Other people develop new or more severe signs months or even years later. PTSD can happen to anyone, even children.

Medicines can help you feel less afraid and tense. It might take a few weeks for them to work. Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor also helps many people with PTSD. This is called talk therapy.

If you want to read more about PTSD, here are some great links to check out:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (National Institute of Mental Health)

What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD? (National Center for PTSD)

Effects of Disasters: Risk and Resilience Factors (National Center for PTSD)

Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events (American Psychological Association)