Simple Facts
Each individual person will view a traumatic event ______.
A) the same
B) differently
B) differently - what one person views as traumatic may not be the case for another person. It all depends on how each individual person is impacted by the event that takes place.
Name 2 behavioral reactions a person might experience following a traumatic event.
Angry outbursts, substance abuse, impulsive behaviors, hyper-arousal/jumpy, avoiding people/places/things
What does PTSD stand for?
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Myth or Fact: PTSD does not only affect war veterans.
FACT - Almost 70% of Americans will be exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those people, up to 20% will go on to develop PTSD. An estimated 1 out of 9 women will develop PTSD at some time in their lives.
This singer & actress in the movie "A Star is Born" revealed in 2014 that experienced sexual abuse & has since been open about her struggles with PTSD. Some of her well-known hits include "Bad Romance," "Poker Face," & "Shallow"
Lady Gaga
Name 3 examples of traumatic events that could cause a person to develop PTSD.
Physical abuse, sexual abuse, car wreck, natural disaster, community violence, war/combat, domestic violence, mental/verbal abuse, being bullied, sudden death of a loved one, being stalked, seeing someone seriously injured, etc.
Name 2 physical reactions a person may experience following a traumatic event.
Insomnia, being hyper-alert, vague aches & pains, changes in eating and sleeping habits, extreme fatigue, sexual dysfunction.
Name 2 mental health diagnoses, other than PTSD, that a person has an increased risk of developing following the experience of a traumatic event or events.
Anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, adjustment disorder, acute stress disorder, schizophrenia, narcissistic personality disorder, etc.
Myth or Fact: Medication can cure PTSD.
MYTH -
A talk show host, actress, and comedienne and has to travel around the world for shows - her name is included in the name of the talk show. She has talked openly about experiencing PTSD when flying on airplanes due to witnessing a plane crash mid-flight in 1978.
Whoopi Goldberg
Name 2 symptoms a person with PTSD may experience.
Flashbacks, nightmares, dissociation, hypervigilance, increased anxiety, increased depression, increased irritability, etc.
Name 3 signs or symptoms that a child may have experienced a traumatic event.
Avoids adults, sleep trouble, anxious/clings to caregiver, hyperactive behaviors, difficulty with concentration, language delay, aggressive and/or sexually acting out behavior, poor relationships with peers, physical symptoms (headaches, nausea, etc.) loss of a learned skill (stops walking even after the child is able to walk)
Adjustment disorders are unhealthy or unhelpful reactions to stressful events or changes in a person's life. These reactions can be emotional or behavioral. Name 3 examples of life events that could cause a person to develop an adjustment disorder.
Divorce, graduating high school, losing a job, moving away from loved ones, break-up, becoming a new parent, financial issues, etc.
Myth or Fact: Each person who develops PTSD will experience the same symptoms.
MYTH - PTSD can present very differently, depending on the person & type of traumatic event experienced. The DSM-5 breaks down PTSD symptoms into 4 clusters:
This pop singer is known for hit songs, such as "No Tears Left to Cry," "Thank U, Next," & "Side to Side" featuring Nicki Minaj. She has been open about her struggles with PTSD following a bombing at one of her concerts.
Ariana Grande
According to research, 1 in ______ adults have experienced 4 or more adverse childhood experiences.
A) 3 B) 15 C) 6 D) 10
C) 6 - According to the CDC, about 61% of adults experienced an ACE, and 1 in 6 adults have experienced four or more different ACEs.
This trauma response is when a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories, behaviors, physical sensations, or sense of identity. It can cause a person to forget part or all of a traumatic event.
Dissociation
Symptoms of this diagnosis include a person showing 2 or more distinct personality states or "identities" - along with recurrent periods of memory loss. This was formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Myth or Fact: PTSD affects someone immediately after a traumatic ordeal. If time has passed, someone is no longer at risk for PTSD.
MYTH - While symptoms for PTSD often arise within the first 3 months after a traumatic event, many times it takes months or even years for symptoms to appear. To make it even more confusing, some people experience symptoms rather continuously for years; but in others, symptoms may come & go through the years, such as in the case of victims of childhood abuse.
This talk-show host is from Mississippi & has been open about her experiences of trauma, including repeated sexual abuse during childhood, racism and having & losing a baby at age 14.
Oprah Winfrey
Research has shown that trauma in childhood increases a person's risk for:
1. ________ 2. ________ 3. ________
Chronic disease, fractures & injuries, depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse & other mental health conditions & a greater risk of giving birth prematurely.
Due to the impact that PTSD can have on a person, research shows that patients receiving treatment for PTSD may experience symptoms for _______ months.
A) 4 years B) 36 months C) 6 months D) 1 year
36 months
While genetics can play a factor in a person developing this diagnosis, it is most often caused by trauma. Some of the symptoms include fear of abandonment, mood instability, risky behaviors, self-harming behaviors & suicidal ideations.
Borderline personality disorder
Myth or Fact: PTSD is treatable.
FACT - There are several evidenced-based treatments for PTSD that can help people address triggers & symptoms & move beyond their traumatic experience. The type of treatment that may be most suitable can depend greatly on the type of trauma experienced, the severity & type of symptoms, and the personality & environment of the person suffering from the condition.
This actor is known for playing roles in several comedy movies, including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." He has been open about his childhood struggles of trauma, including homelessness due to his father losing his job.
Jim Carrey