Introduction and Education on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder John D. McKellar, PhD Clinical Psychologist Department of Veteran Affairs, Clinical Educator Stanford University

Common Reactions to Trauma 1.Fear response- At the time of event the strongest reaction is fear. Fear of injury or further injury, fear of being permanently disable or even of being killed. Fear is followed by avoidance of anything that reminds one of the event (places, people, situations, etc.) 2.Loss of control- Many feel as if they have lost control of their lives. 3.Flashbacks- The individual may re-experience the event over and over in their thoughts or in dreams (as if they are experiencing the event again). 4.Trouble concentrating- After the event many have difficulty concentrating. 5.Guilty Feeling- Guilt, if present, may be related to what the victim was forced to do to survive the event or what one could have done to have avoided the even altogether.

Common Reactions to Trauma 6.Negative self-image- Self-image frequently suffers as a result the event. 7.Depression- Another common reaction to trauma is a sense of sadness, feeling “down”, or depression. Many feel hopeless and despair regarding the future. Many stop engaging in pleasant or rewarding activities which increase depression. 8.Disrupted Relationships- Trauma can cause disruption in relationships. The disruption might be related to depression or just to the fact that the individual who has experienced the trauma finds social interactions to be very taxing.

Reactions to Trauma 1.These responses adaptive and understandable in that they are aimed at helping the individual to avoid the situation Remember this situation so it NEVER happens again Keep the body alert prepared to avoid this happening again Avoid any situation like this in the future

PTSD Education

The Costs of Remember, Alert, Avoid Adaptive Maladaptive True Alarm No Threat Real Threat False Alarm

Screening Questions In your life, have you ever had any experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in the past month, you:  Have had nightmares about the experience or thought about it when you did not want to?  Tried hard not to think about the experience or avoided situations that reminded you of it?  Were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?  Felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your surroundings? Answering yes to any three items suggests you should seek more information form a mental health provider. A positive screen does not mean that you have PTSD. Only a qualified mental health practitioner (e.g., social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist) can diagnose you with PTSD.

Effective Treatments for PTSD Medications -SSRIs (Paxil, Zoloft)- Primary Medication Psychotherapy -Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -Cognitive Processing Therapy -Eye Movement Desensitization Response Therapy -Exposure Therapy

Self Help Treatments for PTSD 1. PTSD Coach- A downloadable app for Android or Apple smartphones. 2.The Anxiety Disorders Association of America provides resources and tips. 3.Gift From Within. A nonprofit organization dedicated to those who suffer from PtSD The Association for Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy therapist finder: _Form&nolm=1 _Form&nolm=1