PSY7-L5

• Vulnerability


  The first element of this model that can be

  best thought of as personal soft spots. They

  are a tendency towards unwelcome

  emotional states such as feeling depressed.
• Stress


  It is anything that can disrupt your day-to-day

  life and cause you to try and cope
• External


  unemployment, financial

  problems, relationships, family etc
• Internal


  illness, substance abuse or changes due to age
• Coping


  The third element and this is where we do

  something about the stressors
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)


  -It is a trauma- and stressor-related disorder that can occur after being exposed to severe trauma

  - can be caused by a number of different

  traumatic events

  - is a treatable condition

  - is caused by being exposed to trauma,

  including experiencing, witnessing, or even

  learning about a severely traumatic

  experience

  - is a natural, common, and understandable

  reaction to trauma
• EVENTS THAT MAY CAUSE PTSD

  ● military combat

  ● sexual or physical assault

  ● abuse or neglect

  ● natural disasters

  ● auto accidents (motorcycle, etc.)

  ● severe injury

  ● traumatic birth (postpartum PTSD)

  ● Terrorism

  ● diagnosis of life-threatening illness

  ● witnessing violence and death
• RISK FACTORS FOR PTSD

  ● having a history of mental health disorders

  such as panic disorder, depression, or OCD

  ● having little support from loved ones after

  the event

  ● experiencing further trauma or stress around

  the event

  ● brain structure and stress hormones may also

  play a role in the development of PTSD.
• malfunctioning hippocampus


  It could stop the brain

  from processing trauma properly, and this could

  lead to PTSD.
• FACTORS THAT MAKE PTSD LESS LIKELY

  ● having a strong support network

  ● learning to use positive coping strategies to

  address negative emotions

  ● feeling good about the actions you took

  when you experienced the traumatic event
• SYMPTOMS OF PTSD

  ● intrusive thoughts such as if you can't stop

  thinking about the traumatic event

  ● mood changes such as feeling hopeless,

  numb, or anxious, being easily startled

  ● feeling overwhelming guilt or shame

  ● feeling disinterested in your relationships,

  career, or hobbies

  ● flashbacks, which may make you feel like

  you're reliving the traumatic event

  ● Nightmares

  ● feeling emotionally distressed when

  something reminds you of the event

  ● struggling to concentrate, sleep, or eat

  ● engaging in self-destructive behavior,

  including substance use

  ● Self-harm, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks

  ● negative beliefs or expectations about

  oneself, others, or the world
• Talk Therapy


  involves talking

  to a professional about your experiences and

  symptoms
• Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)


  involves discussing the trauma and your symptoms and

  helping you implement better thought and

  behavioral patterns.
• Exposure Therapy


  This therapy involves talking

  about the trauma and working through it in a safe environment to help you process the experience.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

  (EMDR) therapy

  This interactive therapy

  involves moving your eyes from side-to-side while

  recalling the trauma so that you can process the

  event outside of the strong emotions attached to the

  memories
• Prescription Medications for PTSD

  Sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) help alleviate symptoms
• WAYS TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS

  ● learning about PTSD to better understand

  your symptoms

  ● Meditating, Exercising, Journaling,

  attending a support group, having a strong

  network of loved ones, reducing negative

  coping mechanisms such as misusing drugs

  and alcohol