Journal 7 Jeremy Johnson

PTSD

     PTSD, or (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), is a mental illness brought on by many different reasons.  One reason can be following a traumatic event like an accident, seeing death, having surgery, losing a loved one, or losing your job or assets.  Other reasons can include long-term exposure to abuse, war, neglect, even short-term abuse such as rape can lead to PTSD.  According to,

(https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml), you can only be diagnosed with PTSD if you have undergone certain symptoms for at least one month; Otherwise it will just be considered an acute anxiety disorder.

     From our readings in Beah, A Long Way Gone, we see PTSD in a sense of exposure to combat-abuse.  For most American's, we see Vietnam as a great cause for PTSD.  PTSD is not just formed by those soldiers who fought in the conflict, but also the loved ones sitting at home whom did not get to see their beloved sons or daughters fighting in the conflict anymore.  The loss of loved ones have struck as a trigger to PTSD as well, especially in those who have already been diagnosed once before with this disease.  Some simple ways to diagnose PTSD are, one having flashbacks, having mood swings, trying to avoid certain scenarios that may trigger an episode of Fight-or-Flight response, having nightmares that reoccur over the course of a month, and some may even stop talking all together.  Having PTSD is hard to cope with and living with it has its downfalls and obstacles.  You may form depression, migraines and even feel fatigued more so than usual.  

      Vietnam soldiers

     Treating PTSD is very complicated.  Some medicine can be used and may help, yet some medicine may make the disease worse to cope with by raising anxiety levels.  Cognitive therapy is a good way to cope and alleviate some PTSD symptoms as well.  Mixing medicine from a psychiatric point of view and cognitive therapy from talking with a therapist works for me.  I suffer from PTSD from a car accident I had back in September 2013.  To this day it is an ongoing investigation to try and retrigger the brain's way of thinking.  I also do EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization reprocessing, therapy to more the less relive the situations through imagining the event all over again and try to use coping skills learned in cognitive therapy, talking to a councilor, to help make the triggers less of a trigger.  Some Veterans also use pets to help them deal with their episodes of anxiety associated with the disease.  Dogs are trained to help make one feel comfort in time of a Fight-or-Flight episode, even used in court houses.

                                                            A Veteran and his best friend

     PTSD is most common in women than men according to NIHM.  It can also be hereditary to an extent through genetics.  PTSD goes back on record to as far as the Ancient Greek.  PTSD is known for its mental mood altercations to ones mind and most cases lead to suicide if not treated in adequate time.  Depending on the severity of the case, one can be alleviated from PTSD in a quick manner, yet some may live with PTSD for the remainder of their lives.  Especially the ones that go without help or treatment.  I am seeking treatments for my PTSD and anxiety and I have come a long way in two years.  I just wonder how long Beah will be able to go after reading his memoir, A Long Way Gone.