The Deadly Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Greg Frost

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to the delayed reaction, sometimes for longer than 6 months, to a highly stressful or life threatening event. Often the causes for PTSD are myriad and distasteful, and more than 40 million women in America suffer from it. Although childhood abuse and sexual abuse is a common cause of PTSD, other events which cause psychological trauma can also trigger the disorder. These include life threatening accidents, wars or natural disasters.

PTSD usually occurs following a stressful or traumatic event that is highly severe, and often survivors and witnesses of such events will only start showing symptoms of PTSD after a few months. The reasons for this would be due to the event being perceived as dangerous and outside of the individual’s control, leading to feelings of helplessness and extreme anxiety.

Due to the severity of the event or disaster, the inability of the person to avoid or cope with the trauma is such that it results in PTSD. Due to the immense negative impact, the person will avoid any situation or trigger that might remind them of the event. Whilst it has been attributed to internal conflict, recent research has shown that these psychological conditions are actually due to past traumatic events. Further, it is likely that the extreme stress experienced during the event has resulted in physical damage to the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with the emotions of fear and stress.

For a person who is suffering from PTSD, any spur of event occurring can trigger manifestations and he will suffer from the traumatic event both physiologically and psychologically. There will be repeated flashbacks of the event, and being subjected to this experience will cause a behavioral change eventually. These take the form of amnesia, listlessness and a need to isolate themselves.

For children suffering from PTSD, they are likely to experience nightmares, memory fragmentation, hypertension, flashbacks, amnesia, panic attacks and some may turn to substance abuse to avoid memories of the event. Most victims will suffer from a range of effects, such as physiological, psychological, social and self destructive behaviors.

Physiological outcomes take the form of a change in the brain activity, structure and functioning, also known as neurobiological effects. There may also by psychophysiological effects, such as hyper arousal, increased propensity to be startles and increased neurohormonal changes which leads to greater stress and depression. It is often easy to overlook physiological outcomes as they take the form of physical issues such as headaches or lightheadedness and are treated accordingly.

Psychological outcomes include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and dissociation, where the individual seeks to hide from the present by submerging into their selves. Other social indicators include low self esteem, substance abuse and an inability to form interpersonal relationships. At its extreme, the individual may turn to self destructive behavior and attempt suicide, or take part in self injury and risky behaviors that can lead to death.

If the individual is diagnosed with PTSD, there is treatment and help available in the form of stress medications and therapy. These aim to correct the physical, physiological and psychological effects experienced and aim to integrate the person back into their current lives.

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What You Should Know About Brain Injury by Atty. Gabriel Cosh

One of the most devastating and traumatic injury that you can get from an accident is traumatic brain injury or commonly known as simply head injury. Brain injury is usually the result of head trauma like when the head suddenly or violently hits an object. Common accidents like car accidents and slip and fall accident may result in head trauma. Other causes of brain injury is when objects violently hit the head or pierce the skull and enters the brain tissue. Premise liability accidents like falling debris or objects from buildings or shelves are examples of accidents resulting in this kind of brain trauma.

Brain trauma are said to be either mild, moderate or severe depending on the extent of trauma or injury to the brain. If you are involved in a car accident and you hit your head on the steering will or who were hit by objects flying inside your car, chances are you may experience brain injury. You will know if you have mild brain injury if after the accident you lose consciousness for a few seconds or minutes, experienced headache, confusion, lightheadedness, blurred vision, bad taste in the mouth, dizziness, trouble with memory, mood changes or trouble with thinking or concentration. If on the other hand, aside from the above symptoms you also experience worsening headaches, repeated vomiting or nausea, seizures, slurred speech, loss of coordination and continued restlessness or agitation and confusion. If, however, after the accident you experienced serious head trauma, you don’t have to worry about the symptoms. You would probably wake up on a hospital bed and days have past after your accident happened.

At the time of the accident, treatments for head injury usually entails trying to stabilize the injured person to prevent further injuries. The concern of the medical personnel is insuring proper oxygen supply to the brain and the rest of the body, maintaining adequate blood flow and regulating blood pressure.

If after the car accident and you were diagnosed with mild to moderate brain injury, chances are you may receive skull and neck X-rays to check for bone fractures or spinal instability, MRI and CT scan.

Also, in case of moderate to severe brain injury, you will definitely need to get rehabilitation that involves individually tailored treatment programs in the areas of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physiatrist (physical medicine), psychology/psychiatry, and social support.

As you can see, brain trauma is not only a serious injury, it also entails serious medical expenses. Hence, if you are involved in a car accident and you are fault free, secure the services of a competent personal injury lawyer immediately. Otherwise, aside from brain trauma, your finances might also be paralyzed.

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Are We Looking At Anxiety Disorders The Wrong Way? by Terry Dixon

Current explanations of the cause and cure of problems involving such things as: extreme nervousness, anxiety and panic; obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviour; phobias and depression have failed millions of people looking to understand and overcome these problems. Beliefs about illness / medical / genetic causes and treatments based upon these beliefs have not even come close to an answer.

Yet, when we look closely at these problems we can see that they are not:-

Diseases - They follow a logical psychological progression based on our life experiences and we can map exactly what happened and why, the effect it had on us and how this fits in with our problem.

Mental illness - most people with these problems are actually above average intelligence and are fully aware of what is happening, yet feel powerless to stop it.

Chemical imbalances - Synapses, those connections between the neurons in our brain (around 10,000 for each neuron), are tiny spaces that are occupied by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that carry information between neurons. Serotonin and Dopamine are two neurotransmitters regularly mentioned with regard to anxiety and depression problems and chemical imbalance, usually referring to deficiencies of these neurotransmitters, is often proffered as a reason for anxiety disorders and depression.

Well, anxiety and depression deplete our body of many resources, including: energy, vitamins and no doubt neurotransmitters. Surely, any chemical imbalance is the result of these problems not the cause. Balancing chemicals in the brain through the action of drugs may alleviate some symptoms to a degree but never touches the cause.

Curable with drugs - medication works on a physical level. These problems are psychological and the answer is psychological. Whilst short-term medication may be beneficial for symptom relief, drugs never touch the underlying reason for these problems. Indeed, the mere act of taking medication can make the underlying cause worse.

Due to genes - evolution and our genes provide us with predispositions not fixed behaviours. A way we are predisposed to behave given the right environment. That is, our life experiences. We cannot be programmed with fixed behaviours (eg. OCD or GAD) for we don't know the environment we will be born into ... it would not be adaptive to react with extreme anxiety to unconditional love.

And most importantly, these problems are not 'disorders' or irrational - our mind and body are perfectly ordered in what they are trying to do, and we get them for the most rational reason there will ever be … for our survival.

We can spend a lifetime looking for the right cure for our 'illness' - if only we can find the right pill or method. Unfortunately, in doing this, we are looking at these problems in totally the wrong way.

When we look at the backgrounds of large numbers of people with anxiety problems, they are often strikingly similar in many ways. Negative life experiences and subsequent feelings involving self worth and insecurity occur across the board with such regularity and are so similar that it is hard to see how they cannot possibly play a major role in these problems.

Far from being an illness, something strange that has happened to us, or something that is wrong with us, we can see exactly how we develop anxiety disorders (and depression). They follows a logical psychological progression based on our life experiences and learning, and we can follow step-by-step exactly what happens to us and why.

Events in our lives and the effect they had on us conspire to bring about anxiety-related problems … life experiences that have made us feel afraid and unable to cope. Not usually single frightening instances (with the exception of some forms of PTSD) they more likely develop from general living situations which involve such things as: constantly being put down, being ridiculed, being made to feel ashamed, made to feel guilty and made to feel worthless. When we feel like this often, it's not surprising that anxiety takes over.

The interplay between experiences, thoughts, feelings and deep-seated survival instincts make these problems seem so powerful, that something drastic is wrong with us, yet the potential to develop anxiety problems lies within us all, it is a part of human nature, and it only takes the right (or 'wrong') set of experiences to bring them out.

Given a certain series of events, conditions and circumstances every single person on the planet can start to become highly nervous, over anxious and insecure for much of the time, for this behaviour reflects the way we all work as human beings.

And once nervousness and anxiety start to rule our lives it's not long before greater problems, those problems we define as 'anxiety disorders' today, start to take shape.

When we see anxiety disorders for what they are: behaviours learned and conditioned due to our life experiences, we can really do something about them.

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How Does Sleep Affect Our Minds and Bodies? by Danna Schneider

Sleep, solid sleep without interruption, is nearly as vital to our existence and health as food, air and water. Sounds like a drastic statement, but according to several studies, it really isn't. There is proof that without sleep people can literally go mad - lose their minds and the ability to think critically and clearly. So how are we supposed to deal with lack of sleep?

Not only does our mind not function as well when we are working with little quality sleep, but many believe that lack of sleep and lack of quality of sleep may also diminish our immunities to sickness and disease. You may notice that you fall prey to flus and colds more often when you've experienced lack of sleep, and experts say this is a direct correlation to lack of sleep?

Immune function is a vital part of our well being. Our lymph system and other antibodies depend on sleep it seems, and are subsequently worn down when our bodies and minds are deprived of R & R.

Many factors play a part in interrupting this basic health need that must be met if we are to operate at our best possible capacity. Recuperation is another reason that we sleep. How many times have you felt rejuvenated and recharged by a good nights sleep when you've been going through a particularly stressful period, either physically or mentally.

We live in a fast paced, high stress society which can often make it difficult to slow down mentally and physically prior to bedtime. There are certain suggestions, that are helpful, if you are having a hard time getting to sleep at night and staying asleep for a full eight hours, or at least close, to that amount of time.

If you suffer from insomnia, try to ascertain the reason or reasons you are having problems with sleeping or staying asleep at night. Are you anxious, depressed, fearful or overly stressed? Or possibly, is there any physical discomfort or pain causing your inability to get comfortable enough to fall asleep? Do you snore and wake sometimes to catch your breath?

If your mind is overactive and you can not slow it down at bedtime, try some common sense approaches prior to sleep time that may help. Caffeinated beverages, pills or foods will certainly not only put sleep off, but also may interfere with normal sleep patterns throughout the night long after the consumption of it. Alcohol seems to have a sedative effect, but actually interferes with the sleep cycle.

Another good natural tip for gearing down an overactive mind is to avoid activities that stress or over stimulate the mind prior to bedtime. Try a warm glass of milk or a warm relaxing bath in the evening to slow down and to calm you.

Some products that are of an herbal nature and naturopathically used to treat insomnia can certainly provide a lot of relaxation as well as promotion of sleep-inducing chemicals which commence the process by which we fall and stay asleep. Some herbs known to be helpful for insomnia include chamomile, valerian and lavender. I'm sure you've heard of aromatherapy for stress relief, but aromatherapy can also be used to actually help ease anxieties and help us to sleep and keep on sleeping when we are having troubles getting enough rest.

Natural essense oils are often used for relaxation and preparation for snooze time, most notably jasmine oil which is actually popular not only as aromatherapy but it commonly used by many women as a perfume due to it's pleasant scent. Music may be a medicine much needed. Many times people report they can fall asleep more easily by using different types of music, say meditation music or classical music. Meditation and other relaxation techniques done in the evening can enhance your ability to get a good night's sleep.

Melatonin is a natural body chemical that is secreted when we sleep and are preparing to sleep. This hormone is activated when the lights go out, and is said to be pivotal to falling asleep and maintaining that critical sleep REM patter that many say without which we may lose our minds, literally.

If insomnia is problematic for you, consult with your physician to determine the cause. Also, try a combination of natural approaches and techniques to see if they assist you to fulfill your body's need for quality rest.

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Domestic Violence - Healing the Physical Illnesses of Domestic Abuse

Copyright (c) 2008 Dr Jeanne King PhD





Migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, essential hypertension, chronic pain, insomnia, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, excessive fatigue are just a few of the ongoing complaints of domestic violence survivors. And it's not surprising.





These conditions are ALL mediated by the sympathetic nervous system-a system perpetually "on" for individuals whose lives are entangled in domestic abuse.





Stemming back to our caveman ancestors, we inherited a physiology that is built to protect us from the perceived threat of impending danger. And when present, sympathetic arousal occurs.





For example , when the caveman saw a tiger, the thought "tiger" registered, activating a limbic system response of FEAR... ultimately, resulting in an adrenergic response that prepares the body for "fight or flight. " And with this, of course , mobilizing the proper body systems to deal with the circumstances at hand.





The Good: Our Survival Mechanism





Here's what happens: blood rushes to the core of the body and away from the periphery, fueling the core organs, (heart and lungs) for this magnificent maneuver. Blood is quickly pumped into the large muscle groups to enable your rapid exit or fierce fight.





With this, many other physiological changes occur. You're getting the picture, correct? In a nutshell...





1) Your cardiovascular system is aroused: increased heart rate, rise in blood pressure.





2) Your neuromuscular system is activated: increased muscle tension, and





3) Your gastrointestinal system shuts off: dry mouth, build up of acidity in the gut, bowel and bladder relax.





This is sympathetic arousal; that is the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. It is our body's response to impending danger. It's your survival mechanism, your natural stress response. This is good.





The Bad: Failure to Cycle Down





However , here's where it's not good. In the same way that our bodies are built to trigger this response, so are we built to cycle down when the impeding danger or perceived threat passes. And since our physiological systems don't know the difference between real and perceived threat, we have the ability to keep this stress response "on" such that complete cycling down fails to occur.





Then when the next tiger comes our way, naturally we are appropriately aroused. But this time the excitation starts from an already elevated point of arousal, thereby resulting in a higher-level stress response.





Now for a moment, let's envision our creating a habit, if you will, of not fully cycling down between each perceived threat; that is, between each tiger crossing our path. What happens?





Your body systems, associated with the stress response, remain "on" and at higher and higher levels of arousal over time with subsequent activation. This is what we call "chronic stress. "





The Ugly: Stress-Related Illnesses





Here's the danger. When you keep these organ systems functioning as such, eventually they show symptoms of excess activation. This is the basic etiology of stress-related illnesses: migraine headaches, muscle contraction headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, essential hypertension, insomnia, chronic anxiety... and the list goes on.





Further, you can expect chronic stress to exacerbate depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment and more. It is the one factor you can count on to aggravate emotional psychological distress.





Your know how it is when you are refreshed and calm: anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment are low. And when you're excessively stressed, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment are magnified many fold.





If you are a domestic violence survivor, seek to cultivate habits that turn "off" the stress response. This will off-set damage done by a pattern naturally inherent in a current or past life of constant criticism, unpredictable partner rage, and ongoing caution, trepidation and fear.








------





For help in recognizing what keeps the abuse dynamic going and what stops it, see the Intimate Partner Abuse Screen' at www.PreventAbusiveRelationships.com. Dr . Jeanne King, Ph. D. helps people recognize, stop and heal from emotional verbal abuse

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Panic Attack Treatment - free article courtesy of ArticleCity.com

There are many different treatments associated with panic attacks. The first thing you should consider is seeing your primary care physician. Your primary care physician can help prescribe medications to overcome the immediate symptoms that you might be experiencing.

Next, you should seek a counselor or psychiatrist, preferably one that is experienced with anxiety disorders. A counselor will be able to help you work out any underlying problems that might be triggering your panic attacks. Your counselor will help determine a course of action for your treatments.

There are many natural methods to treating panic disorder. I am a panic disorder survivor and have been for over a year. I had approximately 15 recurring panic attacks daily. I eventually overcame my panic disorder and have been panic free and med free for almost a year now. I still treat myself with natural methods to help reduce my anxiety.

One key factor in the treatment of my panic attacks was a book Panic Away. Yes, a simple book helped me to overcome the fear in my life. This book along with other natural treatments that I learned along the way helped me end the cycle of my panic.

Keep checking back for more information on the treatment of panic attacks. I will be revealing all my information on the different factors that I use in my lifestyle to help manage my panic and anxiety disorder.

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The Deadly Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Greg Frost

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to the delayed reaction, sometimes for longer than 6 months, to a highly stressful or life threatening event. Often the causes for PTSD are myriad and distasteful, and more than 40 million women in America suffer from it. Although childhood abuse and sexual abuse is a common cause of PTSD, other events which cause psychological trauma can also trigger the disorder. These include life threatening accidents, wars or natural disasters.

PTSD usually occurs following a stressful or traumatic event that is highly severe, and often survivors and witnesses of such events will only start showing symptoms of PTSD after a few months. The reasons for this would be due to the event being perceived as dangerous and outside of the individual’s control, leading to feelings of helplessness and extreme anxiety.

Due to the severity of the event or disaster, the inability of the person to avoid or cope with the trauma is such that it results in PTSD. Due to the immense negative impact, the person will avoid any situation or trigger that might remind them of the event. Whilst it has been attributed to internal conflict, recent research has shown that these psychological conditions are actually due to past traumatic events. Further, it is likely that the extreme stress experienced during the event has resulted in physical damage to the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with the emotions of fear and stress.

For a person who is suffering from PTSD, any spur of event occurring can trigger manifestations and he will suffer from the traumatic event both physiologically and psychologically. There will be repeated flashbacks of the event, and being subjected to this experience will cause a behavioral change eventually. These take the form of amnesia, listlessness and a need to isolate themselves.

For children suffering from PTSD, they are likely to experience nightmares, memory fragmentation, hypertension, flashbacks, amnesia, panic attacks and some may turn to substance abuse to avoid memories of the event. Most victims will suffer from a range of effects, such as physiological, psychological, social and self destructive behaviors.

Physiological outcomes take the form of a change in the brain activity, structure and functioning, also known as neurobiological effects. There may also by psychophysiological effects, such as hyper arousal, increased propensity to be startles and increased neurohormonal changes which leads to greater stress and depression. It is often easy to overlook physiological outcomes as they take the form of physical issues such as headaches or lightheadedness and are treated accordingly.

Psychological outcomes include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and dissociation, where the individual seeks to hide from the present by submerging into their selves. Other social indicators include low self esteem, substance abuse and an inability to form interpersonal relationships. At its extreme, the individual may turn to self destructive behavior and attempt suicide, or take part in self injury and risky behaviors that can lead to death.

If the individual is diagnosed with PTSD, there is treatment and help available in the form of stress medications and therapy. These aim to correct the physical, physiological and psychological effects experienced and aim to integrate the person back into their current lives.

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Painkiller Addiction and Dependency: What Your Body Is Telling You

Many people who suffer from Prescription Painkiller Dependence and Addiction don't abuse other drugs. In fact , some have never even tried drugs like marijuana before. Yet they are addicted to painkillers... but not by choice. For one reason or another, they were prescribed a painkiller such a Vicodin, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Darvocet, or Percocet to alleviate pain caused by a fall, an injury at work, a car accident, or as part of post-operation treatment. But suddenly their prescription runs out, yet they're still in pain. Now what?



This is all too often the way people become addicted to prescription drugs. Their bodies develop a dependence on the drug to the point where it is too painful to stop taking it. It becomes a vicious cycle, and is devastating for both the user, and those around him or her.



Painkillers are opiates, producing a mild euphoric feeling that can help relieve pain. This is a blessing for those who suffer from conditions like fibromyalgia or herniated discs of the spine. But , as the person continues taking the medication , the opiates change the integrity and function of the brain and the way it reacts to pain. Opioids also change the way a person experiences pleasure. When the medication is stopped, these feelings go away, and a person can rebound.



A person will sometimes feel even more pain when he or she stops taking the medication. This isn't always the case, and much of that depends on a person's brain and body chemistry, as well as how long the medication was taken. People sometimes report depression when they stop taking their medication as well.



For those who are experiencing Symptoms of Vicodin Withdrawal and Oxycontin Withdrawal Symptoms often times the symptoms are too painful and difficult to deal with, so the user returns to taking the medication , even if it means obtaining it illegally. Even though it's illegal, people don't feel there's as much of a stigma associated with prescription drug abuse. After all, it's a drug they were initially prescribed, and if it was prescribed by a doctor, it must be safe compared to drugs like ecstasy and heroin obtained on the street.



If you've struggled to quit taking a medication because the effects are too devastating and painful, or if you are taking a painkiller beyond its intended medicinal use, you may be suffering from prescription painkiller dependency - in other words, your body is addicted.



There are many Painkiller Abuse Treatment Centers in Florida and in the U. S. to help people safely detox from prescription painkillers, and learn to cope with their body's addictions. These centers even offer out-patient treatment programs so you can continue to work and not disrupt your life.



Even working professionals suffer from these types of problems, yet often times they are too embarrassed or afraid to admit they have a problem. But once the stigma is dropped, and a person accepts that there is a problem, then the healing can begin.



You didn't become addicted by choice, but your body did, and it's telling you something: now is the time to get help.

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Pharmacotherapy of Combat-stress-related Post Traumatic Stress ...

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This 1-credit continuing education opportunity is co-sponsored by the American College of Forensic Examiners International (ACFEI) and the American Psychotherapy Association. ACFEI maintains responsibility for all continuing education accreditations. This article is approved by the following for 1 continuing education credit:

APA provides this continuing education credit for Diplomates.

The American College of Forensic Examiners International is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ACFEI maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

The American College of Forensic Examiners International is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The American College of Forensic Examiners International designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 hour AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

By Harpriya A. (Sonya) Bhagar, MBBS and Alan D. Schmetzer, MD, Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association, and Master Therapist

A number of veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) are returning home with signs of combat-stress-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In a recent study, 16. 6% of the soldiers met the screening criteria for PTSD. On average, they showed a significant increase in sick visits, missed workdays, severity of somatic symptoms, and poorer overall health (Hoge et al., 2007). In another study, the youngest age group, 18–24 years, was at greater risk compared with veterans 40 years of age or above. Diagnosis was made early (median of 13 days), and most of them were detected in primary care clinics (Seal et al., 2007).

Upon return from the war zone, veterans frequently report intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, increased vigilance, avoidance of social situations, hyperarousal, and nightmares. Treatment involves integration of mental health, primary care, physical medicine, attention to substance abuse, and vocational services. The mental health portion involves an initial screening of the combat veteran for PTSD and other mental illnesses, followed by a full assessment. Both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy (individual, couple, and group) are offered for treatment.

From a pharmacological perspective, several studies have found the traditional anti-depressants effective in PTSD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like sertraline (Zoloft®), paroxetine (Paxil®), and fluoxetine (Prozac®), have been studied extensively for PTSD, and sertraline and paroxetine have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for PTSD. SSRIs have been found to be effective both in short-term trials and long-term maintenance treatment for relapse prevention (Asnis et al., 2004). However , earlier studies have focused mainly on PTSD secondary to interpersonal trauma in a civilian setting. In a multicenter study, venlafaxine extended release (Effexor XR®), a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, was found to improve both the re-experiencing and the avoidance symptoms of PTSD, but not hyperarousal. The drug was effective and well tolerated in both short-term and continuation treatment of PTSD (Davidson et al., 2006). In a small study, mirtazapine (Remeron) was found to be effective in both short-term and continuation treatment of combat-stress-related PTSD without any serious side effects (Kim et al., 2005). In addition , sedation from mirtazapine can even prove beneficial in improving sleep in PTSD. In a randomized trial comparing phenelzine (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor) and imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant), both significantly reduced combat stress related PTSD symptoms (Kosten et al., 1991). Benzodiazepines are used in PTSD for panic attacks or anxiety states. They provide temporary relief but run the risk of tolerance and addiction.

Veterans with PTSD find it hard both to fall asleep and to maintain sleep due to hyperarousal and vivid nightmares related to combat. Significant others often report that patients scream in their sleep and may even wake up soaked in sweat. Prasozin and clonidine both decrease the central nervous system’s noradrenergic activity. They have been found to be effective in decreasing hyperarousal symptoms and improving sleep (Boehnlein, 2007). Other drugs used for sleep are the benzodiazepine class of drugs, like temazepam, and non-benzodiazepines, like zolpidem (Ambien™) and ezopiclone (Lunesta™). However , caution must be taken regarding the habit-forming potential of these drugs (Bhagar and Schmetzer, 2006).

The presence of psychotic symptoms in PTSD can further complicate the clinical picture. In one study, 20% of the 91 males with combat-stress-related PTSD were found to be suffering from hallucinations and delusions, and hyperarousal was positively associated with the occurrence of psychotic symptoms (Kastelan, 2007). In a small study, augmentation of SSRI with olanzapine (Zyprexa), an atypical antipsychotic, was effective in treating SSRI-resistant combat-related PTSD symptoms, especially sleep (Stein, 2002). In another study, monotherapy with typical or atypical antipsychotics, reduced both PTSD and psychotic symptoms, and antipsychotics seemed to offer another approach to treat the psychotic subtype of combat–related PTSD resistant to previous antidepressant therapy (Pivac, 2006).

Overall, PTSD pharmacotherapy involves several drugs based on our experience with PTSD in general, but well-designed studies are needed to establish treatment guidelines specifically for combat-stress-related PTSD.

References

Asnis, G. M., Kohn, S. R., Henderson, M., & Brown, N. L. (2004). SSRIs versus non-SSRIs in post traumatic stress disorder: an update with recommendations. Drugs, 64(4), 383–404.

Bhagar, H. A., & Schmetzer, A. D. (2006). The newest medicines for sleep. Annals of American Psychotherapy Association, 9(2), 25–26.

Boehnlein, J. K., & Kinzie, J. D. (2007). Pharmacologic reduction of CNS noradrenergic activity in PTSD: The case for clonidine and prazosin. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 13(2), 72–78.

Davidson, J., Baldwin D., Stein, D. J., Kuper, E., Benattia, I., Ahmed, S., et al. (2006). Treatment of post traumatic stress disorder with venlafaxine extended release: a 6-month randomized controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(10), 1158–1165.

Hoge, C. W., Terhakopian, A., Castro, C. A., Messer, S. C., & Engel, C. C. (2007). Association of post traumatic stress disorder with somatic symptoms, health care visits, and absenteeism among Iraq war veterans. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(1), 150–153.

Kastelan, A., Franciskovi,? T., Moro, L., Roncevic-Grzeta, I., Grkovic, J., Jurcan, V., et al. (2007). Psychotic symptoms in combat-related post traumatic stress disorder. Military Medicine, 172(3), 273–277.

Kim, W., Pae, C. U., Chae, J. H., Jun, T. Y., & Bahk, W. M. (2005). The effectiveness of mirtazapine in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A 24-week continuation therapy. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 59(6), 743–747.

Kosten, T. R., Frank, J. B., Dan, E., McDougle, C. J., & Gille, E. L., Jr. (1991). Pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder using phenelzine or imipramine. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 179(6), 366–370.

Martényi, F. (2005). [Three paradigms in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder]. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung, 7(1), 11–21.

Pivac, N., & Kozari? -Kovaci,? D. (2006). Pharmacotherapy of treatment-resistant combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder with psychotic features. Croatian Medical Journal, 47(3), 440–451.

Seal, K. H., Bertenthal, D., Miner, C. R., Sen, S., & Marmar, C. (2007). Bringing the war back home: mental health disorders among 103, 788 US veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seen at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(5), 476–482.

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Health Benefits of Yoga for Women by James Pendergraft

There are a number of healthy benefits a women can receive from practicing yoga. Through this form of exercise women are able to build on their strengths and focus on bettering themselves through a calming method of breathing, meditation, and gentle poses.

Here are just some of the healthy benefits that women can get from yoga:

1) Yoga can help enhance your immune system and decrease chances of illnesses. It is believed that yoga can greatly enhance the function of your immune system. This will lead to the more effective curbing of a number of diseases that women normally get. Yoga is also known to be very effective in controlling the level of cholesterol in the body as well as a woman’s blood pressure.

2) For those women who can’t seem to find the time to perform exercises that will help control their cholesterol level and blood pressure, yoga could be very advantageous. This is because yoga makes use of breathing exercises and meditation that could help in calming down nerves that have been stressed by work or daily activities.

3) Yoga can help bring about a more healthy pregnancy. Although pregnancy brings with it a great deal of happiness, it can also lead to experiencing a lot of discomforts. Yoga can help alleviate these discomforts, which could include backaches, morning sickness, and mood swings. Yoga exercises can also help greatly in maintaining an ideal weight during pregnancy. There are different prenatal poses being practiced in yoga that are recommended for women who are pregnant. These are intended to aid women in preparing their bodies for their babies’ birth.

4) Yoga helps decrease pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms. Menstruation is known to cause a number of hormonal changes among women. These changes as well as the inconveniences they bring often make women uncomfortable. Because of these changes, pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms could also be experienced before, during, and after a menstrual period. These include cramps, mood swings, depression and irritation. These symptoms can be considerably reduced through practicing yoga, which has some poses that could aid in the reduction of pain during menstrual periods.

5) Yoga helps women deal with stress and depression. Because women are emotional in nature, it is expected that they fall victim to stress and depression more than men do. Yoga makes use of meditation, which is a great aid in decreasing the stress and tension levels in the body. Practicing yoga will also help stimulate positive levels of energy.

6) Yoga also helps make the body more flexible. Women tend to lose the flexibility of their bodies faster than men. This is because most of the work that really requires brute physical strength is done by men. Because of this, men’s muscles are known to remain more tight and flexible longer than those of the women. Aside from this, women also lose bone density faster than most men because of the rigors that they go through during childbirth, which could make them lose more calcium, thus leading to making their bones very fragile. Because of this, a woman’s body will begin to lose its flexibility during her thirties. However , this can be delayed by doing yoga exercises.

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The Deadly Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Greg Frost

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to the delayed reaction, sometimes for longer than 6 months, to a highly stressful or life threatening event. Often the causes for PTSD are myriad and distasteful, and more than 40 million women in America suffer from it. Although childhood abuse and sexual abuse is a common cause of PTSD, other events which cause psychological trauma can also trigger the disorder. These include life threatening accidents, wars or natural disasters.

PTSD usually occurs following a stressful or traumatic event that is highly severe, and often survivors and witnesses of such events will only start showing symptoms of PTSD after a few months. The reasons for this would be due to the event being perceived as dangerous and outside of the individual’s control, leading to feelings of helplessness and extreme anxiety.

Due to the severity of the event or disaster, the inability of the person to avoid or cope with the trauma is such that it results in PTSD. Due to the immense negative impact, the person will avoid any situation or trigger that might remind them of the event. Whilst it has been attributed to internal conflict, recent research has shown that these psychological conditions are actually due to past traumatic events. Further, it is likely that the extreme stress experienced during the event has resulted in physical damage to the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with the emotions of fear and stress.

For a person who is suffering from PTSD, any spur of event occurring can trigger manifestations and he will suffer from the traumatic event both physiologically and psychologically. There will be repeated flashbacks of the event, and being subjected to this experience will cause a behavioral change eventually. These take the form of amnesia, listlessness and a need to isolate themselves.

For children suffering from PTSD, they are likely to experience nightmares, memory fragmentation, hypertension, flashbacks, amnesia, panic attacks and some may turn to substance abuse to avoid memories of the event. Most victims will suffer from a range of effects, such as physiological, psychological, social and self destructive behaviors.

Physiological outcomes take the form of a change in the brain activity, structure and functioning, also known as neurobiological effects. There may also by psychophysiological effects, such as hyper arousal, increased propensity to be startles and increased neurohormonal changes which leads to greater stress and depression. It is often easy to overlook physiological outcomes as they take the form of physical issues such as headaches or lightheadedness and are treated accordingly.

Psychological outcomes include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and dissociation, where the individual seeks to hide from the present by submerging into their selves. Other social indicators include low self esteem, substance abuse and an inability to form interpersonal relationships. At its extreme, the individual may turn to self destructive behavior and attempt suicide, or take part in self injury and risky behaviors that can lead to death.

If the individual is diagnosed with PTSD, there is treatment and help available in the form of stress medications and therapy. These aim to correct the physical, physiological and psychological effects experienced and aim to integrate the person back into their current lives.

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