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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

(Diagnosis can be confused with TBI – Dr. William Goldie p.2)

A Common Pre-existing Condition for Substance and Activity Addictions

Imagine, if you can, being exposed to a traumatic event, only to find that years later you continue to feel as though you are experiencing that same horrendous event over and over again. Or perhaps your post-traumatic experience involves consistent intense fear or anxiety.

Or imagine that, having lived with an accumulation of traumatic events during childhood, you have become so normalized to it that you are not even aware that you live in chronic terror, just beneath the surface of your existence (perhaps covering it up with mood altering substances/behaviors). Imagine sensing there is something wrong with you... finding life difficult, disappointing others, feeling stuck.

For the individual suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the above experiences are often their daily reality.

PTSD can ensue when a person has been involved or exposed to a traumatic event (or series of various degrees of severity) such as combat duty, a natural disaster, observing a serious accident, physical or sexual abuse, childhood surgery or any other event where the reality or perception of the possibility of death or serious injury has occurred. In such situations, the person may have experienced a sense of helplessness, great sense of fear, danger, horror or feeling powerless.

General symptoms of PTSD include:

Recurring and distressing thoughts about the event, as though you cannot shake the images or thoughts of the event from your mind.
Some people have recurring nightmares many years after the event
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
A sense of isolation and disconnection from emotions, as though numb, or ‘dead inside’ or a sense that they are less in control of their emotions (e.g. easily irritated or angered)
Psychological numbing, including a decreased interest in previously important activities; emotionally detached from others; decreased emotional responsiveness; or as if their future is limited or holds no promise
Hyper-vigilance – a sense of fear that someone might hurt you; something bad might happen to you; or that you have to always be on guard
Easily startled – over reacting or jumping to noises or when someone surprises you
Difficulty concentrating
Experience panic symptoms or full-blown panic attacks when faced with reminders of the traumatic event

Children and PTSD:

The child's response to a traumatic event may include some of the above depending on their age. As they grow older their symptoms become more like the adult's, even years after the traumatic event.

Preschool children may become clingy, needing mom or dad nearby, sleep poorly, or suddenly develop potty problems
Children in early elementary school (ages 6 to 9) may 'play'out the trauma through drawings and stories. They may complain more of physical problems or be more irritable or aggressive. They may also develop fears and anxiety that don't seem to be caused by the traumatic event.

PTSD and Substance Abuse:

Although individuals suffering from PTSD do not automatically have problems with substance abuse, PTSD and alcohol or drugs can be serious trouble for the trauma survivor.

Both men & women who have experienced sexual abuse have a higher rate of substance abuse than other men & women. Some studies report a 25 – 75% risk of problems with alcohol after having survived abuse or trauma.

Individuals with a substance abuse problem combined with PTSD often have additional mental or physical problems including:

anxiety disorders (such as phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsion, or incapacitating worry)
disruptive disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity ADHD, oppositional defiance ODD, or antisocial personality APD)
addictive disorders (addictions to, or abuse of, street and/or prescription narcotics and/or addictive activities such as gambling, internet, work, sex, romance, shopping... )
mood disorders (bipolar, dysthymic, depression etc.)
traumatic brain injury
chronic physical illness (liver or heart disease, diabetes)
chronic physical pain due to physical illness/injury or due to no apparent or clear physical cause