Stress / Question
Published: October 24, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
What is Post Traumatic Stress? I hear this a lot lately.
Signed: PTSD
Dear PTSD,
You will probably hear about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the coming months as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the ongoing terrorist activities. In many ways PTSD is a way of reacting to abnormal events. The tragedy that occurred on September 11th and the continued Anthrax scares certainly qualify as abnormal events. Not all emotional, behavioral reactions to tragic events are considered to be symptoms of PTSD. If you read TeenHealthFX's response to "9/11/01" Stress you will see that many negative reactions to traumatic events are normal and does not mean you have PTSD.
Here are some ways to recognize PTSD:
- Re-experiencing the event through vivid memories or flashbacks.
- Feeling "emotionally numb"
- Feeling overwhelmed by what would normally be considered everyday situations and diminished interest in performing normal tasks or pursuing usual interests.
- Crying uncontrollably
- Isolating oneself from family and friends and avoiding social situations.
- Relying increasingly on alcohol and drugs to get through the day.
- Feeling extremely moody, irritable, angry suspicious or frightened.
- Having difficulty falling or staying asleep, sleeping too much and experiencing nightmares.
- Feeling guilty about surviving the event or being unable to solve the problem, change the events or prevent the disaster.
- Feeling fears and sense of doom about the future.
Whether you have PTSD or are feeling overwhelmed and having trouble with your day-to-day functioning then you should seek professional counseling to get you through these turbulent times.
If you live in northern New Jersey and would like help finding a therapist, you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888.247.1400.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The reality of excessive interest rates and fees that often accompany credit card use for teens, can put youngsters in a position where they are losing out on admission to graduate school, getting a job, or renting an apartment because of damaged credit history.
