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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mayo Clinic Definition:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

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Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.

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Who Develops PTSD?

Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. A number of factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person's control. For example, having a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event or getting injured during the event can make it more likely that a person will develop PTSD. PTSD is also more common after certain types of trauma, like combat and sexual assault.

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Personal factors, like previous traumatic exposure, age, and gender, can affect whether or not a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the traumatic event is also important. Stress can make PTSD more likely, while social support can make it less likely.

Events Known to Lead to symptoms of PTSD (Trauma)

VIOLENCE​

 

  • War

  • Terrorist Attacks

  • Physical Assault/Violence

  • Sexual Assault

  • Seeing Another Person Hurt

  • Community Violence

  • Domestic Violence

ACCIDENTAL

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  • ​Car Accidents

  • Natural Disaster

  • Animal Attacks

  • Near Drowning

  • Poisoning

  • Cancer

  • Life Threatening Illness

Fallout From These Events

(Trauma)

Trauma Isn't the only cause of PTSD
Complex PTSD and Ongoing Stress 

Although PTSD was previously categorized to originate from one traumatic event, it is now recognized that continuous exposure to stressful situations, exposure to chronic trauma (repeated exposure to trauma that lasts weeks, months or years at a time), or cumulative stress, can also cause symptoms of PTSD. This is referred to as Complex PTSD, prolonged duress stress disorder (PDSD) or rolling PTSD. This type of disorder often results from any of the following experiences:

 

  • Repeated exposure to disaster, accidents, deaths and violence (first responders, doctors/nurses, social workers, soldiers etc)

  • Frequently having to deliver traumatic news to others

  • Regular exposure to the abuse of children

  • Regular and repeated exposure to verbal abuse, emotional abuse or threats

  • Frequent sexual victimization or abuse

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At Ahava, we treat all forms of PTSD, including PDSD (prolonged duress stress disorder).  Equine Therapy helps to teach emotional balance, trust and communication skills.  Those that participate in our program not only learn to redirect their stress, the interaction between Horse and Participant teaches them how to cope with the daily stressors in their lives in a healthy way.

There are Approximately 

2,400,000

Veterans with Service-Related PTSD

1,440,000 Vietnam

660,000 Gulf War

340,000 Iraq/Afghanistan

There are Approximately 

8,000,000 

people with PTSD in the U.S. each year, 50% are from sexual assault.

94%

of sexual assault victims develop PTSD

Domestic Violence and PTSD

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If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, call the Partner's for Peace 24-hour confidential helpline at

1-800-863-9909.

  • National estimates in the United States indicate that every 60 seconds, 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner. This adds up to over 10 million victims per year.

  • Studies also show that the prevalence rate of PTSD among domestic violence survivors is anywhere between 31% and 84%, compared to about 3.5% of the general population.  If we use these percentages, thats approximately 3.1 million - 8.5 million potential cases of PTSD due to Domestic Violence/ Intimate Partner Abuse year.

  • PTSD from domestic abuse can form within an abusive relationship without the victim’s knowledge.  It sneaks in under the radar because the cycle of abuse keeps victims tense and re-experiencing the trauma of the abuse daily.  There’s no break in the cycle of abuse; therefore, a domestic abuse sufferer may notice no difference at all between the symptoms of PTSD and her day-to-day stress.  Additionally, long-term domestic abuse sufferers can develop Complex PTSD (C-PTSD),

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