WHAT IS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered when a person witnesses a psychologically traumatic event, such as war, a natural disaster, or any situation that invokes feelings of helplessness or intense fear. Severe anxiety, flashbacks, uncontrollable thoughts and nightmares are common symptoms of the illness. These symptoms can worsen and last for years.Daniel G Amen MD states
"In recent years, the media has raised our social awareness about PTSD because it has affected so many soldiers returning from combat. But did you know that studies show that violent homes have the same effect on a child’s brain as combat does on soldiers?
It’s true!
Growing up in a chaotic, aggressive environment causes the same brain changes in children as what soldiers experience in war. It can actually change your brain, perhaps for the rest of your life. While emotional trauma in childhood can follow you into adulthood, it doesn’t have to.
It all starts with looking at your brain to determine its health. On brain SPECT scans, the pattern of PTSD typically reveals over-activity in multiple areas of the brain—often referred to as the "diamond plus pattern." This high activity tends to keep the brain on overdrive, increasing anxiety, irritability and interfering with sleep." - read more (source below)
This information is disturbing. I never equated the effects of a warring home on a child to be so similar to a combative war zone, but when you consider the effects of extreme anxiety, helplessness and the inability to escape from a physically or emotionally violent home, it becomes all too clear.
Parents and those close to children from violent homes need to be aware this toxic environment WILL CREATE IN THEM a feeling of extreme anxiety, insecurity and entrapment. They watch parental breakdown in technicolor. There is no place of safety and no-one they can truly trust.
There are many sources of professional help available. Parents, do not expose yourselves or your children to physical or emotional distress.
Get help as soon as possible to save yourselves and your children from short and/or long term traumatic distress.
Sources: Source: http://danielamenmd.amenclinics.com/reasons-to-not-ignore-ptsd/
http://www.psychguides.com/guides/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-symptoms-causes-
and-effects/
Comments by Sally Burgess, Forefront Families
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