June 27: National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Dr. EdwardJ. Noa, DC / MarleneHudson, CHT
Introduction
Post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that creates an anxietyproblem that is triggered by memories of a stressful or traumatic event which, inaddition to severe anxiety, causes nightmares and even flashbacks. It can alsocause fear and a feeling of helplessness. For the person experiencing thesefeelings, there can also be symptoms of difficulty in adjusting and coping withactivities of daily living.
PTSD canaffect anyone - men, women, even children and young adults - anyone who hasexperienced a serious, life-altering event. This disorder, if left untreated,can destroy a person's life, affecting work, family, social circles, and evenresulting in death, mainly by suicide.
Well-knowncauses of PTSD can include, but are not limited to, war, physical or sexualassault, abuse, accidents (airplane, car, etc.), bullying, or naturaldisasters. The stresses of those events can last for a lifetime, causingsymptoms of PTSD to surface. In the US alone, it is estimated that over 5million adults are affected by PTSD each year.
Symptoms
The typicalsymptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder start within three (3) months of atraumatic event. In very rare cases, the symptoms of PTSD will start to manifestthemselves years after the event.
Thesymptoms of PTSD are generally grouped into three types: intrusive memories;avoidance and numbing; and increased anxiety or emotional arousal(hyperarousal).
Symptoms ofintrusivememories may include:
- Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
- Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Symptoms ofavoidanceand emotional numbing may include:
- Trying to avoid thinking about or talking about the traumatic event
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Avoiding life activities that were once enjoyed
- Hopelessness about the future
- Memory problems
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Symptoms ofincreased anxiety or emotional arousalmay include:
- Irritability or anger
- Overwhelming guilt or shame
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
- Trouble sleeping
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Hearing or seeing things that aren't there
Signs and Symptoms
While the symptomsof PTSD usually develop within the first 3 months after the event, they may notsurface until months or even years after the original traumatic event.
Symptoms ofPTSD may include:
- Thoughts recalling the traumatic event
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Withdrawal (not doing or participating in activities that the person once enjoyed)
Efforts toavoid feelings and thoughts that either remind the person of the traumaticevent or that trigger similar feelings
- Feeling distant/disconnected to loved ones
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of Guilt (feeling responsible for the traumatic event)
- Irritability and/or outbursts of anger
- Hypervigilance (being overly aware of possible danger)
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Being easily startled
- Increased heart rate, breathing, and/or blood pressure
Causes of PTSD
Any eventthat causes intense fear and/or horror can cause PTSD. It is still unclear whysome people develop PTSD and others do not. Recent research has looked at the brainstructure and brain chemistry of people with PTSD and found some differences.Some studies focus on the area of the brain called the hippocampus, wherememory and how people deal with stress has been investigated. Yet, when all issaid and done, there does not appear to be a tried and true method fordetermining why some suffer from PTSD and others do not when placed in traumatic,life-altering situations.
Who's Most At Risk?
Manyfactors can influence the severity of the traumatic event, including how longit lasted (whether it was a serious, one-time event, or something occurringover a period of time). In turn, the severity of the event can determine whethera person is likely to develop PTSD.
Thesefactors also increase the risk:
- History of sexual or physical abuse
- A high-risk occupation, such as soldiers, firefighters, military, or police
- History of depression or other mental health disorders
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Lack of social support
- Veterans of war
- Survivors of unexpected events, such as car accidents, fires, industrial accidents, or terrorist attacks
- Depression
- Survivors of natural disasters
As a note,women are twice as likely as men to show signs of PTSD. Overall, not everywoman who has experienced a traumatic event will develop PTSD; and those whoare more prone to developing the condition will also have or had experiencedone or more of the following:
- A past history of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
- Have experienced a very severe or life-threatening trauma.
- Have been sexually assaulted.
- Were injured during the traumatic event.
- Experienced a severe reaction at the time of the traumatic event.
- Were exposed to or experienced other stressful events after the initial event.
- Lack good social support.
What Kind of Traumatic Events Cause PTSD
In past wars, PTSD has been called "shell shock," "battlefatigue," or "combat stress." But regardless of the name, thesymptoms are the same, and the effects devastating to those afflicted.
In additionto war-time trauma, more "common" events that can cause PTSD include:
- Rape
- Domestic Violence
- Neglect and physical/mental abuse during childhood
- Sexual molestation
- Physical assault
- Being threatened with a weapon
- Bullying
- Death of a loved one
Other traumaticevents that cause PTSD are:
- Robbery
- Fire
- Natural disasters (such tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc)
- Auto accidents
- Any other life threatening events
Treatment Approaches
Prevention
Preventionand early treatment are always the first choice when dealing with a seriousdisorder like PTSD. Immediate treatment such as support groups, psychotherapyand even medication should be evaluated. Natural approaches such as those discussedbelow should also be started sooner instead of later.Conventional Treatments
Non-pharmacologicaltreatment options for PTSD include:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy(CBT) - Commonly used to address numerous disorders(such as depression and anxiety, addiction and phobias), CBT helps in understanding the thoughtsand feelings that influence certain behaviors and provides techniques to allow themanagement of thoughts, feelings, and troubling thought patterns having anegative influence on their life, thus allowing the person to control theirfears and anxiety.
This typeof therapy is not usually a long-term approach, but rather, is used to helppatients address specific issues. Cognitive behavior therapy is generallyshort-term and focused on helping clients deal with a very specific problem.During the course of treatment, people learn how to identify and changedestructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence onbehavior.
Stress Management Therapy- StressManagement Therapy identifies the cause/stress triggers and looks into stressmanagement options appropriate for the patient, teaching the PTSD sufferer how torelax and to prevent the fear and anxiety in his/her life. Ultimately thishelps the person break the cycle of negative thoughts.
DuringStress Management Therapy a number of modalities may be explored. These caninclude biofeedback, relaxation, interaction, cognitive behavior therapy, andmuscle-stretching exercises such as yoga, meditation, and time managementtechniques.
Drug Therapies
A number ofdrug-related therapies are also an option, and may be necessary for thosesuffering from severe cases of PTSD. Drugs such as selective serotonin reuptakeinhibitors (SSRIs) for treating depression may be effective, as are anti-anxietydrugs. At times, dopamine-blocking agents have been suggested.
Integrated/Natural Therapies
Many goodbody-mind techniques exist. In my practice, I use and work with trained healthprofessionals that use the following treatments. Conventional psychotherapy,such as cognitive behavior therapy, is the main treatment for PTSD. However,with instruction by licensed/certified professionals, several other mind-bodytechniques may be used as supportive treatments:
Eye MovementDesensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in which the eyes are moved rapidly from side toside while recalling the traumatic event. This seems to help reduce distressfor many with PTSD. Doctors aren't sure how it works, or whether it is anybetter than standard treatment. It's also not clear how long PTSD symptoms arereduced using EMDR.
Cranial ElectricalStimulation/Biofeedback, Scenar, and Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation are treatment choices which involveusing a machine that transmits healing current (electrical/magnetic energy) intothe person, allowing the body to heal and relax through the session.
Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy has a long history as a therapeuticpractice in working with PTSD. Hypnosis/hypnotherapy has been shown to behelpful in treating war-related post-traumatic conditions as well as PTSD dueto sexual assault (rape), Holocaust survival, and auto accidents. Hypnosiscreates a deep state of relation, which allows the hypnotherapist to deal withthe subconscious mind in order to address some of the deeper issues of PTSD.
There areseveral methods by which a hypnotherapist can work with the client. In doingso, repressed memories and root cause(s) of the emotional trauma areidentified. Once identified, the client will be put into a subconscious state calleda "trance", where the(se) root cause(s) can be addressed in a numberof ways appropriate to the client's needs that will allow the client toalleviate or remove the fear and stigma associated with the source of theiremotional pain. For some, healing can be immediate; for most who have sufferedserious trauma such as sexual assault, healing may take time and several visitsbefore they are able to experience relief and healing.
A formerSpanish Interpreter in the healthcare field, Marlene Hudson, now a CertifiedHypnotherapist, became interested in working with those afflicted with PTSDwhile working with mental health patients and their providers. She noticed arecurrence and onset of symptoms while assisting patients relay to theirproviders what had gotten them to the point of psychiatric crisis andhospitalization. For most, a recent event triggered repressed memories; whilefor others, the shame, guilt and stigma of past events became overwhelming, tothe point of total emotional breakdown. Currently working with several uniquecases, Marlene uses an assortment of techniques mentioned above, addingstress-relief methods and visualization to assist her clients.
Emotional FreedomTechnique (EFT), is an energy-based healing approachbased on ancient Chinese medicine sometimes used to address PTSD problems. EFTcombines tapping on acupuncture/acupressure points while calling to mindtraumatic events. There are different approaches to EFT, but the most common involvestapping points that are located on the outer edge of the hand, at the inside ofthe brow, the outside of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, under themouth (below the lower lip), at the collar bone, under the ribs, and the top ofthe head. The client repeats a series of phrases identifying the issue theywish to resolve, followed by a series of phrases identifying the solution orhealing they wish to experience. (Visit www.marlenehudson.com for informationon EFT/Tapping techniques.)
Nutrition and Supplements
A healthydiet is always an important step in healing any body/mind problems. Awell-trained health provider specializing in nutrition should be consulted. Thefollowing healthy lifestyle changes should be started.
- Eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, soy, preservatives, and food additives.
- No stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, and tobacco should be consumed.
- Exercise 5 days a week.
- A trained health provider should address the following nutrients:
· Omega-3fatty acids as essential for good health, such as fish oil, krill oil, flaxseedoil and hemp oil
· Amultivitamin daily as a basic foundation on the road back to good health
· CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10), another important nutrient for speedy recover.
· L-theanine,calcium, magnesium and lactim (should be investigated for their calming effects)
Botanicals
Herbs andplants have been used in healing for thousands of years. Working with a well-trainedhealth care provider is crucial to helping make the herbal selections. It'simportant to note that all "natural" and "herbal" productscan be harmful if taken with certain prescription drugs or if certain medicalconditions are present. Always check with a professional before taking anybotanicals to ensure there is no contraindication to any currently prescribedmedications.
- Kava Kava - Beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety
- Green Tea - Primarily known for its anti-oxidant properties, green tea is beneficial in treating a large array of health issues, including heart problems, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, infection, tooth decay.
- Bacopa - Used in Ayurvedic healing practices, bacopa has been found to be beneficial in treating anxiety and depression as well as improving cognitive function,
- Holy Basil - Another herb known to remedy a multitude of health issues, Holy Basil is beneficial in reducing stress.
- Resveratrol - A compound found in the seeds and skin of the grapes used to make red wine, Resveratrol helps with sleep and improves energy, among its many benefits.
Chiropractic
Chiropracticis a form of holistic therapy. Through the use of (manual) spinal manipulation,doctors of chiropractic focus on maintaining the health ofthe musculoskeletal and nervous systems to ensure overall wellness. Thereis a direct correlation from the vertebrae and nerves of the spine with thebody's many functions and systems. These include:
- Musculoskeletal System
- Circulatory System
- Digestive System
- Endocrine System
- Integumentary System
- Urinary System
- Lymphatic System
- Immune System
- Respiratory System
- Nervous System
- Reproductive System
When thebody suffers physical or emotional trauma, any combination of the systems canbe affected either directly or indirectly. When any area of the spine is out ofalignment, for example, the nerves providing oxygen and blood flow to any oneor multiple of the systems above can be impinged, manifesting symptoms of pain and/ormalaise, including what may present itself as an entirely unique disease - suchas high blood pressure, for example. By realigning the spine, symptoms arealleviated and even reversed completely.
Complementaryadvances in chiropractic care options include a variety of "assisted"manipulations and therapies aided by electronic stimulus apparatus andultrasound, for example, and additionally supported with diet and exercise.
For thelast five (5) years, Dr. Edward J. Noa, DC, has been treating wounded soldiersat The Pathway Home in Yountville, California. The Pathway Home is a residentialtransition treatment center for combat soldiers suffering from PTSD/TBI (traumaticbrain injury). The chiropractic treatment that has been provided by Dr. Noa andother chiropractors has been an important factor in the recovery of these “newwarriors”. Significant improvement in both the physical and emotional conditionof these soldiers is noted after starting chiropractic treatment. (Visitwww.drnoas21stcenturyhealth.com or www.edwardjnoadc.com for additionalinformation about chiropractic treatment or The Pathway Home.)
Future for PTSD
Sadly, PTSDwill continue to exist as long as there are life-altering, life-threatening,traumatic events. PTSD sufferers will relive those frightening experiences overand over, making it difficult to function in even the simplest daily scenarios.
It isencouraging to know that recent new technological advances are currentlyavailable or are being researched. These include the use of magnetic coils and electricalpulses and even smartphone applications. Groundbreaking methods such as these willaffect the way PTSD is treated. With continued research and the above treatmentchoices, PTSD can be helped.
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Edward J. Noa, DC, CCN, CHM, FLT
Dr. Noa's 21st Century Health
Napa & Fairfield, CA - USA
At Dr. Noa's 21st Century Health, we are committed to helping patients achieve maximumwellness without the use of harmful drugs, using an all-natural, holisticapproach to health care.
A Healing Space Hypnotherapy
Napa & Fairfield, CA - USA
A HealingSpace Hypnotherapy is dedicated to providing a safe, confidential, all-naturalapproach to managing your life.
