Understanding And Overcoming Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This psychology video explains the causes and development of PTSD. Over a period of time, overwhelming shock and/or shocking experiences can cripple your ability to deal effectively in the present day. This problem often develops when people grow up in dysfunctional families. You will see yourself here, and discover that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not something mysterious, and is curable.
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Step 1:
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PTSD Explained
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PTSD has been called many names over the years. Shell-shock in WWI, battle fatigue in WWII. It was really called post-traumatic stress disorder mostly in Vietnam.
And what it simply means is that there has been an overwhelming trauma that has happened to somebody. And there's a delayed reaction that goes on.
Now, that's the easy answer, however, it is very, very, complex and we'll get into it.
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Step 2:
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Ways Of Getting PTSD
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I think there are two ways to really get post-traumatic stress disorder.
One, is an overwhelming unusual event that is shocking to the system and blows the system out, such as the Oklahoma bombing.
But, I think you get post-traumatic stress disorder also, by a host of smaller or moderate abuses. Such as somebody growing up in an alchoholic family. Both are ways to get it.
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Step 3:
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A PTSD Scenario
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It's based on very very natural phenomena and what I want you to do is to imagine yourself in a car accident, where the tendancy is you go into fight or flight. This is a reptilian brain activity that I've talked more about in a number of the tapes, chemical dependance tape, for one.
The body in a heartbeat begins to race, the pupils dilate so they can see any kind of threat from the perepheri, the muscles become taught, and insulin and adrenalin flow into the system.
You are going to fight, flight, or freeze immediately. That takes you out of homeostasis and at that time, you don't have any excess time for regular living.
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Step 4:
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The Results Of A PTSD Experience
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In other words, if you were digesting your food, that is going to stop. If you were hungry, you're not going to feel hungry. And you're not really in touch with your feelings momentarily because you've got other business at hand, you've just been in an accident.
When it hits you is several minutes after the accident. All of a sudden you start to shake, then you realize how you feel. That is normal and natural.
What makes post-traumatic stress disorder abnormal is that the emotions get caught in a number of areas in your body and in your mind. In fact, I believe it gets caught in every single cell of your body.
