PTSD, Trauma & Dissociation
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About 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives. Women are more likely to sexual assault and child sexual abuse while men are more likely to experience accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster, or witness to death or injury.
Most individuals who experience trauma will not experience PTSD or dissociation. Those who do not develop these disorders tend to feel good about their ability to handle the trauma, have a good coping mechanism for events that are traumatic or disruptive, have a strong support system, and who tend to respond appropriately in spite of the fear. The National Center for PTSD stated that it is normal to have stress reactions after a traumatic event. Your emotions and behavior can change in ways that are upsetting to you. Even though most people have stress reactions following a trauma, they get better in time. You should seek help from a physician or counselor if symptoms last longer than 3 months, cause you great distress, and/or disrupt your work or home life. Many survivors of trauma however, have difficulty dealing with the trauma they experienced and will experience symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dissociation. Having symptoms of PTSD does not mean an individual will develop a full diagnosis of PTSD. The more disturbing the trauma is and the longer the symptoms go on, the more likely the individual is to develop PTSD. Research suggests that those who go on to develop PTSD had repeated traumas, have little support available, witnessed harm or were harmed themselves, and having excessive feelings of hopelessness, fear and loss of control. Some characteristics of this would be sudden and unexpected trauma, being trapped and can’t get away, goes on repeatedly for a long time, causes many deaths, involves children, and/or causes mutilation such as loss of limbs. Factors such as feeling helpless and unable to help yourself or a loved one during the trauma, or having a severe reaction such as crying, shaking, vomiting or feeling apart from your surroundings can be indicators of those more likely to develop PTSD. PTSD can be referred to as developing because the mind and body didn’t “finish” processing the trauma. This isn’t the fault of the survivor of the trauma. Other facts which can cause someone to be more likely to develop PTSD is having had an earlier trauma, having another mental health issue, having little support from family and friends, having recent stressful situations, drinking a lot of alcohol, and being younger in age. PTSD is a disorder that has clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. Symptoms can be broken down into re-experiencing the trauma mentally and physically and avoidance of trauma reminders. These symptoms can be mental or physical. Symptoms of PTSD may disrupt your life and make it hard to continue with your daily activities. You may find it hard to just get through the day. The National Center for PTSD identifies four types of PTSD symptoms.
Re-experiencing symptoms: Memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. This could be experiencing nightmares, flashbacks (feelings like you’re going through the trauma again), being triggered (seeing, hearing or smelling something that causes you to relive the event). Avoiding Situations that Remind You of the Event This is when you avoid situations, people, talking or even thinking about the trauma. You may avoid crowds, driving, watching movies, you may stay very busy to avoid dealing with it, or avoid seeking help so you don’t have to think or talk about the trauma. Negative Changes in Beliefs and Feelings This symptom has many aspects such as you may stay away from relationships due to lack of positive or loving feelings toward other people. You may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about it. You may think no one can be trusted and the world is completely dangerous. Hyperarousal This is being jittery and on the alert for danger at almost all times. You might suddenly become angry or irritable. You may have a hard time sleeping, trouble concentrating, be easily startled by a loud noise or surprise, and or you might want to have your back to a wall in a restaurant or waiting room. If you think you have PTSD, please seek an assessment from a trained counselor of physician. Treatment sooner after the trauma can reduce the longer term problems later on. MyHealtheVet has an online PTSD screening that you could take as a screening only. You would substitute any reference to war or military experience with whatever your trauma was. Some material adapted from the National Center for PTSD. |
| Brief Checklist of Trauma Symptoms to Take to Your Physician/Counselor |
Women, Trauma and PTSD
Trauma is common in women; five out of ten women experience a traumatic event. Women tend to experience different traumas than men. While both men and women report the same symptoms of PTSD (hyperarousal, reexperiencing, avoidance, and numbing), some symptoms are more common for women or men.
History
Most early information on trauma and PTSD came from studies of male Veterans, mostly Vietnam Veterans. Researchers began to study the effects of sexual assault and found that women's reactions were similar to male combat Veterans. Women's experiences of trauma can also cause PTSD. This finding led to more research on women's exposure to trauma and PTSD.
Risk of experiencing trauma
Findings from a large national mental health study show that a little more than half of all women will experience at least one traumatic event in their life. Women are slightly less likely to experience trauma than men. The most common trauma for women is sexual assault or child sexual abuse. About one in three women will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime. Rates of sexual assault are higher for women than men. Women are also more likely to be neglected or abused in childhood, to experience domestic violence, or to have a loved one suddenly die.
What happens after trauma
After a trauma, some women may feel depressed, start drinking or using drugs, or develop PTSD. Women are more than twice as likely to develop PTSD than men (10% for women and 4% for men). There are a few reasons women might get PTSD more than men:
Why are some women at higher risk for PTSD?
Not all women who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD. Women are more likely to develop PTSD if they:
What PTSD is like for women
Some PTSD symptoms are more common in women than men. Women are more likely to be jumpy, to have more trouble feeling emotions, and to avoid things that remind them of the trauma than men. Men are more likely to feel angry and to have trouble controlling their anger then women. Women with PTSD are more likely to feel depressed and anxious, while men with PTSD are more likely to have problems with alcohol or drugs. Both women and men who experience PTSD may develop physical health problems.
Treatment for PTSD
There are good treatments for PTSD. However, not everyone who experiences a trauma seeks treatment. Women may be more likely than men to seek help after a traumatic event. At least one study found that women respond to treatment as well as or better than men. This may be because women are generally more comfortable sharing feelings and talking about personal things with others than men.
Women in the military
Women in the military are at high risk for exposure to traumatic events, especially during times of war. Currently, about 15% of all military personnel in Iraq are women. Although men are more likely to experience combat, a growing number of women are now being exposed to combat. Women in the military are at higher risk for exposure to sexual harassment or sexual assault than men. Future studies are needed to better understand the effects of women's exposure to both combat and sexual assault.
Published by the VA National Center for PTSD
History
Most early information on trauma and PTSD came from studies of male Veterans, mostly Vietnam Veterans. Researchers began to study the effects of sexual assault and found that women's reactions were similar to male combat Veterans. Women's experiences of trauma can also cause PTSD. This finding led to more research on women's exposure to trauma and PTSD.
Risk of experiencing trauma
Findings from a large national mental health study show that a little more than half of all women will experience at least one traumatic event in their life. Women are slightly less likely to experience trauma than men. The most common trauma for women is sexual assault or child sexual abuse. About one in three women will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime. Rates of sexual assault are higher for women than men. Women are also more likely to be neglected or abused in childhood, to experience domestic violence, or to have a loved one suddenly die.
What happens after trauma
After a trauma, some women may feel depressed, start drinking or using drugs, or develop PTSD. Women are more than twice as likely to develop PTSD than men (10% for women and 4% for men). There are a few reasons women might get PTSD more than men:
- Women are more likely to experience sexual assault.
- Sexual assault is more likely to cause PTSD than many other events.
- Women may be more likely to blame themselves for trauma experiences than men.
Why are some women at higher risk for PTSD?
Not all women who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD. Women are more likely to develop PTSD if they:
- Have a past mental health problem (for example depression or anxiety)
- Experienced a very severe or life-threatening trauma
- Were sexually assaulted
- Were injured during the event
- Had a severe reaction at the time of the event
- Experienced other stressful events afterwards
- Do not have good social support
What PTSD is like for women
Some PTSD symptoms are more common in women than men. Women are more likely to be jumpy, to have more trouble feeling emotions, and to avoid things that remind them of the trauma than men. Men are more likely to feel angry and to have trouble controlling their anger then women. Women with PTSD are more likely to feel depressed and anxious, while men with PTSD are more likely to have problems with alcohol or drugs. Both women and men who experience PTSD may develop physical health problems.
Treatment for PTSD
There are good treatments for PTSD. However, not everyone who experiences a trauma seeks treatment. Women may be more likely than men to seek help after a traumatic event. At least one study found that women respond to treatment as well as or better than men. This may be because women are generally more comfortable sharing feelings and talking about personal things with others than men.
Women in the military
Women in the military are at high risk for exposure to traumatic events, especially during times of war. Currently, about 15% of all military personnel in Iraq are women. Although men are more likely to experience combat, a growing number of women are now being exposed to combat. Women in the military are at higher risk for exposure to sexual harassment or sexual assault than men. Future studies are needed to better understand the effects of women's exposure to both combat and sexual assault.
Published by the VA National Center for PTSD