| Abstract |
Ever since Nichon was in a terrible car accident, she has not been feeling like herself. She still finds it difficult to get behind the wheel and refuses to drive at night. Her relationship with her husband has suffered. Loud noises, sights, smells, and sounds cause her to recall the incident and become so afraid that her body reacts physically to the stress. This training title highlights the major symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder may include: recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of traumatic events; recurrent distressing dreams related to the events; dissociative reactions such as flashbacks in which the individual acts or feels as if the traumatic event were recurring; intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event; persistent avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic events; avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic events; negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic events such as negative beliefs and expectations, blame, negative emotional states, diminished interest, feeling detached from others, and inability to experience positive emotions; and marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic events including hypervigilance, irritability, poor concentration, poor sleep, exaggerated startle response, and reckless or self-destructive behaviors. |
