| Abstract |
Carolyn, an Emergency Room nurse, was on the front lines of a recent mass shooting. Although she has seen trauma from shootings previously, she has never seen so many children traumatically shot and for no specific reason. She is in a state of despair and has begun to self-medicate. Carolyn sits in front of a grief counselor in the "hopes" of figuring out what to do. 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. |
