Trauma is a definition that can be used for any event that affects a person’s physical and spiritual world at a shocking level. The word trauma, which is used frequently in daily life, is sometimes used only for events that increase the level of stress we feel, and sometimes it is also used for situations that occur suddenly and cause fear, horror, panic, or anxiety, which we have difficulty in making sense of or getting used to.
In addition to social traumas such as natural disasters, terrorism, war, chronic or acute diseases, economic crises, there are personal traumas such as traffic accidents, rape, harassment, abuse, sudden illness or disability, torture, separation, death, unemployment. It is not necessary for a person to experience the event himself in order for an event to become traumatic. Even if he or she does not experience it, a shocking event witnessed by the person may also be traumatic for that person.
Stress, on the other hand, can be described as any event or situation that disrupts the person’s anxiety balance and may differ in everyone according to the effect of the trauma or the characteristics of the person. While a loss or a separation is traumatic for some, another person may not be affected much by this situation.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be defined as a set of symptoms that develop after an event such as rape, traffic accident, serious illness, fire, war, which is frightening for everyone and threatens the physical integrity of the person or causes death. People who have experienced or witnessed such events state that they are extremely afraid or feel the feelings of helplessness and horror.
The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder may differ from society to society, from region to region, and even from season to season. Due to these changes, it is not possible to give reliable information about the frequency and prevalence.
Common features of traumatic events in post-traumatic stress disorder are as follows;
1. the painful event is very severe
2. the unpredictable, unexpected nature of stress
3. The individual’s lack of control or helplessness in the face of the event
4. Lack of environmental support
Normal responses to trauma situations can be groaned in five stages.
Stage in which fears and anxieties are evident
The stage in which he makes a superior mental and emotional effort to cope with the frightening consequences and losses of the situation.
Stage of feeling grateful and happy for surviving
The stage of anger and frustration felt against the person, institution and situations that paved the way for or caused the traumatic situation to occur.
The stage in which perceptions become more realistic as a result of emotional and mental structuring.
Stress responses after trauma
It is not correct to call the reactions shown immediately after an extraordinary event as “abnormal” or to spread the idea that there is a serious psychological problem. The stress reactions of the person regarding the extraordinary situation experienced should be considered as perfectly normal for a certain period of time. First of all, the person needs to get used to the reality of this situation and the pain, sadness or loss it causes, which can differ from person to person. It has been observed in many studies that this process completely disappears between 6 and 16 months without any intervention. However, it can be suspected that post-traumatic stress disorder occurs with the increase in the dosage of some complaints that affect the daily life of the person extremely negatively, both in cases exceeding this period and after a 3-4 week period following a severe traumatic event, without the need to exceed this period.
DSM IV diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder are as follows;
The individual has experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
The person’s reactions include extreme fear, helplessness, or horror.
Note: children may instead express their reactions with disorganized or agitated behavior.
A very common situation in post-traumatic stress disorder is the involuntary recollection of the event or the distressing situation, and the existence of thoughts and perceptions about it.
In addition, it is a common situation that the traumatic experience is frequently seen in a dream in a distressing way. Feeling or behaving as if the traumatic event is happening again, especially going back to that moment through flashbacks, is among the symptoms frequently reported by patients.
In addition to or in addition to these, thoughts that have accompanied the trauma, feelings or tendency to avoid conversations, avoidance and efforts to stay away from activities, places or people that arouse memories of the trauma, inability to remember a significant part of the trauma, a feeling of alienation or alienation from people and a feeling of alienation from people. Carrying the idea that there is no future left is a common complaint in people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Treatment
The best approach to a traumatized person is supportive, encouraging discussion of the event, and educational interventions by experts in coping with distress.
First of all, a good relationship is established that enables the patient to trust, and the patient’s feelings and thoughts are listened to patiently. Severe anxiety of the patient is relieved and sleep pattern is provided.
If the patient does not have an organic problem, a supportive attitude is displayed for him to return to his job or duty as soon as possible. A psychotherapeutic approach is always used to relax and relax patients and reduce their fear and anxiety. “Exposure” and desensitization, which can be opened up as a practice method, are the techniques that can be used. In addition to these, there are different techniques of cognitive behavioral approach that can be used in post-traumatic stress disorder.
In addition, EMDR (eye movement desensitization method), which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is frequently used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and extremely successful results are obtained.
People who experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder should consult a psychologist as soon as possible, get healthy information about the situation they are experiencing, and receive psychotherapy.
