| No matter how strong or well trained, you are | | | | confront physically injured patients on a regular |
| susceptible to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | | | | basis. Or the special situations like people who |
| (PTSD.) | | | | worked to remove the victims' remains at |
| People in our society usually have no concept | | | | "Ground Zero" in the ruins of the World Trade |
| about what happens in the professional life of our | | | | Towers after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist |
| emergency response teams or our military | | | | attacks. Or consider the surviving high school |
| personnel returning from duty in war zones. The | | | | students after the fatal shootings on the campus |
| critical events that these professionals may have | | | | of Columbine High School in Colorado. These are |
| to experience include seriously traumatic events | | | | just a few examples of people living with |
| and situations that are not easily released by | | | | traumatic memories that can invade their minds, |
| mind, body or spirit. Certain events can trigger a | | | | bodies, and emotions. It is not unusual for people |
| severe PTSD. As a tragic example, which was | | | | surviving from PTSD to have difficulties sleeping |
| described to me by my partner, friend, and | | | | or concentrating or releasing the memories that |
| retired policeman, Rodger Ruge, some of the | | | | haunt them. Anxiety can also manifest with |
| worst trauma to horrific events happened when | | | | symptoms of chest pain, rapid or irregular heart |
| he had been called to respond to a gruesome | | | | beats, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, and |
| fatal automobile accident where children were | | | | sometimes overwhelming fear. |
| involved. Any person, especially a mother or | | | | There are many strategies that can be beneficial |
| father in police or fire services, will tell you that | | | | for people suffering from PTSD starting with |
| these experiences are very difficult. The | | | | understanding and support as quickly as possible. |
| cumulative effect of many traumatic experiences | | | | These individuals often need to be "debriefed" |
| does not usually have the affect of making these | | | | about the trauma and need opportunities to freely |
| people "battle hardened." I have worked with | | | | vent without outside judgments. Some will require |
| emergency responders who were not disabled by | | | | more counseling and professional attention. |
| these experiences until 10 to 20 years later in | | | | Sometimes anti-anxiety or anti-depression |
| their careers. | | | | medications can be helpful. Most can benefit from |
| Returning military are often young men and | | | | a program of stress management that leads to |
| women who have experienced the most stressful | | | | controlling their physical responses to fear and |
| situations where there lives were under constant | | | | anxiety. After learning effective stress |
| threat for months at a time. They often will | | | | management, a process called desensitization can |
| withdraw into emotionally trusting only their | | | | be employed to beat the remaining fear and |
| "buddies" because they sense that no one else | | | | anxiety. Linking this process with biofeedback can |
| can truly understand the circumstances that these | | | | help improve the outcomes and offer the PTSD |
| soldiers must endure. In the worse case, they | | | | sufferer a chance to see the connection to |
| may witness a close friend being maimed or killed | | | | "getting back in control" of their body's response |
| in action. For people of any age and level of life | | | | mechanism. Getting people to regain their sense |
| experience, this can be devastating, but when this | | | | of self-control by learning to control their anxiety |
| happens to young people who are not as strong | | | | responses, can allow them to get back in control |
| emotionally as they try to appear, the long term | | | | of their lives, which are often described by the |
| effects can be devastating. The training and | | | | traumatized person as "spiraling out of control." |
| support that they receive is never quite enough | | | | If you know someone who may be suffering |
| to keep the emotional scars of war from forming. | | | | from PTSD, reach out and give them as much |
| In working with veterans of World War II and | | | | support and understanding as possible. Lead them |
| Vietnam, I have seen the protective screen that | | | | to trained professionals and do not assume that |
| is pulled down to protect their emotions after | | | | time will heal these emotional wounds. Buried |
| participating in the traumatic situations. Often | | | | traumas can come back to haunt "healthy" people |
| these vets never want to discuss these | | | | in their future lives. Especially with young children |
| experiences for fear of bringing up the old "buried" | | | | and young adults, take this information very |
| memories. But I have seen that these traumas | | | | seriously and get them the support that they |
| are not forgotten or resolved. These traumas are | | | | need. |
| like mighty chains that these survivors drag with | | | | More information regarding stress management |
| them through life. | | | | and wellness for emergency responders especially |
| Working with police, fire, and emergency medical | | | | police and fire personnel can be found at Part I |
| responders can be very challenging. They see | | | | PTSD for Police personnel, fire, Emergency |
| themselves as "tough," professional, and often | | | | Responders, Returning Military, and Emergency |
| unemotional about their dangerous and emotionally | | | | room Medical staff |
| challenging work. These professionals often find | | | | More information regarding stress management |
| comfort with fellow responders. They understand | | | | and wellness for emergency responders especially |
| that even their families would not be able to really | | | | police and fire personnel can be found at |
| understand what they must confront. They will | | | | PoliceHealth.us This includes links to organizations |
| often use humor to emotionally survive. Many will | | | | that help support first responders suffering from |
| "self-medicate" with alcohol (or possibly other | | | | PTSD. |
| drugs/medications) to control anxiety, stress, | | | | Information on PTSD: ncptsd.va.gov and |
| fear, and anger which may lead to substance | | | | nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/ptsdmenu.cfm |
| abuse. The mental and emotional distractions that | | | | More info for Vets: vva.org/benefits/ptsd.htm |
| past traumatic events create can lead to | | | | Information on PTSD: ncptsd.va.gov and |
| accidents or mistakes that can further injure | | | | nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/ptsdmenu.cfm |
| these professionals mentally or physically. | | | | More info for Vets: vva.org/benefits/ptsd. |
| Consider also the Emergency Medical staffs that | | | | |