文档介绍：HOPE
FOR
RECOVERY
UNDERSTANDING
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
We live in a society What Is
that values and teaches Posttraumatic
the importance of Stress
“I was
self-reliance, inner
Disorder? 18 years
strength, the ability to old when
e adversity. I was raped at
knifepoint. At first
In fact, it mon to
I felt devastated,
feel that no matter what
but after a while
we’ve faced, no matter I believed I was
how extreme the ordeal, putting it behind
me. That’s what
we should be able to get
I wanted to do, and
over it and eventually
thought I should
move on to better, be able to do. But
happier, greater things. the truth is that
I don’t recognize
But what if, after my life anymore.
something terrible has Nothing has been
the same since.
happened, you find that
I wake up at
you simply cannot night thinking he’s
“move on?” there in my room.
And I can barely
breathe. I still can
hear his voice...”
© PTSD Alliance 2001
Many of us have had a traumatic
experience — the death of a loved
one, serious illness, divorce. At the
time, we may have been very upset,
or frightened, or sad. But usually
the grief passes, the pain lessens
over time, and life eventually es
more normal.
But sometimes people experience
life-threatening or life-changing
situations that are so distressing
or cruel that the memory doesn’t
fade, not even slightly. For some
people, the experience is so extreme
that they find they cannot get passed
it to move on with life.
Someone who feels this way may
be suffering from posttraumatic
stress disorder, or PTSD, a very real
and debilitating health condition.
Fortunately, a lot has been learned
in the last several years about
PTSD treatment and support.
Understanding PTSD and seeking
intervention is important to treating
the persistent and overwhelming
symptoms, and helping people to
regain their lives.
“I wasn’t there for anyone
anymore — it was like I
had