157). Basically, this means those who were exposed to stressful situations such as deployment or sexual trauma will continue to have stress reactions to those events due to the alterations of the brain’s nervous system. For example, these individuals with PTSD will have flashbacks in which they relive the trauma which will trigger the fight-or-flight response that was triggered during the traumatic experience. These individuals may also experience social symptoms such as isolation or staying away from stressful situations that may result in re-living the trauma. Other biological aspects of PTSD include “sleep abnormalities… some elevation of thyroid functions and higher than normal levels of natural opiates in the brain” (Ginsberg, Nackerud & Larrison, 2004, p. 157). These aspects may be caused by the alteration of the brain’s chemistry. For instance, if a person is stressed, they may be on high alert causing adrenaline to run through their system and also preventing the person from sleeping properly. These symptoms express a change in the brain’s chemistry due to the traumatic
157). Basically, this means those who were exposed to stressful situations such as deployment or sexual trauma will continue to have stress reactions to those events due to the alterations of the brain’s nervous system. For example, these individuals with PTSD will have flashbacks in which they relive the trauma which will trigger the fight-or-flight response that was triggered during the traumatic experience. These individuals may also experience social symptoms such as isolation or staying away from stressful situations that may result in re-living the trauma. Other biological aspects of PTSD include “sleep abnormalities… some elevation of thyroid functions and higher than normal levels of natural opiates in the brain” (Ginsberg, Nackerud & Larrison, 2004, p. 157). These aspects may be caused by the alteration of the brain’s chemistry. For instance, if a person is stressed, they may be on high alert causing adrenaline to run through their system and also preventing the person from sleeping properly. These symptoms express a change in the brain’s chemistry due to the traumatic