Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is well known mental disorder which occurs when someone goes through a particularly disturbing or distressing event. Some of the many questions that researchers ask are:
i. What gender is more at risk of PTSD and do they have different symptoms? ii. Why do PTSD victims resort to drugs instead of therapy? iii. Do many PTSD patients relapse after rehab? iv. Are substances helpful when victims try to sleep?
v. Are there ways to help people with this disorder?
A search of the EBSCOhost database shows many peer reviewed empiricals that talk about the substance abuse in PTSD victims. Although there is many programs that try and help them they are most often weak and patients relapse. Using drugs soothes the victims and makes them forget about the traumatic event that cause them to resort to drugs. i. What gender is more at risk of PTSD and do they have different symptoms? Research shows that 10.4% percent of women have PTSD while only 5% percent of men suffer with the disorder. …show more content…
Researchers believe this is because women are more likely to experience rape or sexual abuse than men. About 50% of women in the U.S are likely to experience a traumatic events but 1 out of 5 women become PTSD victims. Lisa M. Najavits says that out of the males with PTSD 52% have an alcohol disorder and 35% have a drug disorder. While it is 28% and 27% for women. Even though more women have PTSD than men, more men try to escape it with substance abuse. Which leads us to our next question. ii. Why do PTSD victims resort to drugs instead of therapy?
Because there is such a great amount of stress on the person, many with PTSD will be unable to deal and turn to substances to escape from the trauma. This substance abuse has caused very high percentages of PTSD victims who suffer from alcohol dependence (over 50%) and drug dependence (over 30%). Endorphins are a huge part in the substance abuse with PTSD patients. When someone experiences a disturbing or distressing event, their brain releases endorphins as a way of dealing with the problem. When it is over, the body practices an endorphin withdrawal, which has some of the same symptoms as substance withdrawal. iii. Do many PTSD patients relapse after rehab? People with PTSD that go to rehab usually have very high chances of relapsing. Thinking of the aspects that may decrease the danger of relapse and progress treatment results is very important. There has been enlarged consideration on the role of mindfulness in contributing to substance use and how mindfulness-based interventions can be implemented in substance use treatment. iv. Are substances helpful when victims try to sleep? People with PTSD might have problems falling asleep or problems with waking up during the night. They sometimes medicate themselves with alcohol because they believe it will help them fall asleep without the nightmares or the stress. The truth is using too much alcohol can get in the way of helpful sleep. Meaning although they are sleeping their brain and body did not rest. Alcohol changes the quality of their sleep and makes it less stimulating. v. Are there ways to help people with this disorder? People who agonize from PTSD feel like they’ve lost control. Taking an active role in a person with PTSD’s recovery can
i. What gender is more at risk of PTSD and do they have different symptoms? ii. Why do PTSD victims resort to drugs instead of therapy? iii. Do many PTSD patients relapse after rehab? iv. Are substances helpful when victims try to sleep?
v. Are there ways to help people with this disorder?
A search of the EBSCOhost database shows many peer reviewed empiricals that talk about the substance abuse in PTSD victims. Although there is many programs that try and help them they are most often weak and patients relapse. Using drugs soothes the victims and makes them forget about the traumatic event that cause them to resort to drugs. i. What gender is more at risk of PTSD and do they have different symptoms? Research shows that 10.4% percent of women have PTSD while only 5% percent of men suffer with the disorder. …show more content…
Researchers believe this is because women are more likely to experience rape or sexual abuse than men. About 50% of women in the U.S are likely to experience a traumatic events but 1 out of 5 women become PTSD victims. Lisa M. Najavits says that out of the males with PTSD 52% have an alcohol disorder and 35% have a drug disorder. While it is 28% and 27% for women. Even though more women have PTSD than men, more men try to escape it with substance abuse. Which leads us to our next question. ii. Why do PTSD victims resort to drugs instead of therapy?
Because there is such a great amount of stress on the person, many with PTSD will be unable to deal and turn to substances to escape from the trauma. This substance abuse has caused very high percentages of PTSD victims who suffer from alcohol dependence (over 50%) and drug dependence (over 30%). Endorphins are a huge part in the substance abuse with PTSD patients. When someone experiences a disturbing or distressing event, their brain releases endorphins as a way of dealing with the problem. When it is over, the body practices an endorphin withdrawal, which has some of the same symptoms as substance withdrawal. iii. Do many PTSD patients relapse after rehab? People with PTSD that go to rehab usually have very high chances of relapsing. Thinking of the aspects that may decrease the danger of relapse and progress treatment results is very important. There has been enlarged consideration on the role of mindfulness in contributing to substance use and how mindfulness-based interventions can be implemented in substance use treatment. iv. Are substances helpful when victims try to sleep? People with PTSD might have problems falling asleep or problems with waking up during the night. They sometimes medicate themselves with alcohol because they believe it will help them fall asleep without the nightmares or the stress. The truth is using too much alcohol can get in the way of helpful sleep. Meaning although they are sleeping their brain and body did not rest. Alcohol changes the quality of their sleep and makes it less stimulating. v. Are there ways to help people with this disorder? People who agonize from PTSD feel like they’ve lost control. Taking an active role in a person with PTSD’s recovery can