Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition resulting from witnessing a life-threatening event. The surge in the diagnosis of PTSD is alarming, as millions are diagnosed annually, with women leading with the most cases. The paper describes the story of Ann, diagnosed with PTSD after surviving an accident that claimed her husband.
The paper delves into the lived experience of Ann, the impact of PTSD, and the learned insights through this interview. The findings illustrate that PTSD is common, preventable, and treatable. By providing the pathophysiology of PTSD, the search reveals the intricate nature of the condition, with factors such as comorbidity increasing the risk of occurrence. The precipitating factors of PTSD, including comorbidity between PTSD, MDD, and SUD, are elaborated to show the influence of external factors in steering the prevalence of the disorder among individuals. Therefore, the results underscore the importance of holistic therapy interventions that promote holistic healing.
Introduction
The interrogative session delved into the life of a chef who had endured a traumatic event that had significant consequences. I conducted the interview online via Zoom, which lasted an hour. The purpose of this interrogation was to uncover the lasting impact of traumatic experience and identify the symptoms of trauma, diagnosis, treatment, and overall effects of the condition on an individual’s life. Therefore, Ann’s case reveals the intricate nature of trauma through different responses that include activation and avoidance, and all these reveal the essence of effective and individualized therapy interventions that promote recovery.
Interview Findings
The interviewee’s name has been changed to Ann to ensure the participant’s confidentiality and security. Ann described that the traumatic event ensued after she was involved in a car accident when she, together with her husband, was traveling on a surprise vacation. Ann describes the accident as overwhelming and shocking to process, illustrating how significant it was to her well-being. On that day, Ann recalls that they boarded the expedition company’s car and looked forward to enjoying their time together. However, their fun was cut short when the vehicle lost control on a highway, resulting in a grisly accident that claimed the life of her husband and left her with paralysis of one limb, called monoplegia.
When asked about how she reacted after the incident, she mentioned that she lost it entirely and became psychotic at some point. Ann described the event as a “nightmare” that robbed her of all joy and left her worthless, illustrating the adverse reaction she experienced due to trauma. I realized that Ann was displaying extreme distress when narrating this story, as her eyes were teary, and this highlighted the intrusive post-traumatic response. However, her explanation made me learn that there are different types of reactions to trauma, and they may range from mild to severe reactions.
Ann also revealed that her family members have played a pivotal role in strengthening her recovery process. She mentioned that after the accident, she was in denial and did not want anything to do with seeking help or any psychological counseling. Therefore, her family and church community were crucial supports since they provided an environment for emotional release and calmness. Through this reminiscing, I understood the relevance of social support for trauma patients as it enhances the recovery process.
As we delved deeper into the impact of this traumatic event, I prompted her to share some of the coping strategies she employed to enhance her physical and mental wellness. I asked her, “What was the most effective coping strategy you applied that steered your recovery process”? She answered that consulting a trauma-informed therapist was a significant breakthrough in her case. The reason is that after she began therapy sessions, she discovered that vivid flashbacks, nightmares, and reliving the accident were not typical phenomena experienced by every individual. She mentioned that she was formally diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which was a significant step towards recovery.
I noticed that Ann avoided talking about her limb paralysis, as this would evoke too much emotional response. This information made me realize that it is paramount that psychologists continuously develop their skills to ensure they provide the best holistic care for their clients to ensure wholesome healing. Ann stated that her psychologist was a trauma-informed specialist, meaning the practitioner understood the case and would provide quality services that aligned with her needs.
Finally, we discussed the routines that keep her going as an accident survivor. She mentioned that ongoing counseling sessions, social support groups, and medications prescribed by her psychiatrist have helped stabilize her mood and reduce anxiety. She also mentioned that she joined a society of professionals with disability. This venture has allowed her to discover her new passion for public speaking, which she currently does alongside working at home.
Through this narration, I learned the importance of the successful integration of patients into the mainstream environment after suffering trauma that causes a lasting impairment. Psychologists must devise effective integration plans for patients to ensure that the patients can lead a fulfilling life after enduring a traumatic experience.
Analysis and Discussion
Mental health conditions, including trauma, affect many people in the US. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2024), 3.6% of US adults have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the prevalence is higher in women than men. This factor justifies the reason why Ann was diagnosed with PTSD, considering that she was among the category of gender whose prevalence of contracting the condition is high.
The statistics above can easily cause anxiety, especially to a mental health advocate like myself, whose primary goal is to reduce the prevalence of mental health disorders by promoting early detection and treatment. One verse that comes to mind is Philippians 4:6-7, highlighting that Christians should not be anxious but present their request to God (King James Bible, 2024b). This scripture in the bible reminds me that we can find peace through prayer and petition to a higher authority whose might cannot be challenged by the limitations of the earth.
The symptoms of PTSD can vary in intensity, and some can have lasting consequences. For instance, the interviewee depicted different symptoms after the incident, including flashbacks and nightmares, that align with the symptomology criteria for PTSD. Some symptoms may last throughout the recovery process, such as sudden changes in emotion or attitude when prompted to narrate the events. According to Briere & Scott (2014), trauma survivors may display outbursts and anger when faced with an inquiry about the event, and this is called an activation response.
Ann also avoided talking about her paralysis, and this was a coping mechanism of avoidance established to keep away negative thoughts. This behavior aligns with findings by Briere & Scott (2014), who claim that people who have encountered trauma may prefer avoidance responses that involve ignoring stimuli that evoke emotions. Therefore, the reminders of the traumatic events still serve as a trigger, which made Ann display some emotional distress, including anxiety.
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) criteria for PTSD provide a standard criterion for diagnosis of the disorder. One indicator is that the individual must have been exposed to a traumatic event, including experiencing an accident (Forkus et al., 2023). Experiencing consistent and repeated intrusive thoughts, including involuntary memories of the events, is another symptom.
An individual can also become avoidant, meaning that they are actively evading people, places, activities, and events that trigger negative emotions. The patient can also demonstrate alteration in cognition and mood, including feelings of guilt and constant dissatisfaction (Forkus et al., 2023). In addition, the person can have alterations in arousal and reactivity, including irritability and outbursts. Therefore, the diagnosis given to Ann was justified as she had displayed the different symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, evading activities and conversations that reminded her of the experience, and a change in mood and affect.
Various factors trigger PTSD in people, and it can be analyzed by assessing the sequelae and comorbidity factors. The sequelae of PTSD include a wide range of debilitating symptoms and conditions that contribute to the occurrence of the condition (Fox et al., 2020). Individuals who abuse substances, including alcohol, are more likely to experience severe PTSD than their counterparts. In addition, pre-existing mental health disorders, including major depression, can cause individuals to experience severe PTSD when they experience a traumatic encounter (Fox et al., 2020). These issues can have significant physiological and psychological consequences, considering that they deteriorate wellness and escalate the occurrence of other mental health concerns.
PTSD is a mental health condition that often co-occurs with other mental health disorders. Comorbidity makes the diagnosis and treatment of the mental health condition challenging due to the different dynamics of how the conditions manifest. One of the commonly associated conditions is Major depressive disorder (MDD), which is characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, and constant feelings of hopelessness (Fox et al., 2020).
Individuals diagnosed with MDD may experience severe symptoms of these two disorders, making it unbearable for them to handle the situation and heal. However, these conditions are manageable through effective therapeutic interventions and prayer (Fox et al., 2020). In Romans 8:38-39, the scriptures illustrate that nothing can separate brethren from the love of God (King James Bible, 2024a). This word is vital in promoting healing as it reminds the individual that even adversities cannot win against God, for his love and mercies endure forever.
Substance use disorder (SUD) is another comorbidity of PTSD, considering that the effects of drugs, including co-dependency, aggravate the impact of PTSD and can lead to death. SUD creates a cycle of addiction to the drug ingested, and this worsens mental health. In addition, individuals diagnosed with SUD have a higher rate of relapse and increased risk of engagement in risky behaviors, which can serve as triggers to their PTSD, worsening the impact (Fox et al., 2020). Therefore, comorbidity complicates the treatment process, making it necessary for integrated interventions to treat the disorders cumulatively.
Conclusion
The interview provided valuable insights into the effect of traumatic experiences on an individual’s life. In an online interview lasting for an hour, Ann illustrated the complex nature of PTSD and navigating life after the trauma. Her experience proves different philosophical points, including the activation and avoidance responses. The findings of the interview highlight the effects of PTSD and its prevalence, indicating a surge in diagnoses made across the US. Therefore, effective holistic interventions must be employed to facilitate restorative healing as the dynamics of the disorder manifest differently, illustrating the importance of tailored remediation.
References
Briere, J. N., & Scott, C. (2014). Chapter three: Assessing trauma and post-traumatic outcomes. In Briere, J. N., & Scott, C (Eds.), Principles of trauma therapy: A guide to symptoms, evaluation, and treatment (DSM-5 update) (pp 63-93). Sage Publications.
Forkus, S. R., Raudales, A. M., Rafiuddin, H. S., Weiss, N. H., Messman, B. A., & Contractor, A. A. (2023). The post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist for DSM–5: A systematic review of existing psychometric evidence. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 30(1), 110.
Fox, R., Hyland, P., Power, J. M., & Coogan, A. N. (2020). Patterns of comorbidity associated with ICD-11 PTSD among older adults in the United States. Psychiatry Research, 290.
King James Bible (2024a). Romans 8:38 -39.
King James Bible (2024b). Philippians 4:6 -7.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).