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July 2009 - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
When a traumatic event — such as a car crash, physical assault, fighting in a war or a bad accident — happens to you or someone you know, it’s natural to feel shaken and upset. But if you continue to feel this way weeks or months later, you might be have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
| “PTSD is a real illness that causes distress and anxiety after experiencing a traumatic event,” said Terri deRoon-Cassini, a clinical instructor with a PhD in Clinical Psychology who specializes in treating people with PTSD as part of the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Trauma Program. |
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While the Trauma Center helps people survive physical injuries, team members also recognize the importance of helping people with psychological issues that may arise following a trauma.
Dr. deRoon-Cassini helps trauma victims who are hospitalized at Froedtert & The Medical College. She also provides outpatient counseling to people in the community experiencing PTSD. “This program is unique in the area of trauma care,” she said.
“PTSD can affect anyone. It can develop shortly after the traumatic event or much later. You don’t have to be physically hurt yourself. You can get PTSD after you see other people, such as a friend or family member, get hurt.”
There are three major symptoms of PTSD:
- Re-experience symptoms — a person keeps reliving the event, thinking about it constantly, having flashbacks and nightmares.
- Avoidance symptoms — a person avoids talking about the event and feels emotionally numb.
- Hyper-arousal symptoms — a stimulus associated with the event causes person’s heart to rate increases, and he or she feels agitated and on guard.
“While about two-thirds of people involved in a traumatic event do fine, one-third continues to have symptoms of PTSD,” Dr. deRoon-Cassini said. “They feel stressed and afraid well after the danger is over. This affects them and the lives of people around them.
“For some people, PTSD can be debilitating and greatly affect their quality of life. It can affect a person’s concentration, appetite, work and social life. They can feel depressed and withdrawn.”
Proven Treatments“If you or someone you know think may be suffering from PTSD, there are effective treatments,” Dr. deRoon-Cassini said. “Through various forms of exposure therapy, I help people to relive the event. This is a carefully controlled process intended to help people confront the event, put their fears at rest and feel safe. These techniques have been proven effective with members of the military was well as the general public.”
Dr. deRoon-Cassini works with each person to determine the best method to address a person’s fears and the trauma experienced. She also consults with a Medical College of Wisconsin psychiatrist if a patient may need medication to help with symptoms.
For an appointment with a trained PTSD therapist, talk to your healthcare provider or call the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin at 414-805-3666 for a referral.
ResourcesSmall Stones, a health resource center of Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, offers the following resources on PTSD:
- Healing From Post-Traumatic Stress – A Workbook for Recovery by Monique Lang, LCSW
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for Dummies by Mark Goulston, MD
- Invisible Heroes, Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal by Belleruth Naparstek
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) for PTSD by Gary Craig
- A Guided Meditation CD for Healing Trauma (PTSD) by Belleruth Naparstek
Author: Marla Fraunfelder Date: July 1, 2009 | Medical Reviewer: | Terri deRoon-Cassini, PhD |
Last Review Date: Jan. 4, 2010 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler
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