POST – TRAUMATIC

STRESS DISORDER

BIOLOGICAL: When we are exposed to a traumatic event, we perceive it via our senses: we

hear the announcement of PAGASA of the incoming storm, we see past storm events, we smell the fear and anxiousness and sometimes we even feel the wind blowing strongly already . The information is transmitted from our sensory organs to the brain. Then transmitted to thalamus and from there to two additional areas, the cortex and amygdale. The amygdale are the brains “alarm system,” which is activated by any threat, gives it the emotional tag “fear” and then transmits information to four systems: Memory-Creation System- The amygdale transmits the warning to the hippocampus, which helps provide words for the personal, emotional experience and in creating the proper attitude towards it. From the hippocampus, the information is transmitted to the cortex where, particularly in the area called the “prefrontal cortex,” the overall experience is evaluated If the threat passes, an “all-clear” signal is sent from the cortex to the amygdale and the experience is “filed” as an experience from the past.

The Sympathetic Nervous System, the information also reaches the brain stem,

where an order is given to secrete the hormone neuroadrenaline, which instructs them

to prepare for a dangerous situation (to accelerate the pulse in order to supply more

energy and oxygen, to perspire so that it will be harder for the attacker to take hold,

etc.)

The Hormonal System - the information also reaches the hypothalamus, where it

ends with the secretion of the hormone cortisol that ensure the supply of energy

necessary to deal with the stressful situation.

The Serotonin System - When the hypothalamus transmits the to this nucleus, it

then secretes serotonin that reaches all of the brain structures involved in the response

to stress (the cortex, hippocampus and amygdale). Secretion of serotonin regulates

deceleration of the state of alarm and the return to a state of calm.

GENETICS: Anxiety tends to run in families - meaning that if your parent has an

anxiety disorder, you are more likely to develop one during your lifetime

develop an anxiety disorder even if no one in your family has had an

anxiety disorder.

Even if both of a persons biological parents had a disorder like PTSD, it

doesn't mean that their child will develop PTSD. The child is simply at a

higher risk of developing it.

BEHAVIORAL: Classical Conditioning by PavlovHow do we learn FEAR? A persons brain may form associations to the sights, sounds and smells that

were around at the time. Coming into contact with one of these associated sights or sound can cause an automatic fear reaction. This happens even if the new situation is perfectly safe. Even if he knows that he is not in a combat situation and is safe, the learned association will still be there. His heart will speed up, his breathing will become more rapid, and he will start to sweat. This physical reaction is involuntary.

Stimulus: Storm Surge (strong winds, water coming in and out of the house, floating corpse, etc.)Response: fear, anxiety, deviant behavior

Thus, we learn fear from a very traumatic or a not-expected event

BEHAVIORAL: Operative Conditioning by SkinnerHow do we lessen FEAR after the event?Goal: Making the client feel SAFE

Skinner demonstrated that by manipulating the rewards and punishments in the environment, a behavior can be learned (and unlearned). In behavioral terms, a reinforcement (reward) refers to anything that causes a behavior to increase. In contrast, a punishment is something that causes a behavior to decrease.

Reinforcement (reward): (1) Providing physical needs (food, water); (2) Counselling; (3) Encouragment from different people; (3) games for the kids etc.

Thus, we will invent reinforcement activities to the victims of PTSD so that they may feel safe and less afraid

BEHAVIORAL: Observational Learning by WatsonMy fellow victim has moved on, she is rebuilding her life again from scratch. How about me? Learning is through observation alone, without directly

experiencing an unconditioned stimulus or a reinforcement

Examples on social worker encouraging clients, clients

influenced by their fellow survivors who rebuilt their lives again

from scratch (observing how they were able to control their

lives back)

Attention:In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning.

Retention:Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning.

Reproduction:Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement.

BEHAVIORAL: Social Learning Theory by BanduraHow will I learn, store the learnings, perform and imitate?

Motivation:

You have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been

modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in

motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly

effective, so can observing other experience some type of

reinforcement or punishment. For example, if you see another

student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, you

might start to show up a few minutes early each day.

Thus, it is the client’s hands if he/she want to learn to control his/her fears and anxieties caused by the traumatic event.

Sources:1. http://www.war-related-ptsd.com/#!__about-ptsd/what-causes-ptsd?2. http://www.sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?

type=doc&id=38493&cn=13.