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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
By
Pamela Anne Griffin Law, CBIS, CI-CE, CCC-SLP*
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the result of a psychologically distressing event that at the time of trauma produces fear, terror and helplessness because the trauma represents a threat to the survivor’s or family member’s life (APA, p. 247). I will attempt to synthesize factual information about PTSD while coloring it with knowledge I have gained as a result of my family’s reaction to PTSD.
My father is a Vietnam Veteran who has been haunted by dead soldiers, his fallen comrades in arms for as long as I have been alive. A diagnosis of PTSD was not made until I was in my early 20’s. My father’s diagnosis helped me to see similar symptoms in myself that were the result of a motor vehicle accident in which I was critically injured, sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and multiple other traumatic injuries some five years prior. I sought medical help to manage my reaction to the devastating trauma. I consider both situations to be cumulative traumas - the threat to life and the overwhelming fear resulted from continual and repeated exposure to devastating circumstances.
Current television and media exploration of PTSD have increased and can be seen in prime time television and in local news footage. An increased focus on PTSD has been seen in my own community in response to the Columbine High School shootings. However, veterans whose family and friends may be unaware of PTSD and its devastating effects on health and happiness, may be unfamiliar with its hallmarks. It is my hope that the information that follows will help readers who may or do suffer from PTSD to seek help if they have not. Family members may share this article with their loved one in the hopes of putting a name to what has become a part of the family’s daily life. I hope to offer some new insights from PTSD experts that may be of benefit in mastering your trauma.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (1987) outlines the following criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD if they persist for at least one month:
1. Person experiences extreme trauma (i.e., combat veterans, accident survivors and victims of violence).
2. Person re-experiences the trauma through thoughts, dreams or flashbacks and/or has psychological distress when presented with triggers or psychological reminders of the trauma including anniversaries, gun shots, disturbing news stories.
3. Person has avoidance of these triggers or feels numbness regarding their situation. This avoidance can be manifested in an inability to recall important aspects of the trauma, diminished interest in previously enjoyed activities, detachment from others or from one’s own feelings and a sense of a foreshortened future.
4. Person has persistent increased arousal as evidenced by hypervigilance (continually on guard to ward off reoccurrence of trauma), poor sleep, irritability, poor concentration, exaggerated startle response and/or physiologic changes such as sweating when faced with a trigger.
The above symptoms can coexist with depression, anxiety, survivor guilt, emotional lability, self defeating behaviors, suicidal ideation, edginess or nervousness, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), drug or alcohol abuse or changes in cognitive functioning (reduced recall or poor concentration) (APA and Goleman).
According to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, there is hope for those of us who suffer from PTSD. Goleman hypothesizes that PTSD survivors can relearn a more normal response to trauma by using role-playing, art (drawing/poetry), relaxation techniques or daydreams to recall and rethink our ordeals as a part of supportive psychotherapy. He believes we can enable ourselves to use our brain’s frontal cortex to inhibit the amygdala, the portion of our brain which houses the stress-induced brain changes that are the result of the uncontrollable stressor which left us feeling overwhelmingly helpless and forms the foundation of PTSD.
Goleman cites the work of Harvard Psychiatrist, Judith Lewis Herman who outlines three stages in the lifelong recovery process of trauma recovery. Hermann identifies attaining a sense of safety, remembering the details of the trauma and mourning the loss it has brought and resumption of a normal life as indications of trauma mastery. Signs of trauma mastery can include strong, trusting relationships, control over emotional outbursts, changes in self-defeating responses, less distress when recalling the trauma and a reduction in anger, guilt and tension. I believe that trauma mastery is, like everything else, a work in progress. Progress for me is found in attempting to live life to the fullest, each and every day and facing my fears with faith, courage and conviction.
If you have already been diagnosed with PTSD, I encourage you to readily discuss concerns with your treating physician and/or your therapist. There are numerous medications available that may be beneficial to you. Some psychotherapy techniques include individual and group treatment, peer support groups, hypnosis and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Techniques used by a given therapist vary and some techniques have limited scientific support. Don’t be afraid to ask your treating physician about available techniques. Contact your physician for information regarding medication, alternative medicine approaches or any of the mentioned psychotherapy techniques. A helpful solution that my Dad has found is poetry. He has authored numerous poems that reflect his recollections and response to PTSD. This article is intended to be a companion to the stories found in the following pages.
I have chosen to immerse myself in readings for trauma survivors and utilize journal writings and meditation to assist in nurturing my sense of self and to minimize the impact of my trauma on my life. I have come to recognize that I will never forget the date of my accident and many of the events, which unfolded, in my recovery. I recognize that I will cry when I hear of the untimely death of another teenager (especially seventeen year olds - my age at the time of the accident) or when I see individuals triumph over their adverse circumstances. I have also learned that this is ok - I am happier and stronger because of those tears.
I am grateful for my life and my recovery. I wish to give back my life in service to others and have chosen to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology so I can work with other trauma survivors attempting to master individual and often, cumulative traumas. Since the original presentation of this article, I have participated in acupuncture and herbal treatments to manage chronic physical pain resulting from my accident. Acupuncture has allowed me to exercise again, which in turn brightens my spirit. I encourage others to consider consultation with a qualified acupuncturist to see if there is an alternative management for you, too.
I have been blessed with a loving family and friends who enrich my life on a daily basis and for which I am truly grateful. It is my hope your family and friends can journey this life with you with loving encouragement and inspiration. I also hope that if you need help, you will seek the help of your local Veterans Administration Hospital, family physician, your fellow veterans and your family.
God Bless you for your service to our dear country and in your journey towards trauma mastery. I thank each of you in my prayers for the freedoms I enjoy. Always remember that your country owes you a debt of gratitude and even if citizens are unable to express it, they feel grateful, too. May God bless you in your journey towards trauma mastery.
Bibliography
American Psychiatric Association (1987). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Revised., 3rd Edition Washington, DC: APA.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. NY: Bantam Books.
Reid, W.H., G.U. Ballis, & B.J. Sutton. (1997). The Treatment of
Psychiatric Disorders, 3rd Edition, Revised for DSM IV. Bristol, PA:
Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Author’s Biographical Sketch
The author is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, certified by the American Academy of Certification for Brain Injury Specialists (AACBIS). She is also certified as an AACBIS Clinical Instructor and Clinical Examiner. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence as a Speech-Language Pathologist from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Her employment has spanned across the entire brain injury continuum of care.
She gained experience employed as the Brain Injury Project Coordinator in a contracted position through the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Health and Rehabilitation and the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. Pamela is a doctoral candidate of Psychology at California Coast University and will earn her PhD in the very near future. CCU is a distance learning program based in Santa Ana, California.
She is now engaged in private practice as a Psychotherapist. She is married to Tucker Law and they have two daughters, Emilie and Meaghan. The family resides in Westminster, Colorado.
Pamela's award from:
The American Academy of Experts In Traumatic Stress
OUR CHILD, TORN AND TATTERED
BY: Peter S. Griffin
© Celebrate Life  There May Be No Time Like The Present!
A gift of love, from Heaven above,
Blessed we are, God's consecration of love....
A baby born, to share our life,
A bundle of joy, to protect, day and night....
A mother's joy, A father's pride,
Her laughter, makes our smiles wide....
Her first step, a gigantic stride,
Our hearts are open, far and wide....
To come home, after a hard days work,
To see her smile, makes it all worthwhile....
To play with her and make her laugh,
Will warm, winter's coldest draft....
Pam, our little girl - was it really that long ago?
A child makes a house a home,
A restless heart, will cease to roam....
A husband's and wife's love, thus bonded,
Form a weld, that can't be parted....
To see her grow, to guide her so,
To watch her blossom and flower....
To become a young lady, right and proper,
To see your guidance, shine and prosper....
Photo by Grif
Before the terrorists - 1981 - Mom (Brenda), Pam and Brent.
You thank God, all day long,
For making such a miracle, all your own....
Her first tears, break your heart,
Her first kiss, her feelings start....
To see her knowledge, grow and leap,
Her compassion, full and sweet....
To see her innocence, white as snow,
Off to college, she must go....
Preparations, will take all summer,
New friends, she'll soon discover....
Making friends and forming relations,
Fills her heart with anticipation....
Pam ~ HS Graduation ~ Summer 1985
Gone with friends, to see a movie,
Full of life, music..., oh so groovy....
Then it happens, in a flash,
A dreaded phone call, there's been a crash....
"She's seriously injured", they're quick to relate,
"It appears brain damage, is her fate"....
Many attempts, but no response,
"I'm afraid her prognosis..., there's much to want"...!
"Please dear God, don't let it be,
If you must, please take me...!
She's so young, don't let her go,
Let her live, we love her so....!"
Many dark days were to follow,
Our hearts broken and spirits low....
Praying to God, for courage and strength,
Our faith in Him, would not relent....
As time passed, God healed her wounds,
Doctors encouraged, her strength resumed.....
Many obstacles to overcome,
From love of God, her determination sprung....
Working hard, she fought back the tears,
Family and friends, allayed her fears....
Mom and Dad, praying day and night,
God gave them all, the will to fight....
Brent ~ age 11
Little brother, Brent, a brave ally,
Always staying, by her side....
Sharing a room, to fight the gloom,
He made her laugh, he fed her by spoon....
Always showing her confidence,
His love and concern, filled the room....
Helping her, with physical therapy,
His brotherly love, a bright, shining clarity....
After several operations,
And many months of recuperation....
We were filled with divine elation,
Life was filled, with new inspiration....
To have OUR CHILD, TORN AND TATTERED,
Our family life was really rattled....
But by keeping, God's good faith,
He restored us, to his saving grace....
L/R Grif, Pam, Tucker and Brenda
Oh! Happy Day! ~ Pam & Tucker wed ~ September 5, 1987
Now she's grown, very well educated,
A loving husband, Tucker, her friend and guide....
Two lovely girls, a beautiful baby boy, God's creations,
The noble healing profession, is her vocation....
"Granna Brenda" pictured with (L/R) Meaghan and Emilie
We wish you joy, health, happiness and long life,
For you have conquered, many a strife...
Now, as you watch your family, prosper and grow,
Always remember, we love you so...!
 
L/R "Miss Em" and "Maggie May".
The Laws have a beautiful new baby boy named, Connor Edwin.
God bless you, Pam, we are so very proud of you!
Love, Mom, Dad, Brent, Stephanie and Georgia
 
All photos © Copyright Griffin's Lair
The Salutation of the Dawn
From the Sanskrit
Listen to the exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
In its brief course lie all the verities
And realities of your existence:
The splendor of beauty,
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action:
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow only a vision:
But today, well lived,
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope,
Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn.
(Dad, thought you would like this, it reminds me of paratroopers. Love, Pam. Sent D DAY - 6 June 2007) 
You can now order "When You Hear The Bugle Call" from Amazon.com by clicking the above cover.
Please read THOUGHTS, MEMORIES AND TEARS customer reviews at Amazon.com by clicking the cover above. It might also be a great time to place an order. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, "Grif"
© Celebrate Life Everyday is a new beginning!
Please visit our other website below. Tara's Tale is a children's literature presentation that the entire family will enjoy. Come to the mystical land of Mineral Springs and meet The Wood Witch and all of her magical friends! This story was written as a constructive aid for children and young adults to better understand life, death, and to help them accept the loss of a loved one with a positive and healthy attitude.
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