Behind the Facade, Post-Traumatic Stress

AUTHOR: Karen Barrow

PUBLICATION NAME: The New York Times

DATE OF PUBLICATION: November 22, 2010

SUMMARY: Post-Traumatic Stress is psychological disorder commonly diagnosed to patients that are solders who return home from war. If a solder has this disorder they struggle to forget what has been seen while is combat. But not only does post-traumatic stress affect solders, it could also cause trauma towards survivors of natural disasters and mostly a rape victim. Robin Hutchins, 25, lived a normal life until one night she returns home from college and is raped by someone she knew. After a while she coped with what happened and continued to live life regularly. But acts of violence towards her puts Robin in an emotional state causing a severe anxiety attack. This was a drastic affect towards going to school or even getting out of her dorm. She was terrified to leave anywhere alone. After leaving college she had gotten into a car accident making her paranoia more intense. Friends and family believed this isolation thing was just a phase. Also when she went to see some psychologist they claimed she'll eventually get over it. But then she met a logical psychologist who listened to her full story and diagnosed Robin with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.)
               Dr. Ochberg, the Michigan State professor, who has never met Ms. Hutchins, estimated that as many as 80 percent of rapes may lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress. But the stigma of rape, along with a general misunderstanding of the disorder and how it can affect anyone who has suffered trauma, often gets in the way of a proper diagnosis. Robin was glad when she heard she had P.T.S.D. She found better ways to help ease her emotions if things get too tense. Still alone, she adopted a companion who then took on training to help P.T.S.D. patients relax. Since then, Robin has made great progress and is slowly getting control of her emotional outbreaks.

ARTICLE: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/health/23voices.html?_r=1&ref=psychology_and_psychologists

SUBMITTED BY: Shannen Quibuyen