stress, PTSD and Emotional Reactions

By Dr Jeff Bailey | January 30, 2010

While we hear accounts of more than 4000 US soldiers killed in the Iraq war to date, the number of returning veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) numbers in the tens of thousands. A result of the constant conflict, anxiety, and daily threats of death PTSD has been referred to in many ways: Shell shock, combat fatigue, and battle fatigue. Post-Vietnam syndrome is the expression that was used as a result of the Vietnam conflict.

There are well-defined characteristics of PTSD. The major problem relates to unremitting flashbacks with accompanying senses of distress and physical unease. Very few people are able to manage these recurring symptoms.

These emotionally charged flashbacks create ongoing distress and even physical ailments. The consequences of these flashbacks include inability to be able asleep and difficulty being able to focus attention. Unfortunately, many people have terrible nightmares that debilitate and depress them and when they wake in the morning they feel tired and irritable.

When we are stressed, one of the best solutions is to seek social support from our loved ones. The sad part about PTSD is that we often have personality changes that interfere dramatically with the quality of our relationships. Instead of being able to approach our loved ones, our irritability and bad temper causes people to move away from us.

Most of these victims have attentional problems and find it hard to stay on task and be productive at work. There is a constant theme of remembering and agonizing. Even the notion of having these recurrences and being unable to concentrate can cause people to worry even more.

If you knew how many people experienced PTSD, you would be amazed. Something in the order of 8% of people in the US experience stress at a level and for a length of time that can be extremely dysfunctional. And stress and PTSD do not respect gender or race.

Despite the high figures of stress and PTSD, many people are able to cope with their daily lives and manage stress effectively. They have learned effective strategies to reduce stress by identifying the stressors and finding ways to understand and alleviate the tension and anxiety. The problem is, of course, if people cannot manage stress effectively it will impact negatively many areas of their life.

Stress is a normal part of every day life. We live in a fast-paced, modern society where the demands and challenges are great. Most of us have complex lives. We have a social, relationship, financial and occupational responsibilities that ensure that we will have a degree of stress.

Managing stress is one of the most important things we need to learn in a modern complex life. Understanding tension, anxiety, stressors and a range of emotional pressures gives us the tools to be able to unlock and deal with stress disorders. And when we have sound information and know effective stress management strategies we can maintain a steady and stable personality and keep the support of our loved ones.

Information is the key to being able to manage stress and reduce tension. Regardless of whether it is just mild stress, severe distress, or even worse, PTSD, the initial way to deal with stress is to understand this disorder as well as you can. Of course, being able to use effective stress management strategies doubles our effectiveness in dealing with tension and anxiety.

Psychologist, Dr Jeff, helps stressed patients. Why put up with stress? Learn stress management skills now. Click here for the free What is Stress by Dr Jeff. Don’t let stress ruin your life for another minute. Act now – learn how to relieve stress.

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