An estimated 7.8% of all Americans will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. Roughly 5.2 million people have PTSD during the course of a given year. And PTSD can affect anyone - from war veterans and abuse victims to persons directly or indirectly traumatized by other catastrophes including crime, natural disasters, and serious accidents. Getting treatment as soon as possible after PTSD symptoms develop may help prevent PTSD from developing into a long-term condition. Treatment may take the form of medication, pychotherpay, or alternative medicine. Wha.

Cover; Halftitle; Title; Copyright; About the Author; Dedication; Contents; Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1 PTSD: What It Is and Isn't; The Journey Begins; PTSD: What It Is; What Is the History of PTSD?; Who Gets PTSD?; What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?; How Is PTSD Diagnosed?; Complex PTSD; PTSD: What It Is Not; DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANXIETY AND ANXIETY DISORDER; ACUTE STRESS DISORDER; BRIEF PSYCHOTIC DISORDER; ADJUSTMENT DISORDER; OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER; STOCKHOLM SYNDROME; 2 Why Me? Understanding How You Developed PTSD; A Perfect Storm: The Causes of PTSD. YOUR BRAIN/BODY RESPONSE TO STRESSYOUR GENETICS; YOUR PERSONALITY; YOUR ENVIRONMENT; Trauma and PTSD; TYPES OF TRAUMA; War; Violent Victimization; Natural Disasters; Accidents; Terrorism; Other Possible Traumas; 3 Symptoms: When Every Day Is Yesterday; Re-Experiencing Symptoms; FLASHBACKS; Dealing with Flashbacks; NIGHTMARES AND NIGHT TERRORS; Dealing with Nightmares and Night Terrors; EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL REACTIONS; Dealing with Emotional Reactions; Dealing with Physical Reactions; PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS; Dealing with Psychotic Symptoms; Avoidance and Numbing Symptoms; AVOIDANCE. Dealing with AvoidanceNUMBING; Dealing with Numbing; Increased Arousal Symptoms; Dealing with Increased Arousal; 4 Collateral Damage: Complications of PTSD; PTSD and Comorbidity; DEPRESSION; Dealing with Depression; SUICIDE; Dealing with Borderline Personality Disorder; ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE; Dealing with Substance Abuse; OTHER ANXIETY DISORDERS; General Anxiety Disorder (GAD); Dealing with General Anxiety; PANIC DISORDER; Dealing with Panic Disorder; PHOBIAS; Dealing with Phobias; EATING DISORDERS; Dealing with Eating Disorders; PTSD and Its Effect on Important Areas of Functioning. RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARTNERStrengthening Your Relationship with Your Partner; RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN; Strengthening Your Relationship with Your Children; WORK; Strengthening Your Working Abilities; PTSD and Victimization; Physical Eff ects; PTSD and Homicide Survivors; Dealing with Being a Homicide Survivor; PTSD and the Aftermath of Disaster; First Responders and PTSD; Dealing with Being a First Responder; 5 The Usual Suspects: Traditional Treatments for PTSD; Psychotherapy for PTSD; COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY; EMDR (EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING). PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPYFAMILY THERAPY; GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY; Medications; ANTIDEPRESSANTS; ATYPICAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS; ANTIPSYCHOTICS; ANTIANXIETY MEDICATIONS; MINIPRESS; 6 Different Strokes: Alternative Treatments for PTSD; PTSD and Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Massage Therapy; Hypnosis; Cautions with Hypnotherapy; Cautions with Homeopathy; Acupuncture; Cautions with Acupuncture; Herbal Medicines; CHAMOMILE; KAVA KAVA; Cautions with Kava Kava; LAVENDER; Cautions with Lavender; ST. JOHN'S WORT; Cautions for St. John's Wort; VALERIAN; Cautions with Valerian.