Abnormal Psychology Chapter 6 (Trauma and Dissociative Disorders)

Treatment for PTSD:

1. Return body back to normal- start taking sleep aids and reduce activity that heightens PTSD symptoms. 2. Identify triggers - ex: spicy foods can increase chance of nightmares 3. Practice and use relaxation techniques- to keep person from going into complete fight or flight mode. Ex: breathing exercises can help in re-training the mind to stop overreacting to situations when there is no longer a threat or danger 4. Treat concurrent issues- people might try to self medicate or turn to alcohol to cover or reduce symptoms of PTSD 5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - identify and change unhealthy thoughts and behavioral patterns.

Diagnosis modeled after PTSD, but occurring at least 3 days but up to 1 month immediately following a traumatic exposure.

Acute stress disorder

Process of separating from reality

Dissociation

A condition in which the mind splits itself into more than one piece. Most of the time, the mind dissociates a body part.

Dissociative disorder

A condition of abnormally heightened awareness and can make people highly irritable and irrational

Hypervigilance

A condition that causes excessive worrying that any symptom they experience is the presence of a serious illness.

Hypochondriasis

A condition characterized by debilitating pain that does not have a physical cause. Pain is created in the brain.

Pain Disorder

A person who witnessed a horrible accident and then became unusually anxious and depressed for three weeks is probably experiencing:

acute stress disorder

A pattern of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and flashbacks that persists for years after a horrible event is called:

post-traumatic stress disorder

The ability to overcome stress or return to functioning briefly after enduring a trauma is called:

resilience

A person who copes well with a happy event in life is showing a positive:

stress response