Some people experience stressful events which impair their ability to work, attend school, maintain important relationships or drive because of their previous exposure to a catastrophic event. If this describes you, you may be entitled to obtain remedial damages if psychological testing reveals that you have developed signs of multiple emotional and behavioral problems known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The triggering antecedent to PTSD is often a stressful or traumatic event where your life may have been threatened, severe injury took place or you may have been victimized or a witness to physical or sexual abuse, or a particularly violent act. Or, you may have experienced a life-threatening automobile or work accident, natural disaster or, perhaps you were diagnosed with a life threatening illness.
Your risk of developing PTSD is related to the seriousness of the trauma, whether it has become repetitive and your proximity to it. Testing by a clinical psychologist may reveal signs of agitated, anxious or confused behavior.
It may also reveal that you have experienced intense fear, profound feelings of helplessness and futility, rage, depression, or revulsion, horror or denial related to the trauma.
If you have experienced severe trauma repetitively, testing may reveal that you may have developed severe emotional numbing, which is meant to deaden or obstruct the pain of the trauma; you may find yourself avoiding situations or places that remind you of it.
This is called dissociation and symptomatic avoidance.
Psychological testing for PTSD often consists of taking 1-3 True-False tests and having one to two interviews with a psychologist to determine if you have become less responsive emotionally, depressed, withdrawn or more detached from your feelings than is normal.
Repetitive experiencing of the symptoms can be disabling, so the testing will also assess whether you are emotionally re-experiencing the trauma by:
Having frequent memories or flashbacks in which some of, or the entire trauma is continually repeated,
Having intractable, upsetting and frightening thoughts or images related to the trauma, or,
Re-experiencing the same physical or psychological symptoms when reminded of the triggering event.
If afflicted with PTSD, testing may also reveal the following about you:
Anxiety about dying prematurely,
A lack of interest in usual outside activities,
The occurrence of headaches, backaches or intestinal cramping,
The manifestation of more sudden and extreme emotional reactions than is usual or normal,
Your difficulty in falling or staying asleep,
The expression of inappropriate, irritable or angry outbursts,
Seriously impaired focusing or concentration,
Inappropriate or disabling signs of hyper-vigilance meant to prevent other traumatic events from occurring,
And/or, the repetition of maladaptive behaviors that are linked to the trauma.
Symptoms of PTSD may last from several months to many years. The best approach is prevention of the trauma.
However, once it has occurred, psychological evaluation, testing, assessment and early intervention are essential. Family support and support from significant others is crucial and emphasis should be placed upon reinforcing feelings of safety.
It is helpful for your testing psychologist to empathically provide you with detailed feedback regarding the findings of your testing, refer you to a an experienced counselor or psychotherapist and allow you to discuss symptoms of the trauma with him.
Your treating therapist may engage you in behavior modification and cognitive therapy techniques to help you lessen your fears and anxieties. Medication may also be beneficial in helping you to cope with any rage, anxiety, or futility you may experience.
Clinical psychologists can be very helpful in diagnosing and treating PTSD. With family and professional sensitivity and support, you can learn to cope with the memories of the trauma and then progress to a fulfilling and normal life.
Author Resource:-
Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Lake-in-the-Hills. He provides expert assessments for alcohol, drug abuse and PTSD. Call 1 847 275 8236 and make an appt orlearn more about counseling at: http://www.carypsychology.com
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