Psychological and Psychophysioloical Stress Disorders

Appendix D

Psychological and Psychophysiological Stress Disorders

Respond to the following:

1. Stress can be the root cause of psychological disorders. Name four symptoms shared by acute and posttraumatic stress disorders.

“Reexperiencing the traumatic event People may be battered by recurring memories, dreams, or nightmares connected to the event. A few relive the event so vividly in their minds (flashbacks) that they think it is actually happening again.

Avoidance People will usually avoid activities that remind them of the traumatic event and will try to avoid related thoughts, feelings, or conversations.

Reduced responsiveness People feel detached from other people or lose interest in activities that once brought enjoyment. Some experience symptoms of dissociation, or psychological separation: they feel dazed, have trouble remembering things, or have a sense of derealization (feeling that the environmentis unreal or strange.

Increased arousal, anxiety, and guilt People with these disorders may feel overly alert, be easily startled, develop sleep problems, and have trouble concentrating. They may feel extreme guilt because they survived the traumatic event while others did not. Some also feel guilty about what they may have had to do to survive” (Comer, R. J., 2005, p. 136).

2. What life events are most likely to trigger a stress disorder?

The most common stressors are combat, disasters, abuse, and victimization.

3. Traumatic events do not always result in a diagnosable psychological disorder. What factors determine how a person may be affected by one such event?

Things that make one more susceptible to psychological disorders include personality, childhood experiences, social support, and the severity of the trauma. (Comer, R. J., 2005, p. 141).

4. What are the four stages in meeting the psychological needs of disaster victims?

“1. Normalize people’s responses to the disaster. The counselors educate survivors about the symptoms they...