Summary: <p>PTSD<br> Exploring the Functional Nature of Symptoms<br> Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes LPC-MHSP, LMHC, CCDRC<br> Executive Director: AllCEUs<br> Host: Counselor Toolbox and Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery Podcasts</p> <p>Continuing education Credits for this podcast are available at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/59/c/">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/59/c/</a></p> <p>Objectives<br> ~ Review PTSD Symptoms and explore their functional nature<br> Purpose<br> ~ By understanding the function of symptoms we can<br> ~ Normalize the behavior<br> ~ Identify alternate ways to meet that same need or address the issue<br> ~ Re-Experiencing<br> ~ Trying to replay it to figure out how to integrate into your schema (like fitting a puzzle piece)<br> ~ Reminding the person of similar situations to “protect” them<br> Purpose<br> ~ Avoidance<br> ~ The system is already over taxed. Avoiding upsetting stimuli by blocking out most stimuli, memories of the event.<br> ~ Avoiding unnecessary use of energy by not getting “excited.”<br> ~ Changes in Beliefs<br> ~ Protects against future “surprises”<br> ~ Tries to assimilate the experience into schema<br> ~ Increased Arousal<br> ~ Protects the individual</p> <p>Re-Experiencing<br> ~ You re-experience things every day<br> ~ Access schema that guide your actions<br> ~ When you go to work<br> ~ When you encounter a particularly volatile client<br> ~ When you approach a stop light<br> ~ Re-Experiencing in PTSD<br> ~ The context is often overgeneralized<br> ~ The precipitating factors are often unknown<br> ~ In many cases the resolution was not one of empowerment, resulting in trying to continually figure out how to not be disempowered</p> <p>Re-Experiencing: Assimilation or Accommodation<br> ~ Intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic events<br> ~ In children repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the traumatic events are expressed.<br> ~ Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content or feeling of the dream is related to the events<br> ~ In children there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.<br> ~ Flashbacks or other dissociative reactions in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic events are recurring<br> ~ In children trauma-specific reenactment may occur in play.</p> <p>Re-Experiencing<br> ~ Intense or prolonged psychological or physiological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic events<br> ~ The event represents a time in which the person experienced or witnessed something horrifying<br> ~ The brain is trying to help the client<br> ~ Avoid future similar situations<br> ~ Learn how to protect during future similar situations</p> <p>Avoidance<br> ~ Purpose: Avoidance of Recurrence of Pain or Arousal of Stress Response System<br> ~ Emotional numbness and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma.<br> ~ Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic events (not due to head injury, alcohol, or drugs)<br> ~ Purpose: An exhausted system conserves energy in case there is another threat<br> ~ Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities<br> ~ Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others<br> ~ Persistent inability to experience positive emotions</p> <p>Hypocortisolism<br> ~ Cortisol is the stress chemical<br> ~ After extreme stress and/or under chronic stress the brain may reduce the responsiveness of the stress response system by reducing the cortisol<br> ~ This is protective, it keeps the organism from using precious resources by getting “excited” about anything (including pleasure)<br> ~ Due to fear conditioning</p>
