STEVEN SWAGLEER

PTSD I have PTSD

Learn somthing
new every day

What is Do you have

PTSD? PTSD?
pg. 2 Look at the newstudy
and take the self
assesment starting on
pg. 4
 2
What is
PTSD?
~Steven Swagler
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD for short
is a physiological and neurological imbalance as
result of witnessing a traumatic event. These
events could be as small as a car accident and as
large as fighting in a war or a terrorist attack. The
brain is designed to respond to moments or
events based on knowledge and experience.
Some believe that it is just a state of mind, and
you can convince yourself it isnt true but, for
those who suffer from the disorder it is like living
in someone elses life. Luckily for these people it
can be cured.
PTSD can form in response to many different
events, but war and abuse are the primary
causes. The main portion of PTSD patients are
war veterans who have completed tours
overseas. These men and woman of the armed
forces have seen and experienced things that
most of us cannot even comprehend. They leave
the states as a normal person and when they
return, they have an extremely hard time
adjusting back to normal. After going through
what they have, how could they go back to
normal? This is a very tough question because
without experiencing a situation like theirs, we
cannot truly understand or relate to them. This
disorder, although unknown to most, can also
occur in children and civilian adults
For most civilian cases, PTSD is related to some
form of abuse: sexually, physically, or mentally.
Some symptoms of the disorder are sleepless
nights, anxiety, depression, and
skittishness. The result of abuse can be
associated to a skittish puppy after being abused
by its handler. A simple shut of a door will now
scare the dog. It is not healthy to live life dealing
with skittishness.
PTSD, like depression, can be cured or
suppressed with multiple types of medicine.
Buddhas meditation is the first type, which is
meditation is designed to change the automatic
thinking of the brain away from negative thought
. When the patient can control what they are
thinking, then success is achieved. This takes a lot
of patience that most patients do not have. The
next two types of medicine are good
substitutes to meditation. Cognitive therapy,
created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s is one of the
substitutes. Beck created the process of catching
the bad thoughts or what was causing the
anxiety and then challenging them or proving
that they cannot affect you anymore. The other
form is a more modern pill group known as SSRI
or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Prozac
is a pill in the SSRI pill group that is commonly
used to treat depression, PTSD, and anxiety. It
takes five weeks for Prozac to go into effect but
once it does all life is restored for the patient. The
fourth way to cure PTSD is to find something that
will shift the patients focus as Melissa Walker
states in her ted talk, Art can heal PTSD's
invisible wounds . Some found the cure in art
and dancing, while others have found the cure in
supporting other humans or taking up childhood
hobbies.
are abused sexually, physically, and or mentally.
 3

For most people, Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder is just another
disorder that seems to only be
associated with military personnel
and war veterans but it is more
than just that. PTSD is a change in
life style; its something that
impedes lifes progress. The most
common and recognized patient
of PTSD is that of the person in
combat. When a soldier goes into
combat they see and experience
things that most people only see
in video games or superhero
movies. This is a reality for those
soldiers currently at war, and
adjusting back to their normal life
can be a huge challenge. Some
can transition but others continue
to mix normal life and war life in a
big bowl of terror. This is also the
case for children and civilians
when they are abused sexually,
physically, and or mentally.
 4
New
Connections?
A study by Steven Swagler
After the vast amounts of research I have
conducted on the topic of PTSD, I seem to be
left with unanswered questions and a desire for
more information. The following study might
answer these questions. These questions might
include but are not limited to:
1. How does the type of event or severity of
event effect curing time and probability of made and they will be randomly selected under
getting PTSD?
2. How does Gender affect the probability of
getting PTSD and the effects of curing methods
on male vs female?
3. Which method of curing is the best for ..? branch of the US military: Air Force, Army, Coast
(. insert any random person)
4. Does a persons environment during the
duration of treatment effect rates of
improvement?
To answer these questions this study will have will also be selected to participate in the study.
two parts with two participating groups of a
total of 10000 people. I chose 10,000 people for
the study because only approximately one-
thousand or ten percent will satisfy the
requirement of getting PTSD thus providing
sufficient concluding data. The purpose of the
first portion of the study would be to find
correlations between heart rate, sleep activity,
happiness levels and, answers to a PTSD
assessment. The second portion of the study
will find a correlation between cures and time it
takes to significantly reduce the symptoms.
There will be two groups of people. To start I
will create a study where a group of 5000
randomly selected soldiers are tracked for ten
years following their final tour of service. A
stratified sample of the 5000 soldiers will be
the condition that they have served overseas for
at least one tour of duty. This means that 1000
will be randomly selected from each major
Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. This
stratification occurs to see if there is a
correlation to the type of military deployment,
the percent that exhibit symptoms of PTSD, and
curing methods. Then 5000 civilian participants
 5

Of these 5000 civilians, 2400 against the stereotypical PTSD traumatic events, cures, and
participants will be randomly patient. These tests will be lifestyles affect the speed of
chosen from the state records
of the reportedly abused under repeated one year later. The PTSD symptom reduction. This
the condition that the abuse new results will be compared information will help hospitals
had occurred within the past to that of the first tests and and psychologist prescribe the
year. These participants will again to the stereotypical PTSD correct and most efficient
also be stratified into sub
groups: 800 for mental abuse, patient. This will help verify means of curing for specific
800 for physical abuse, and 800 who has developed the patients. The patient's cure can
for sexual abuse. The remaining disorder. Once data is now be individualized to
2600 participants will be
randomly selected from a analyzed, the groups can be bring them back to their
region in the world that has charted or graphed to show normal lifestyle.
experienced a great natural what percent of each group
disaster with a high loss of life.
The event must be one that the and subgroup ended up with
population does not commonly PTSD after the traumatic event.
experience. Of those 2600, Those participants who have Continue to the
there will be a stratification
where fifty percent will be male who have developed PTSD will
be treated by a group of
next page to see if
and fifty percent female to see
if there is a correlation between
gender and PTSD affects and
specialists who all practice you or someone
different types of curing
curing methods.
Regarding testing, each
methods. To reduce bias the you know has
patients will be stratified by the
participant will be tested based
initial group that they started
PTSD
on three categories. The first is
in and then within that group
sleep activity; where monitors
prescribed a random cure.
will be hooked up while they
Every year the testing process
sleep for a months duration to
from above will re-occur for
monitor heart rate and the
these patients. Each individual
amount of restless sleeping.
patient will now have a chart
This will help show if the
showing the results in the form
patient may have the disorder
of a line graph, where PTSD
or not. The second will be a
symptom levels is on the left
happiness or satisfaction of life
and time is on the bottom. A
test. This will be compared to
downward trend will result in
the same test that friends and
good progress being made.
family took regarding your
This will go on for ten years
state before deployment. The
and during the time between
third will be taken by the
testing, data will be collected
participant comprehensive
about how each person lives
PTSD test or assessment that
their life for example; marital
will be conducted by a trained
status, community
psychologist and in a
involvement, drinking habits,
controlled environment. This
eating habits, exercise routines,
will be in the form of
and family involvement.
screenings and survey. The
This collected data can now be
results from the three tests will
quantified, graphed, and
be collected and analyzed
overlaid to see how different
 6
The PTSD
Test
Fill this page out and compare it to the exercise
the website listed afterwards or visit Relationships that were once close and even
my textbook page for the electronic intimate
version. (circle what you expirence)
Re-experiencing Symptoms: Memories and
images of the traumatic events may intrude
into the minds of those with PTSD. They occur
suddenly without obvious cause. They are often Physical fatigue
accompanied by intense emotions, such as
grief, guilt, fear, or anger. Sometimes they can exercise
be so vivid a person believes the trauma is
actually reoccurring.
Nightmares, Night Terrors
Sleepwalking, Sleep Fighting
Unwanted Daytime Memories, Images, Thoughts,
Daydreams
Flashbacks, Feeling Like You're Reliving the
Traumatic Event
Somatic Flashbacks (Physical Pain / Medical
Condition Linked to the Feeling or Bodily States
Associated with the Traumatic Event)
Fixated on War Experience, Living the Past
Spontaneous Psychotic Episodes (the World
Vanishes and you're Suddenly Somewhere Else,
Experiencing Some Sort of Trauma)
Panic Attacks, Undefined Dread or Fear
Phobias
Avoidance Symptoms: Traumatized individuals
attempt to avoid situations, people or events
that remind them of their trauma. They feel
numb, emotionless, withdrawing into
themselves trying to shut out the painful
memories and feelings. Friends and family feel
rejected by them, as they are unable to show
appropriate affection and emotion.
Avoiding anyone or anything that reminds you of
the traumatic event
Physical/emotional reaction to things that remind
you of the traumatic event
Self-isolating, dread or social interaction
Anxiety in crowds, traffic
Despair, depression, sadness, emptiness, loneliness
Inability to trust others
Very reluctant to talk about your traumatic event
Lack of interest or motivation regarding
employment, recreation, former hobbies, sex,
are now strained, cold, distant, requiring
too much energy to maintain
Emotional numbness, flat, can't get happy or sad,
'dead inside'
Substance abuse to 'numb' yourself (drug, alcohol,
food)
Suicidal thoughts
Suicide attempts
Neglect/abandon personal care, hygiene, nutrition,
Arousal Symptoms: Fearing further trauma,
PTSD sufferers are always on the alert, on guard,
jumpy, unable to sleep, angry, irritable. Many
also have concentration and memory problems.
Anger, irritability, short fuse, fits of rage
Hypervigilance (always on guard), always need to be
armed with knife or gun; could also include
emotional hypervigilance
Easily startled, react to loud noises, jumpy
Substance abuse to un-numb yourself (drugs,
alcohol, food)
Reduced cognitive ability (slow thinking, confusion,
poor problem-solving, concentration)
Poor memory
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, insomnia
Night sweats
Accelerated heart rate, rapid breathing, heart
palpitations for no good reason
Question/abandon faith, feeling of being betrayed
or abandoned by God, mad at God
Fear of becoming violent
Becoming violent, provoking fights
Homicidal thoughts
Anniversary reaction (become anxious nearing the
monthly or yearly anniversary of the traumatic
event)
Adrenalin junkie (taking risks, getting hyped-up)
http://ptsdusa.org/what-is-ptsd/get-help/
 7

Life or other substances to

escape and cope)
Satisfaction 7) I am aware and enjoy living
in the moment (I don't dwell
on future or past events).
Survey: 8) I have fulfilling relationships
19) I find it easy to forgive
others when I have been
hurt.
20) I apologize and make
amends quickly when I have
hurt someone else.

with family and friends. 21) I am good at keeping

Please answer the following
questions, using the criteria
below. Please choose the
number which most closely
fits how you feel at this time
in your life:
0 - Never feel this way
1 - Rarely feel this way
2 - Sometimes feel this way
3 - Often feel this way
4 - Always feel this way
1) I know what my purpose in
life is.
2) I am excited about learning
new things and developing
my skills and talents.
3) My life is in balance
physically.
9) I have fulfilling intimate
relationships in my life.
10) Humor, laughter, and
playfulness are a big part of
my daily life.
11) My partnerships are fairly
and equally balanced (work
and personal).
12) I find positive ways to deal
with stress. (i.e. exercise,
talking, meditating, etc).
13) I exercise appropriate
control over the things that I
can in my life.
14) I live life with an attitude of
gratitude.
15) I live my life with passion
and joy.
events in my life in
perspective.
22) I live my life with integrity
and honesty in all of my
dealings.
23) Kindness and compassion
are virtues that I practice
daily.
24) I perform acts of service
daily.
25) I have a strong faith which
sustains me throughout my
life.
Visit:
http://www.
thehappinesscenter.com/
survey/survey.php
To obtain results

4) My life is in balance 16) I have exciting dreams and

emotionally. aspirations to look forward
to.
5) My life is in balance
spiritually. 17) I am an optimistic person.

6) When life feels "out of 18) I enjoy hearing other

control," I choose healthy
behaviors to help me re-
center and renew. (i.e. I do
not use shopping, eating,
sleeping, television / internet,
people's insights and points
of view, even when they are
different from my own.
 8

In conclusion. it, began to research how someone could rid

themselves it. I found that meditation, SSRIs, cognitive
therapy, and even family and friend support could

What was this all have a huge impact on the reduction of symptoms.
With this I concluded that PTSD could only be cured
with the right sources and methods of treatment, but
for? Whats next? without these the patient will never overcome the
hardship. PTSD will only continue to ruin the persons
life until they wind up dead or in jail.
As I worked on this project, a few questions came up.
~Steven Swagler's final thoughts The first was how could someone let their life get that
bad? I thought it was primarily because they didnt
I started this project with very little knowledge on the have a desire to continue with life but after all my
subject but through my research I have learned and research I found that every person handles the
now understand the topic of PTSD. During this disorder differently. With my previous knowledge on
project, I followed the process of PTSD from the very happiness I can conclude that when you are already
beginning, from contracting the disorder to curing it. at a low happiness level and you have no support
Through this, I found how it can come about in a after the traumatic event you will find it extremely
persons life, the effects of having the disorder, how hard to rebound. This contrasts with a person who
to recognize it in a person, and how it can be cured or was extremely happy to begin with and had a large
reduced. As I finished my research I realized that amount of support from family and friends and will
PTSD is more than just a disorder. I have concluded rebound faster. Another question that came to my
that it is a parasite of a disease that without curing mind was which curing method would help the most
will slowly destroy ones life. My goal for this research with a relation to the specific event? I could not
project is to help others also realize my personal formulate an answer for this so I decided to form a
conclusion. When they also come to that conclusion, study (see Entering the Conversation) that could find
then they will be more likely to help those with the connections between the event, life habits, and
disorder. curing methods. If this study were to be conducted it
This disorder develops in people who have witnessed would answer my question but it would not answer
or experienced a traumatic event and as I dug into all my or your questions that might arise. With this,
my sources I also learned that these events dont all there are a few areas of interest that could be further
involve battle. For some PTSD can be sparked by a explored. One topic that could be researched would
terrorist attack and for others it can be sparked by be the implications of leaving PTSD untreated in
any form of abuse. From this and my interviews, I was regard to the development of other diseases or
lead to the conclusion that this disorder develops disorders. Another topic that could be further
from events that emotionally scar a person (the researched is how PTSD, if surmounted could help the
events that can never be forgotten). When I was patient in the long run. Could a traumatic event make
researching, I found a NPR clip that supported and someone better? I believe it could but one cannot
showed an example of this perfectly. It was an find this without further research. In conclusion PTSD
interview of a soldier describing his symptoms after can be caused and cured by many different things but
being diagnosed with the disorder. It appears that he without further research or a study some questions
could never forget what happened across the seas. cannot be fully answered.
As I learned how easy and common it was to contract
9