ptsd

Title: Posttraumatic stress disorder and secondary traumatization in military families
Author(s): Alexandria Robinson
Source: The Exceptional Parent. 41.7 (July 2011): p48.
Document Type: Article
Full Text: 
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The phrase "it takes a village to raise a child" is one that only a parent can fully grasp the meaning of. To a military family this saying is especiallytrue because most of that time, the "village" these families are surrounded by is usually the "village of military families" Even though all families share in the common military experience, when times get hard and loved ones are away or adjusting to coming back home after a long deployment, the stress of being a military family can seem very lonely. One of the causes of this sense of loneliness maystem from something called posttraumatic stress disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that although is very common among military personnel who have experienced the horrors of war, can turn a family inward to the point of complete isolation from the outside world. It is through identifying the problem, obtaining the researched-based knowledge to address the issue, andhaving the support of the "village" that enables families to heal. Further research is needed to continue to support the restoration of the families of the men and women who serve our country, especially those in harms way.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV, posttraumatic stress is defined as a condition a person may develop after they have "been exposedto a traumatic event that involved serious injury, a threat of physical injury, and a response involving intense fear, helplessness, or horror". This can include anyone who has experienced sexual assault, war, witnessed a death, or even had a close relationship with someone else who has PTSD (which is often referred to as secondary traumatization). This type of trauma exposure manifests itself innumerous symptoms for those struggling with PTSD. Some of the symptoms include "recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the traumatic event", insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating, hyper vigilance, and others. Until recently, research on this condition has focused mainly on the individual's experience, but now psychologists are starting to see that this truly is a familycondition that can have a profound effect on everyone in a family, including children and spouses of people who have PTSD themselves.
Today, the War on Terror has created new opportunities for researchers to examine the intricate dynamics of families living with PTSD. More studies are being done now on what happens to families once a military parent comes home with PTSD after being deployed to awar-zone. Typically, when a parent comes home after being away from their family for a long time in a stressful environment, they find that things at home are not what they used to be. A lot of the time, children become so used to relying on the parent at home for all of their needs they have a hard time learning or relearning that they can now rely on both parents to take care of them. Just thisnew adjustment alone can create a lot of stress for everyone in the family. When parents experiencing PTSD return home the task of caring for their children can be especially daunting because these parents spend so much of their daily energy on trying to manage their anxiety. This depletion of energy may increase the struggle to provide the constant, tireless care children require.
Although itis rare that children experience PTSD when their parents are deployed during a war, it is quite common for children to develop a form of PTSD known as secondary PTSD or secondary traumatization. This type of PTSD reflects similar symptoms to PTSD but involves an indirect rather than direct traumatic experience. The onset of secondary PTSD most often occurs upon the deployment of the parent, and...