Understanding PTSD Flashbacks

A flashback is an intrusive, unintentional, vivid memory of a traumatic event. Flashbacks are one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Defining PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic event, including military conflict,  assault, interpersonal violence, a car accident, or a natural disaster.  PTSD can also occur among first responders,  as well as  people whose loved one experienced a traumatic event. To be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual must experience symptoms in the following four categories  for at least a month after the trauma: Re-experiencing the event. People suffering from  PTSD often re-experience the event in unwanted, unintentional ways, including flashbacks and nightmares.  Avoidance of the event. Someone who is experiencing PTSD will often  try to avoid reminders of the event.Negative thoughts or emotions. The person may experience negative emotions (or a lack of positive emotions), feel self-blame, or lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed.Hypervigilance.  PTSD patients typically feel as thought they are constantly on â€Å"high alert.† They may have trouble sleeping, be irritable, or become easily startled, for example. While many people may develop some of these symptoms immediately after a traumatic event, not everyone who experiences a trauma develops PTSD. What a PTSD Flashback Feels Like Flashbacks can  be incredibly  vivid  and involve  re-experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells that were present during the traumatic event. Some people become flooded with the emotions that they felt at the time of the trauma.  Flashbacks can be so overwhelming and immersive that the person experiencing the flashback may temporarily feel that they have physically returned to the moment of the traumatic event. In some cases, a person experiencing a flashback may behave as though they were back in the traumatic event. Flashbacks can occur as a result of a  trigger—that is, when they notice something in the environment that reminds them of  the traumatic event. However, people can also experience a flashback without being aware of a particular trigger that caused it. Flashbacks vs. Memories Flashbacks occur when individuals involuntarily re-experience a memory of a  traumatic event. Importantly, the psychological definition of a flashback  differs from the common colloquial use of the term. A flashback is  not  simply a â€Å"bad memory. Rather, it is an experience in which an individual actually feels as if they  are re-living parts of the traumatic event. Flashbacks in PTSD are different from intentional memories because they occur without the person trying to do anything to bring back the memory. In fact, psychologist Matthew Whalley and his colleagues have found that patterns of brain activation are different when people are exposed to words that they associate with flashbacks, compared to words that they associate with non-flashback memories. Studies on PTSD Flashbacks   Psychologists have investigated whether it is possible to prevent the development of flashbacks after a traumatic event. Researcher Emily Holmes and her colleagues have suggested that, since flashbacks are often powerful visual images, it may be possible to reduce the severity by distracting the visual system. To test this idea out, Holmes and her colleagues conducted an experiment in which participants watched a potentially traumatizing video.  Afterwards, some participants played Tetris, and others did not. The researchers found that participants who played Tetris only had about half as many flashbacks as the participants who didn’t. In other words, it appears that a neutral activity such as Tetris kept the visual systems in the participants brains occupied, making flashback images less likely to occur. In another paper  by Dr. Holmes’  team, researchers asked emergency room patients who had experienced a traumatic event to participate in a similar study. Some participants played Tetris while others did not, and the researchers found that participants who played Tetris had fewer intrusive memories of their traumatic event over the next week. More broadly, researchers have found that psychotherapy and medication can reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks. One type of therapy,  Prolonged Exposure,  involves discussing the traumatic event in a safe, therapeutic setting. Another therapeutic technique,  Cognitive Processing Therapy, involves working with a therapist to change ones beliefs about the traumatic event. Researchers have found that both types of therapy are able to lessen the severity of PTSD symptoms. PTSD Flashbacks Key Takeaways Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event.Flashbacks are a PTSD symptom that involve re-experiencing memories of the traumatic event.PTSD flashbacks can be extremely  vivid and may make  individuals feel as though they are re-living the traumatic event.  Several treatments are currently available for PTSD, and new research is investigating whether PTSD flashbacks can be prevented. Sources Brewin, Chris R. â€Å"Re-experiencing Traumatic Events in PTSD: New Avenues in Research on Intrusive Memories and Flashbacks.†Ã‚  European Journal of Psychotraumatology  6.1 (2015): 27180. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3402/ejpt.v6.27180Friedman, Matthew J. â€Å"PTSD History and Overview.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2016, Feb. 23). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/ptsd-overview.aspHammond, Claudia. â€Å"PTSD: Do Most People Get It After Terrifying Incidents?† BBC Future (2014, Dec. 1). http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141201-the-myths-about-ptsdHolmes, Emily A., James, E.L., Coode-Bate, T., Deeprose, C. â€Å"Can Playing the Computer Game ‘Tetris’ Reduce the Build-up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science.†Ã‚  PloS One  4.1 (2009): e4153. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id10.1371/journal.pone.0004153Iyadurai, Lalitha, et al. Preventing Intrus ive Memories After Trauma Via a Brief Intervention Involving Tetris Computer Game Play in the Emergency Department: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial. Molecular Psychiatry 23  (2018): 674-682. https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201723Norman, Sonya, Hamblen, J., Schnurr, P.P., Eftekhari, A. â€Å"Overview of Psychotherapy for PTSD.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2018, Mar. 2). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/overview/overview-treatment-research.aspâ€Å"PTSD and DSM-5.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2018, Feb. 22). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/dsm5_criteria_ptsd.aspWhalley, M. G., Kroes, M. C., Huntley, Z., Rugg, M. D., Davis, S. W., Brewin, C. R. (2013). An fMRI Investigation of Posttraumatic Flashbacks.  Brain and Cognition,  81(1), 151-159. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3549493/â€Å"What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?† Am erican Psychiatric Association (2017, Jan.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men - 767 Words

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a classic among American literature and is regarded as an important novel in American literature. It is an effective novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as it goes through The Great Depression with George and Lennie and their dream of owning a farm and how it is tragically ruined. One of the most important topics of the novel is loneliness and how it affects characters in the book. Loneliness affects the characters by their happiness and their bitterness. This can be seen through Crooks, Curly’s wife, and Candy readers see these characters go through loneliness and how they deal with their loneliness. Loneliness affects Crooks by his bitterness and his personality and what he thinks about being lonely. In the middle of the book Crooks says to Lennie, â€Å"I ain’t wanted in the bunk house and you ain’t wanted in my room† (Steinbeck 68). This quote proves that Crooks is lonely and isn’t wanted by anyone in the bunk house this makes him bitter too Lennie and the other characters in Of Mice and Men. In the book Crooks also says to Lennie, â€Å"A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody†¦I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick† (Steinbeck 72-73). This quote shows what Crooks thinks about loneliness and how it can make a man go bitter and insane and how loneliness affects Crooks and how he acts around the other characters in the novel. These quotes prove the affects of loneliness on Crooks by his bitterness, his actions, andShow MoreRelatedJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1248 Words   |  5 PagesIn Steinbeck s novel Of Mice and Men, He uses imagery many times to create a realistic setting and plot. Steinbeck’s depiction of migrant workers and their daily complications during the depression are objectively precise due to his use of imagery with idioms, dreams, nature, loneliness and animal imagery. The main theme of the book transpires to be loneliness and fate. While George and Lennie, the main characters have a synergetic relationship, fate steps in and does away with their dreams, whichRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men897 Words   |  4 Pagesthat we possess. Many people feel certain emotions based on events that have taken place in their lifetime or how they were raised throughout their childhood. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he portrays the feelings of isolation and loneliness in three different characters. George’s isolation is illustrated in Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men. George expresses many hard feelings towards Lennie at the opening of this story. â€Å"‘...you’re a lot of trouble,’ said George. ‘I could get along so easy and soRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1243 Words   |  5 Pagesis what John Steinbeck achieves by portraying this through the characters in his novella Of Mice and Men. The main characters are affected by loneliness in their own different way throughout the novella. rf The loneliness is maintained by the challenges that the characters have to face, and they sustain those challenges of being inhumane towards each other. Crook, a figure in the story who experiences discrimination encounters the challenge of race, due to the book’s setting in the 1930’s duringRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1080 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"I want you to stay with me Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself.† The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows the relationship between two migrant workers in the 1930s, George and Lennie, along with the other members on the new ranch that they began working on. Georgie and Lennie dreamed of following the American Dream and owning their own patch of land and the novel revolves around the dream and the obstacles that stand in their way. Lennie, a strongRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men2167 Words   |  9 Pagesjobs. In John Steinbeck’ s Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Small wander through California in search of a new job that would help them make enough money to live their American dream on â€Å"the fatta the lan’†(Steinbeck 14). George and Lennie’s hard work and determination is not enough for them to live their dream. Lennie has a mental disability that slows the two friends down from living their dream; they have to run from job to job because of Lennie’s unintentional actions. Steinbeck incorporatesRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1286 Words   |  6 PagesThe realistic fiction novella Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck explains the journey of two migrant farm workers. Lennie and George are forced to overcome the Dust Bowl and The Great Depression around 1938. This makes jobs even harder to come by because everyone wanted one. Lennie and George were kicked out of Weed and they now work at a ranch in Soledad. At the new farm the friendship between Lennie and George becomes harder to maintain. The people on the farm are all different shapes, sizes, andRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1360 Words   |  6 Pagesfeeling, thinking and acting in everyday life. In the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, a duo of farmers, George and Lennie, search for work wherever they can. Their dream of having a farm of their own is coming into reach, while George has to wield Lennie away from the temptation of Curley’s wife and the reality of what L ennie can do. John Steinbeck uses characterization to illustrate the nature of human existence. Steinbeck portrays George as a man who tries to help, and helps others soRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1448 Words   |  6 Pages In the novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck discusses the idea of loneliness and how people who work at the ranch have no family and no future in lives. He indicates that all people at the ranch are lonely, but he specifically uses a few characters to highlight their state of being lonely and more miserable than the others. He emphasizes the loneliness of ranch life during the Great Depression, and shows how people are willing to try and find friendship in order to escape from the state ofRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1205 Words   |  5 Pagesand the time period of John Steinbeck s novella, Of Mice and Men, exemplifies the idea that people from minorities are held back from achieving their version of the ‘American Dream’. This goes to prove not everyone will overcome the overbearing tidal waves of their hardship s, which makes the American Dream nothing more than a dream to them. Crooks, the black stable hand, faces discrimination due to his skin color as this unfortunately was common in the 1930’s. John Steinbeck uses Crooks’ situationRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men968 Words   |  4 PagesSolidifying the theme of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the protagonist George expresses his significant loneliness despite a strong kinship with his friend Lennie, â€Å"’I ain’t got no people†¦ I seen the guys that go around the ranches alone. That ain’t no good’† (41). Published in 1937, amidst the horrific turmoil of the Great Depression, Steinbeck’s novella struck a sensitive chord with readers. Set in the heart of California’s Central Valley, this story follows two men, George and Lennie, as they

Forensic Medicine ad Toxicology †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Forensic Medicine ad Toxicology. Answer: Introduction: Forensic autopsy was carried out to determine the manner and cause of death. Forensic autopsy is always done when the cause of death is suspected to have been criminal (Vij, 2014). The now deceased had a disagreement with the husband and uncertainly died, therefore the forensic autopsy. Clinical autopsy could have not been done as the cause of death was evident. The autopsy indicated a well inflated lungs and moderate agonal congestion which supports that GW had started CPR. The claims by GW would have been supported by evident changes in the ribs of the deceased. The stomach of the deceased was found to be empty since the victim had not taken any solid closer to the point of death. The diseased only took lots of alcohol after breakfast which is absorbed directly into the body system. The liver was expected to show signs of focal lesions in addition to the paleness and bile stains. The liver should have also been lobular dues to malfunction dues to the overdose and form a mottling pattern as well as grossly necrotic. There was no fatty change during the autopsy as well as lack of fibrosis indicates abnormality. The paleness of the liver and was an abnormal histological evidence. Yes these would have been as a result of the care of the patient in the last two days prior to death (Kharoshah et.al 2011). The normal historical depends on various factors including patience care thus the condition of the patient in the last two days caused the abnormality. According to the police report, TA had relationship problems with the husband. The deceased financial problems as well and had been referred to a doctor as a result of depression. Based on these the patient had the motive and means to commit suicide. The manner of death in this case was natural as no any other substance was found within the diseased body during the autopsy. The deceased died a natural death as a result of too much consumption of alcohol and which affected the body system leading to death. Alcohol poisoning, based on the evidence of the autopsy report the deceased died of alcohol poisoning which is a result too much alcohol in the blood stream (Byard Payne, 2015). The deceased had an empty stomach as all the consumed alcohol had moved to the blood stream affecting brain activities thus low breathing rate, reduce heart rate leading to shuttering of all system of the body. There were other test such alcohol poisoning tests would have been done to check if the deceased could have been suffering from the effect of excess alcohol present in the blood stream. This would have been done immediately the deceased was brought into the hospital as this could have led to various mechanisms to eliminate alcohol within blood stream even though the patient would have experienced brain effects in case of survival. The deceased died at the age of 27 year, at this age the cause of death is mostly suicide and accidental poisoning. The deceased is likely to have died of alcohol misuse as well as relationship problems. The death therefore consistent to the data as indicated in epidemiology module two. References Byard, R., Payne-James, J. (2015). Encyclopedia of forensic and legal medicine. Academic Press. Kharoshah, M. A. A., Zaki, M. K., Galeb, S. S., Moulana, A. A. R., Elsebaay, E. A. (2011). Origin and development of forensic medicine in Egypt. Journal of forensic and legal medicine, 18(1), 10-13. Vij, K. (2014). Textbook of Forensic Medicine Toxicology: Principles Practice-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.