Emotional Processing Theory (EPT)

Throughout the history of American warfare there have been many different names for PTSD. Dating back to the civil war when this mental illness was called soldier’s heart, the First World War called it shell-shock, and the Second World War, battle fatigue; soldiers have been experiencing the trauma and psychological issues that come along with the mental illness of PTSD(cite Take heart; Post-traumatic stress disorder). Psychological deterioration was noted in men of combat as early as 490 B.C. and has since become the leading cause of death for U.S veterans. It was not until 1980 that PTSD was recognized as a true disorder with its own specific symptoms, and it was at this time that is was deemed diagnosable and was added to the American Psychiatric

Observational learning and Pavlovlian Conditioning principles tie into soldiers struggling from PTSD. The environment plays a role into the behavior that occurs. For example, soldiers who

The phenomenon of this fear does not solely lie within its longevity but in its ability to tear apart, bring together, and

Summary & Response The article “Alternate PTSD Therapy for Vets Ruffles VA Feathers, but Shows Results” by Mark Brunswick, talking about a practice called EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This therapy uses the senses to connect to what triggers the patient’s trauma disorder. This particular article relates to a National Guard vet named Katie Helmer, who served in a military hospital.

PTSD is formed through memory schema based on a cognitive behavioral view (Hyde & Quest, 2012, page 285). She couldn’t remember the attack Jane Doe started questioning her

“An estimated 8% of Americans − 24.4 million people − have PTSD at any given time. That is equal to the total population of Texas” (PTSD United 1). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has existed since the dawn of time, but only in the past 50 years has it been recognized as an actual problem. However, even now, it is still not always acknowledged as a legitimate condition. As a result, it is not always properly treated.

Most events causing ptsd include direct and intense witness or experience of human suffering, causing victims to relive the memories over and over, seldom able to be comfortable and feel safe due to the fears that the condition instills on people. These people are also easily triggered at specific objects, phrases, or anything that can be traced back to the memories, whether symbolic or direct. These items are referred to as triggers, and can be anything as they are specific to the person’s case, reasons, and fears. Those affected by ptsd can sometimes act rashly due to their perception of reality being warped by the memories that they face. Treatment for ptsd includes proper coping skills, dealing with other causes of stress, and treatment of mental disorders that will worsen the issues of ptsd.

There are 3 clusters to PTSD. the first cluster is re-living the event. The way the person relives the event is by having recurring nightmares and images that can happen at any time. During this cluster the victim has extreme emotion and physical reactions. The second cluster is avoiding reminders of the event.

Observational learning and Pavlovlian Conditioning principles tie into soldiers struggling from PTSD. The environment plays a role in the behavior that occurs. For example, soldiers who just killed five civilians, and they had no other choice will likely feel pain after that. The pain of killing an individual who could have murdered you is unbearable for soldiers. After, they return home, some have nightmares of the traumatic events on the battlefield, and cannot function in society.

Post-traumatic anxiety issue (PTSD), once called shell stun or fight exhaustion disorder, is a genuine condition that can grow after a man has encountered or seen a traumatic or startling occasion in which genuine physical damage happened or was undermined. PTSD is an enduring result of traumatic difficulties that cause serious apprehension, powerlessness, or awfulness, for example, a sexual or physical ambush, the startling passing of a friend or family member, a mischance, war, or common fiasco. Groups of casualties can likewise create PTSD, as can crisis faculty and salvage specialists. The vast majority who experience a traumatic occasion will have responses that may incorporate stun, outrage, apprehension, trepidation, and even blame.

Post traumatic stress disorder is triggered after a traumatic event someone has gone through, and creates a high anxiety disorder. Symptoms may include nightmares, reliving the experience, and feeling distant from friends and family. “It is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder” (Wounded Warrior Project). PTSD can last for weeks or months, and if treated properly, symptoms can be resolved. If PTSD is not treated, it can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, outbursts of anger, and sleeping problems.

A second form of perception that lots of PTSD patients have is the perception of oneself as defective and intolerable. Another major point that was talked about in this article was the symptom of avoidance. Avoidance is seen happening in large quantities in PTSD patients, which leads to a PTSD patient inviting self-punishment, which prevents connection to family members. Avoidance leads also leads to emotional numbing, disassociations, suicide, and compulsive behaviors. Another correlation that was found was that there is a positive correlation between self-blame and suicide.

For instance, war veterans sometimes cannot view fireworks as it induces fear in them due to the sound of the explosions seeming like gun shots. In Slaughterhouse-Five, author Kurt Vonnegut, a former soldier in World War II, explores the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder by identifying the underlying causes, highlighting the impacts and symptoms of PTSD, and evaluating coping mechanisms. During a time period where post-traumatic stress disorder was still incredibly controversial, Vonnegut utilized the character of Billy Pilgrim to identify the causes of PTSD. The mental disorder can have many causes as explained in the article “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” in which the National Institute of Mental Health states, “Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event.

After a large meta-analysis has been conducted following traumatic events, the results showed a consistent association between avoidance coping and psychological distress (Bekes, Beaulieu-Prevost, Guay, Belleville, & Marchand, 2016). This gives some understanding to why Charlie seems like he is almost always in psychological distress. He copes by attempting to avoid any situation that reminds him of his family. By doing so, his post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms only worsen.

How Can Fear Be Beneficial? : The Aspect of Insurance, Purging, and Growth “There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it”(Miller Act 3 283). This shows Miller describing how fear constantly manipulates numerous factors in one’s life in the Crucible. Many despise their fears and bar them from their life.