Members of the military returning from combat operations often exhibit a co-occurring triad of PTSD, traumatic brain injury , and pain, which complicates problems with substance abuse.
Combat veterans who have suffered a moral injury in the past may be predisposed to a recurrence of the painful memories associated with previous trauma after exposure to similar traumatic events with moral overtones.
Over half of the population is exposed to at least one lifetime traumatic event, yet relatively few of those exposed have lasting psychiatric sequelae. As psychiatrists, we attend to the needs of those who suffer.
Psychiatrists need to understand how living in violent families and neighborhoods increases the likelihood of trauma and the psychiatric sequelae associated with it as well as how to respond in the aftermath.
When attempting to incorporate resilience-building strategies into practice, it is worthwhile to note that resilience is a dynamic concept in which successful coping may mean a mixture of major real-life successes in the context of continuing difficulties.
The Sandy Hook Promise . . “To do everything in our power to be remembered-—not as the town filled with grief and victims; but as the place where real change began.”
Because the aftermath of sexual violence can result in suicidal feelings, depression, PTSD, and other mental disorders, clinicians play an important role in treating both victims and perpetrators and helping to prevent further damage.
PTSD is a psychiatric illness resulting from a physical or psychological trauma that is sometimes related to warfare, but of course occurs in the case of civilian trauma as well. However, wars have been a propitious time for studying PTSD.
Here, John Femia, a former police officer and senior investigator, describes his experience as a first responder to scenes of violence and stalking. He offers a profile of those who stalk others; describes different types of stalkers; and focuses in on cyberstalking—all with the mental health clinician in mind.
Randi K. Bregman, LMSW, is the Executive Director of Vera House, Inc. (http://www.verahouse.org/). In this video, she talks about the impact of trauma and violence as defining forces in the lives of those who have been abused.
