1.
# 11
MEDICAL WHISTLEBLOWER Post Traumatic Stress
PSYCHIATRIC INJURY
NOT MENTAL ILLNESS Symptoms — Physical
P.O. Box C
Psychological violence can lead to Post-Traumatic Lawrence, KS 66044 MEDICAL
Stress Disorder, the symptoms of which may also be WHISTLEBLOWER
mistaken for mental illness; however, PTSD is a normal Phone: 360-809-3058
reaction to abnormal circumstances, and is not usually Fax: None Supporting the Emotional
an indication of long term or underlying problems in Health of All
those who suffer from it. A psychiatric injury is not a
E-mail:
mental illness. Despite superficial similarity, and com- MedicalWhistleblower@gmail.com Whistleblowers and their
ments (both direct and implied) from those around the Friends, Supporters and
Medical Whistleblower, there are many distinct differ- Families.
ences between psychiatric injury and mental illness
including:
a) mental illness is assumed to be inherent (internal)
whereas psychiatric injury is caused by something
or someone else (external) - who is liable;
b) an injury is likely to get better; “We are what we think”
c) the person suffering mental illness exhibits a
range of symptoms associated with mental illness
Buddha
(paranoia, schizophrenia, delusions, etc) but not
(c. 563-483 B.C.E.)
with psychiatric injury, whereas the person suffer-
ing psychiatric injury will typically exhibit a range
of symptoms (e.g. hypervigilance, hypersensitiv-
ity, obsessiveness, irritability, fatigue, sleepless-
ness) associated with psychiatric injury but not
with mental illness.
Tel: 360-809-3058

2.
Post Traumatic Stress—
Physical Symptoms
rule when a person is suffering
Because PTSD creates a Promote Safety the effects of too much stress is
constant state of intense
Since the symptoms of stress breakdown and PTSD are "remove the stress from the per-
stress the body’s reaction
frequently misunderstood as those of inadequacy or son, or the person from the
to this causes neurobio-
inefficiency, there is a danger that stressed and/or har- stress". Most stressed people
logical changes. Glucocor-
ticoids, epinephrine, and assed Whistleblowers could find themselves facing disci- will ignore the body's warning
norepinephrine pulse through the body as part of the plinary proceedings when what they need is rest and signs and continue to struggle on,
normal reaction to stress. These chemicals are impor- support. Employers therefore need to be aware of the which can cause long term health
tant for human survival but excessive amounts cause potential for compounding the problems of stressed/ problems. Medical Whistleblowers are generally highly
the brain to malfunction. Because of hyperarousal, bullied Whistleblower and for them to be unjustly disci- committed people, are particularly susceptible to this,
the body of an individual suffering from PTSD gets plined. Believe the Medical Whistleblower who reports especially since seeking help is too often regarded as
too much of these chemicals, even when no threat is retaliation or workplace bullying. Although there will an admission of personal failure or spiritual inadequacy.
present. The chronic stress promotes physical ailments always be exceptions, most people who report bullying Stressed people often need a "rescuer" who will remove
and a breakdown of the immune system. Other diffi- are genuinely being bullied. Those who are being har- the burdens and enable them to rest. It is important
culties include increased heart rate and blood pres-
assed and bullied usually feel ashamed of what is hap- when dealing with stressed people to respect their dig-
sure, changes to the distribution of cortisol (affecting
pening to them, and by the time they seek help are nity and not to simply take over control of their lives
mood and energy levels), shrinking of the hippocam-
pus (affecting learning and memory), and enlarge- likely to be already showing signs of stress breakdown, (e.g. by making decisions about them, or assessments of
ment of the amygdala (affecting emotional behav- and are thus likely to present as over-emotional, and them, behind their backs), as loss of control is of itself
iors). Extreme fatigue is a normal reaction under apparently over-reacting and/or paranoid. In these very stressful, and may replicate the experience of be-
stress. Most stressed people will "try harder" to over- circumstances it is all too easy for the person's account of ing bullied. Long term solutions require the full involve-
come their problems, when what they need most is Whistleblower Retaliation to be dismissed as delusional ment of the stressed person, but should wait until he/she
"worry-free" rest. Physical Symptoms include: De- or overstated, when in fact the symptoms of stress is first rested and reassured. Do not put stressed/bullied
creased immunity to infection (leading to frequent breakdown should be recognized as actually corrobo- Medical Whistleblower back into the same stressful/
colds, coughs, flu) aches & pains (with no clear rating what they are saying. The Medical Whistleblower bullying situation and expect them to "prove" them-
cause), fibromyalgia, back pain, chest pains and who is being retaliated against should be encouraged to selves. Referring stressed people for work-based coun-
angina, high blood pressure, headaches and mi-
seek support sooner rather than later, and should be seling helps perpetuate the myth that it is the person
graines, sweating, palpitations, trembling, hormonal
able to do so with the assurance that they will be be- who is the problem, rather than the working environment.
problems (disturbed menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhoea,
lieved and effectively supported, rather than be treated It allows the perpetrators to switch the focus of attention
loss of libido, impotence), physical numbness
(especially in toes, fingers, and lips), emotional numb- as if they themselves were the problem. Remember Re- away from their own abusive behavior by inferring, and
ness (including anhedonia, an inability to feel joy and move the Stress. asserting usually under the guise of sympathy and sup-
love), irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, paruresis (shy port, that the person they are targeting is mentally ill.
bladder syndrome), thyroid problems, petit mal sei- Foster Healing
zures, skin irritations and skin disorders (e.g. athlete's MEDICAL WHISTLEBLOWER
foot, eczema, psoriasis, shingles, internal and exter- All workplaces should set out (and use) an effective anti-
retaliation/anti-bullying policy. Take stress reactions P.O. Box C
nal ulcers, urticaria), loss of appetite (although a few
Lawrence, KS 66044
people react by overeating), excessive or abnormal seriously and provide worry-free rest before the dam-
thirst, sleep disturbances, and waking up more tired age becomes more serious or permanent. The golden Phone: 360-809-3058
than when you went to bed.