This document discusses dealing with post-traumatic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. It defines trauma and outlines common trauma responses like shock, denial, unpredictable emotions, and physical symptoms. It describes acute, chronic, and complex trauma and the five stages of dealing with trauma. Signs of post-traumatic stress (PTS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are provided, along with the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing PTSD. Effective therapies for PTSD, like cognitive behavioral therapy and its variants, are summarized. The document concludes with suggestions for coping with COVID-19 related trauma, like normalizing experiences, self-care, social connection, and nurturing healthy coping techniques.
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Dealing with post traumatic experience during covid 19
1. Dealing with Post T
raumatic
Experience During COVID-19
Dr. Sojan Antony Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore
VIRTUAL FDP Held on 16th June 2021, organised by Sree Saraswathi
Thyagaraja College, Coimbatore, T
amil Nadu
13. Physical Sufferings
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic pain
Muscular or musculoskeletal pain with stiffens and tenderness
Chronic fatigue syndrome
14. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that
some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-
threatening event.
15. PTS Vs PTSD
•PTS symptoms are common after a severe stressor and may
improve or resolve within a month. PTSD symptoms are more
severe, persistent, can interfere with daily functioning, and can last
for more than a month
.
•Most people with PTS do not develop PTSD.
•PTS requires no medical intervention, unless symptoms are severe.
However, person may bene
fi
t from psychological support to prevent
symptoms from worsening
.
•PTSD is a medically-diagnosed condition and should be treated by
a clinician.
17. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion A: stressor (one required
)
The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or
threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence,
in the following way(s)
:
•Direct exposur
e
•Witnessing the traum
a
•Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a traum
a
•Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in
the course of professional duties
18. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion B: intrusion symptoms (one required
)
The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following
way(s)
:
•Unwanted upsetting memorie
s
•Nightmare
s
•Flashback
s
•Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminder
s
•Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders
19. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion C: avoidance (one required
)
Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following
way(s)
:
•Trauma-related thoughts or feeling
s
•Trauma-related external reminders
20. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion D: negative alterations in cognitions and mood (two required
)
Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma,
in the following way(s)
:
•Inability to recall key features of the traum
a
•Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the worl
d
•Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the traum
a
•Negative affec
t
•Decreased interest in activitie
s
•Feeling isolate
d
•Dif
fi
culty experiencing positive affect
21. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion E: alterations in arousal and reactivit
y
Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after
the trauma, in the following way(s)
:
•Irritability or aggressio
n
•Risky or destructive behaviou
r
•Hyper-vigilanc
e
•Heightened startle reactio
n
•Dif
fi
culty in concentratin
g
•Dif
fi
culty in sleeping
22. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion F: duration (required
)
Symptoms last for more than 1 month.
23. PTSD Criteria: DSM 5
Criterion G: functional signi
fi
cance (required
)
Symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g., social,
occupational)
.
Criterion H: exclusion (required
)
Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use, or other illness
.
24. Therapy for PTSD
•Trauma-focused psychotherapy, which focuses on the memory
of the traumatic event or its meaning, is the most effective
treatment for PTSD.
25. Therapy for PTSD
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for
PTSD. There are different types of cognitive behavioural therapy.
The two most-researched types of CBT for PTSD are Cognitive
Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE).
26. •Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) where you learn skills to
understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings.
Changing how you think about the trauma can change how you
feel.
27. Therapy for PTSD
•Prolonged Exposure (PE) where you talk/ express your trauma
repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. This will help
you get more control over your thoughts and feelings about the
trauma. You also go to places or do things that are safe, but that
you have been staying away from because they remind you of the
trauma.
28. Therapy for PTSD
•Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR),
which involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while you
talk about the trauma. This helps your brain work through the
traumatic memories
.
•Medications: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
29. What else can be done to deal COVID-19
related traumatic experience?