Victims of crime suffering from Posttraumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to engage in behaviours which have adverse health consequences, such as cigarette smoking, alcol and drug abuse as well as poor diet and physical inactivity.
1. PTSD raises the risk of someone smoking by two-fold.
2. About half of individuals suffering from PTSD will abuse alcohol.
3. About one third of individuals suffering from PTSD will abuse drugs.
4. PTSD raises the risk of obesity by almost two-fold.
5. Individuals suffering from PTSD participate in 50% less physical activity.
PTSD can lead to significantly impaired health as should be addressed as early as possible. If you are a victim of crime and believe that you may be suffering from PTSD kindly contact Victims of Crime Counselling Services as soon as possible.
Postraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. PTSD should be considered just as likely a risk factor as smoking and cholesterol. Over time PTSD increases inflammation which can corrode a peson’s arteries. If you have been a victim of crime and suffering from PTSD you should contact Victims of Crime Counselling and Compensation Services for treatment.
Transcranial Magentic Stimulation therapy (rTMS) of the right prefrontal cortex for patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to alleviate anxiety symptoms and provided therapeutic effects for PTSD patients. rTMS is an emergenging new treatment which will soon be avialable in Australia.
Providing psychological first aid post trauma:
1. Help victims meet their basic needs.
2. Listen to others who wish to share their story.
3. Be compassionate.
4. Provide accurate information about the situation.
5. Help victims stay connected with family and friends.
6. Encourage victims to take control and help thenselves.
7. Help address concerns and worries.
8. Encourage hope.
Women who become victims of sexual assault typically experience the victimization as a traumatic event, perceiving it as an emotional shock. Common reactions to this kind of trauma are:
- Fear of losing control of their lives.
- Re-experiencing the assault in thoughts and dreams.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Self-image frequently suffers; many women report feeling “dirty’ and shower frequently in an effort to be clean.
- Sense of sadness, feeling “down”, and depressed.
- It is not unusual to see disruption in relationships with others.
- Loss of interest in sexual relations.
Continue reading ‘Sexual Assault’
Depression is something we all experience. Depression becomes an illness when it is severe enough to interfere with normal functioning and does not improve with time.
Continue reading ‘Trauma & Depression’
There ia a link between Child Ssexual Abuse and subsequent negative short- and long-term effects on development as well as the development od posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, sexual promiscuity and poor academic performance,
New research suggests that repeat stimulation of certain brain regions with magnets can help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating psychiatric condition that can occur after exposure to life-threatening events, such as military combat or violent personal assault.
A region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex has an “important role in mediating responses to stressful situations,” Dr. Hagit Cohen and colleagues from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel note in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Continue reading ‘PTSD relief with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - Magnetic Therapy Helps Alleviate Stress Disorder’