Transcript Louis Hernandez

Post-traumatic stress
disorder
By: Louis Hernandez
Thesis
I am trying to prove that PTSD can affect family and
friends not just the person with the disorder.
My main arguments are that PTSD affect others, the
symptoms can be passed down genetically and there
are many ways to help cope with PTSD.
Background Info
PTSD develops following a traumatic event that
threatens a persons safety or makes them feel helpless
 Most people associate PTSD with battle-scarred
soldiers and military combat
 PTSD makes the affected have a constant sense of
danger and painful memories
 Anyone at any age can get PTSD after a traumatic
event but not everyone that has been through a
traumatic event will get PTSD

Statistics
People with PTSD have the highest rates of healthcare
service use
 70% of adults in the U.S. have experience some type
of traumatic event at least once in their lives
 20% of these people go on to develop PTSD about
31.3 million people
 Studies estimate 1 in every 5 military personnel
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has PTSD

Main Idea #1
My first argument is that the symptoms of PTSD can be
passed down genetically but not the disorder itself
The child is more vulnerable to the disorder and will also
acquire similar symptoms as their parent which is
called “Intergenerational transmission of trauma”
There are 4 mechanisms which help understand
Intergenerational transmission of trauma which are
silence, over disclosure, identification and reenactment
Main Idea #2
My second argument is that PTSD does not just affect the person
affected but their family, children and friends.
They do not realize when this happens and can hurt any one
around them because they can not stop themselves.
The person affected has a high level of anxiety, arousal, difficulty
sleeping, impaired concentration and being easily startled.
The high level of irritability and low frustration tolerance can
make a parent seem hostile or distant towards their children.
Research shows there is significantly more violence in families of
Vietnam veterans with PTSD than in families without PTSD
Main Idea #3
I conducted an interview with a social worker at the
Veteran’s Hospital also called Veteran Affairs
She provided individual therapy, groups and case
management at the Veteran’s Hospital
“It can be very difficult for family members. Someone
with PTSD may display many symptoms around their
families. Sometimes family members feel sympathy,
feeling bad and sad about what happened and
sometimes they can have negative feelings about the
person because the person is not the same as they were
before the event.”
Solutions/Treatment
There is a solution for PTSD and there is many
treatment like psychotherapy, trauma-focused
cognitive behavioral therapy, medicine, EMDR
and “desensitization”
The person affected has many choices to help
cope with PTSD but it is very important that the
family is educated about the symptoms
Other information
PTSD does not just develop in war there are other
traumatic events like natural disasters, car or
plane crashes, terrorist attacks, sudden death of
a loved one, rape, kidnapping, assault, sexual or
physical abuse, childhood neglect
http://youtu.be/6MWrAunJkaE
Any questions?