Understanding PTSD

This book explores the complexities of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, offering an accessible guide for those without prior knowledge of the condition. This comprehensive resource traces the historical roots of PTSD, debunks common myths, and explains its various symptoms and types across different age groups. Readers will gain insights into the brain's response to trauma, potential causes, and the physiological, psychological, and behavioral impacts of PTSD. The book explores diverse treatment options, from cognitive therapy and physical activity to medications and alternative methods like animal therapy and hypnosis. Practical advice on coping mechanisms, recognizing subtle nuances of PTSD, and fostering community support is provided to empower readers in supporting those affected. Additionally, it addresses the portrayal of PTSD in media and current and future research. The book serves as an invaluable resource for understanding, navigating, and overcoming the challenges posed by this condition. Whether you're struggling with PTSD, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to understand this condition, this book provides the knowledge and tools you need.FEATURES-Written in easy-to-understand language, making complex concepts approachable for all readers-Debunks common misconceptions about PTSD, such as the belief that only the weak are affected or that it's exclusively a soldier's ailment-Discover a wide range of web resources, including pharmacological treatment options, from cognitive therapy and physical activity to medications and alternative methods like animal therapy and hypnosisTABLE OF CONTENTS1: The History of Psychotraumatology. 2: PTSD Myths. 3: How to Assess. 4: How the Brain Copes with Different Types of Trauma. 5: Potential Causes of PTSD. 6: The Dangers of PTSD. 7: Different Types of PTSD. 8: The Physiological, Psychological, and Behavioral Response to Trauma and PTSD. 9: Symptoms of PTSD. 10: PTSD in Different Age Groups. 11: Treatments. 12: Other Risks (Comorbidity). 13: What Is Still Unknown? 14: Current and Future Research. 15: The General Public’s Knowledge about PTSD. 16: How PTSD Is Portrayed in Media. 17: PTSD and the Family. 18: Recovery and How to Support Someone with PTSD. 19: Epilogue. 20: PTSD Resources in North America, Europe, and India. References. Appendix: Potential Pharmacological Treatments for PTSD. Index.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Austin Mardon, PhD, is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge and has held teaching positions at the University of Alberta, and the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre. He has also served as an advisory member of the Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Read more