Mental Trauma

As we all know, as the catastrophe's begin, there will be an enormous amount of trauma plaguing many individuals that survive. These individuals will be in shock, depression, and may have suicidal tendencies. We, as individuals must take it upon ourselves to help these victims through the grief that they will be experiencing. These guidelines were prepared to inform others of symptoms of these cases and the care to be given. It will all be upon all of our shoulders as to who survives, and who doesn't. Without help from us, these victims will not be capable of dealing with such stress.

Symptoms of Depression

Loss of energy

Difficulty sleeping, waking up or daytime sleepiness

Reduced sex drive

Loss of pleasure in usual activities

Poor appetite or unexplained weight loss

Overeating and weight gain

Feelings of excessive guilt over minor or imaginary misdeeds, worthlessness, self- reproach

Decreased ability to think, concentrate or make decisions

Recurrent thoughts of death, suicide or suicide attempt

Crying, tearfulness, unexplained crying bouts

Decline in social activity or talkativeness

Hallucinations

Loss of interest

Irritability

Various pains, such as headaches or chest pain, without evidence of disease.

Treatment: See Suicide Treatments

Postpartum Depression

Many women will be expecting or already given birth to infants. This will make our jobs tougher, for some women automatically get thrown into depression after giving birth. These are some of the signs that one can grasp while talking to women that have just given birth.

Appetite and weight loss

Sleep disturbances or frightening dreams

Loss of energy; fatigue

Slow speech and thought

Frequent headaches and other physical discomfort

Confusion about one's ability to improve life.

Risk Increases With

Stress, in which there will be much of

Lack of sleep.

Poor nutrition, which might already be a problem with the coming destructions

Lack of support from one's partner, family or friends

Pre-existing neurosis or psychosis

Possible Complications

Lack of bonding between mother and infant, which is harmful to both

Serious depression that may be accompanied by aggressive feelings toward the baby, a loss of pride in appearance and home, loss of appetite or compulsive eating, withdrawal from others or suicidal tendencies.

Treatment

Don't feel guilty if your having mixed feelings about motherhood, especially during this time.

Walking

Have your baby sleep in a separate room. You will sleep more restfully.

Ask for help with the infant

If you feel depressed, share your feelings with people around you

Suicide Warnings

Talking about committing suicide

Having trouble eating or sleeping

Experience drastic changes in behavior

Lose interest in hobbies, etc.

Withdraw from friends and/or social activities

Prepare for death by making out a will and final arrangements.

Giving prized possessions away

Having attempted suicide before

Taking unnecessary risks

Have had a severe loss, such as death of a loved one, which will be common during this time.

Becoming preoccupied with death and dying

Loss of interest in their personal appearances

Increase their use of alcohol or drugs if any can be found during this time

Treatment: The idea that those who threaten suicide do not commit it is dangerously erroneous. It is equally dangerous to dismiss suicide attempts as mere gestures to appeal for help of communicate hostility; 1 in 10 of those who attempt suicide finally takes his life. The desire to die is often ambiguous, and each act of self-injury, however trivial in its physical effects, represents a cry for help or one of protest and frustration from a person who is under stress and needs treatment. Another important aspect in attempted suicide is the element of "Russian roulette," in which the person decides to let fate determine the outcome. Although some suicides are a surprise and shock even to close relatives and associates, in most cases clear warnings were given, most often to relatives and friends or to organized medical or lay voluntary organizations. Each depressed person should be questioned carefully about any thoughts of suicide. The fear is baseless that such inquiry, even in a tactful and sympathetic form, may implant the idea of suicide in the patient. The questioning will not only aid the physician in obtaining a clearer picture of the depth of the patients depression, but it will also encourage constructive discussion and convey to the patient of your awareness of his deep despair.

Establish a relationship with the patient and open communication with him.

Remind him of his identity, use his name repeatedly and help him identify the problem that has brought on the crisis.

Offer constructive help with the problem and encourage the patient to constructive action

Involve the patient's family, (if any are left) and friends, reminding the patient that others care for him and want to help him

Place yourself in this person's shoes, and relate to his problems. Discussing your own with him, might in fact help both instead of just one.

Panic, Anxiety Attacks

In battle and in periods of civil catastrophe, anxiety is a normal state, but individuals who are subjected to particular severe stress or who are perhaps especially vulnerable may be incapacitated by terror. They may manifest tremors or dissociate symptoms and bizarre or dangerous behavior. In less stressful times attacks of acute anxiety occur in susceptible patients; a phobic anxiety state commonly underlies those attacks. Many attacks are brief. In most cases the anxiety is generalized, but diagnostic problems may arise if various body systems are affected to different degrees, so that cardiovascular manifestations are prominent in one patient, and gastrointestinal symptoms in another. If overbreathing (hyperventilation) is the salient feature, the patient may complain of dizziness, loss consciousness, or show signs of tetany. Reassurance may be sufficient to allay distress, and it may be helpful to reassure any relatives or bystanders as well. Hyperventilation will usually stop if the patient's attention is drawn to it, and is given quiet and supportive reassurance.

Stress

In health care, the term denotes the physical and psychological forces that are experienced by individuals. It is generally believed that biological organisms require a certain amount of stress in order to maintain their well-being. However, when stress occurs in quantities that the system cannot handle, it produces pathological changes. The amount of stress humans can withstand without having a pathological reaction to it varies from individual to individual and from situation to situation.

Symptoms

Recent death of a loved one-spouse, child, or friend.

Loss of anything valuable to you

Injuries of severe illnesses

Getting fired or changing jobs

Recent move to a new home

Sexual difficulties between you and your partner

Business or financial reverses, or taking on a large debt, such as purchasing a new home.

Regular conflict between you and a family member, close friend, or business associate.

Constant fatigue brought about by inadequate rest, sleep or recreation

Self-Help Tips for Coping

Learn meditation technique and practice it regularly-daily if possible.

Take a short period of time away from any stressful situation you encounter during a day. Practice a muscle-tensing and muscle -relaxing technique. Close your eyes, take a series of deep breaths, then start with the muscle groups in your face. Consciously tense them and hold the contraction for a few seconds. Then continue through all major muscle groups in the body: neck, shoulders, hands, abdomen, back and legs.

Adopt an exercise program.

Avoid taking your problems to bed with you. At the end of the day, spend a few minutes reviewing your entire days experiences, event by event, as if you're replaying a tape. Release all negative emotions you have harbored. Relish all good energy or emotions. Now you are ready for a relaxing and emotionally healing sleep.

Offered by Debra.