Page 90 - SafeCert Approved First Aid for Mental Health at Work (Level 3) | Trainers Manual

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Teaching

Teaching Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Facts

• PTSD is a common condition that can affect anyone. It affects around 5% of
men and 10% of women some time in their life. It can happen at any age,
including in childhood.

• Approximately 40% of people with PTSD develop the condition as a result of
someone close to them suddenly dying.

What is it?
In our everyday lives, any of us can have an experience that is overwhelming,
Administration frightening, and beyond our control. We could find ourselves in a car crash, the

victim of an assault, or see an accident. Police, fire brigade or ambulance workers
are more likely to have such experiences - they often have to deal with horrifying scenes. Soldiers may
be shot or blown up, and see friends killed or injured.

Most people, in time, get over experiences like this without needing help. In some people though,
traumatic experiences set off a reaction that can last for many months or years. This is called Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of PTSD usually appear within 6 months of a traumatic event.Re-experiencing the
trauma: recurrent dreams of the event, flashbacks and intrusive memories.

• Unrest in situations which bring back memories of trauma
Lesson Plans • Emotional numbing. This may continue for months or years.
• Avoidance behaviour, such as persistent avoidance of things associated with the event.

• Reduced interest in others and the outside world.
• Constant watchfulness, irritability, jumpiness/ being easily startled, outburst of rage, insomnia.

Recovery
When you have PTSD, dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you
may keep your feelings bottled up. But treatment can help. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is
one type of counselling which appears to be most effective for PTSD. Medication can also be effective.
This should be discussed with a GP.

For more information:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
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