Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
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The National Centre For War-Related PTSD.
Email: |
Cover: "Private John White"
by Ivor Hele 1941
(Australian War Memorial AWM.28483)
Table
of Contents
How To Use This Book | Acknowledgements
Click here for PDF version (3Mb) for downloading and printing.
Contents
Background: What is PTSD? | What is a traumatic event?
Common symptoms of PTSD: Intrusive symptoms | Avoidance symptoms | Arousal symptoms | Why do traumatic stress symptoms develop?
Associated problems: Anxiety | Depression | Alcohol and drugs | Impact on relationships and work | Family functioning | Occupational functioning
Coping: Coping yourself | Coping within a family | Sleeping better
Treatment: Stabilisation and engagement | Education and information | Symptom management | Exposure therapy: confronting feared situations | Exposure therapy: confronting the memories | Cognitive restructuring | Psychodynamic psychotherapy | Relapse prevention | Alternative and adjunctive treatments
Resources: The VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service | The National Centre for War-Related PTSD | Accredited PTSD programs | Support groups
How To Use This Book
This book was developed by mental health professionals with considerable experience in the area of posttraumatic stress. Although it is directed primarily at veterans and their families, the information is equally applicable to survivors of other kinds of trauma.
A large amount of information and advice is contained in these pages and we recommend that you do not try to master it all in one go. Read a small bit at a time and, if necessary, re-read it several times until you understand it. Then move on to the next section. You will gain much more from the book if you read it slowly and carefully. If you have a partner or close friend, you may wish to read it with him or her. Take it in turns to read a section and then discuss it – does it apply to you and your relationship? If so, is there anything you can do about it?
When you have finished the book, you may decide that you would like to obtain some extra professional help. By then you will have a good know-ledge of traumatic stress and the kinds of things that treatment may involve. In the meantime, we hope that the information in this book will help you understand your problems and how to begin the process of recovery. Remember, there is much that you can do to improve your quality of life, your relationships, and the way you feel. Good luck!
Acknowledgments
Posttraumatic stress disorder: information for veterans and their families was produced by the National Centre for war-related PTSD. It was written by Mark Creamer and David Forbes (National Centre), and Grant Devilly (University of Queensland). The National Centre would like to thank several people for their assistance in the production of this booklet. Staff and veterans from the PTSD treatment programme at the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, and staff and veterans from VVCS Queensland, for their suggestions on early drafts of the manuscript. Wes Kilham and Ros Woodward from VVCS Head Office for their critiques and comments. Staff from the Younger Veterans Programme of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for their assistance with the practicalities. And, finally, Joanne Cesario and Terry Lewis from the National Centre for a host of other things.