Post Traumatic Stress After Katrina

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Post Traumatic StressAfter Katrina

• Helping First Responders
• Alexis Greeves, MA
• Barbara White, DSW

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Common Stress Reactions of Survivors

• Emotional Effects
• Shock
• Anger
• Despair
• Emotional numbing
• Guilt
• Grief/sadness
• Irritability
• Feeling Helpless

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Physical Effects

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Sleep disturbance
• Hyperarousal
• Somatic complaints
• Impaired immune response
• Headaches
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased libido
• Startle response

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Cognitive Effects

• Impaired concentration
• Impaired decision making ability
• Memory impairment
• Disbelief
• Confusion
• Distortion
• Decreased self-esteem
• Decreased self-efficacy
• Self-blame
• Intrusive thoughts and memories
• Worry

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Interpersonal Effects

• Alienation
• Social withdrawal
• Increased conflict in relationships
• Vocational/job impairment
• School impairment

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Signs of high-risk for delayed or chronic
trauma-related psychological problems

• Survivors/witnesses of mass destruction or death
• Unresolved bereavement
• Loss of home or community
• Survivors with histories of prior exposure to
  trauma
• Survivors who experience major life stressors
• Survivors of toxic contamination

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Phases of Disaster

• Heroic Phase Increased energy (first 72 hours)
• Honeymoon Phase Optimism, Energy begins to
  diminish (2nd day 3rd month)
• Disillusionment Phase Extreme fatigue, Energy
  begins to return (3rd 6th month)
• Restabilization Phase Resumption of
  pre-disaster energy (6th month-60th month)

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PTSD and Children

• Somatic complaints
• Nightmares and trouble sleeping
• Difficulty separating from family members
• Clingy and whiney
• Hyperarousal
• Hypervigilance
• Difficulty regulating self
• Anger
• Irritability

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What one can do with children

• Speak with children at eye level
• Use a calming voice/facial expression
• Assure them they are safe
• Reflect what they are feeling (it sounds like
  youre upset right now)
• Explain what will be happening next