PTSD


 * Post Traumatic Stress Disorder**  **By Mariah Beckles and Nick Manucci**

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 3.5 percent of American adults (7.7 million individuals) struggle with PTSD during any given year. ** What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? **  a mental disorder, as battle fatigue, occurring after a traumatic event outside the range of usual human experience, and characterized by symptoms such as reliving the event, reduced involvement with others, and manifestations of autonomic arousal such as hyperalertness and exaggerated startle response. Abbreviation: PTSD **Who can recieve PTSD?** PTSD is a human response to markedly abnormal situations, and it involves specific chemical changes in the brain that occur in response to a person experiencing a traumatic event. Many of the symptoms of PTSD seem to be a direct result of such brain changes.

Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. About 10% of women develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with 5% of men. Here is a list of experiances/situations that could lead to PTSD. If you: **Symptoms of PTSD**
 * Were directly exposed to the trauma as a victim or a witness
 * Were seriously hurt during the event
 * Went through a trauma that was long-lasting or very severe
 * Believed that you were in danger
 * Believed that a family member was in danger
 * Had a severe reaction during the event, such as crying, shaking, vomiting, or feeling apart from your surroundings
 * Felt helpless during the trauma and were not able to help yourself or a loved one.
 * Had an earlier life-threatening event or trauma, such as being abused as a child
 * Have another mental health problem
 * Have family members who have had mental health problems
 * Have little support from family and friends
 * Have recently lost a loved one, especially if it was not expected
 * Have had recent, stressful life changes
 * Drink a lot of alcohol
 * Are a woman
 * Are poorly educated
 * Are younger
 * Flashbacks
 * Sleep disorders: nightmares or night terrors
 * Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience
 * Feeling emotionally numb
 * Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry
 * Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past
 * Having trouble remembering the dangerous event
 * Being easily startled
 * Feeling tense or “on edge”
 * Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts


 * What are some treatments for PTSD? **


 * Psychotherapy- simple questioning and assesment during treatment
 * Open discussion treatments (work around the traumatic experience)

** PTSD and the Kite Runner ** "[Hassan] asked me to read to him from the Shahnamah and I told him I'd changed my mind. Told him I just wanted to go back to my room." (p.87) || "I hurled the pomegranate at him..Hassan's cry was pregnant with surprise and pain." (p.92) ||
 * Post Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ||  Connection to the Kite Runner  ||
 * Sleep disorders: nightmares or night terrors  || "His hands are tied behind him...he is blindfolded...he lifts his face and tere is a faint scar above his upper lip..the man standing behind him is dressed in a herringbone vest and a lack turban...He takes a step back and raises the barrel. He places it on the back of the kneeling man's head...The rifle roars with a deafening crack...I am the man in the herringbone vest. " (p.240) ||
 * Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past || "Used to sing too, over the hissing of the iron, sang old Hazara songs about tulip fields. Now only the folded clothes greeted me." (p.80)
 * Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience || "[Hassan] asked me to read to him from the Shahnamah and I told him I'd changed my mind. Told him I just wanted to go back to my room." (p.87) ||
 * Having angry outbursts || "Like I said how am I supposed to know what wrong with [Hassan]? I snapped." (p.81)

1. PSTD has a profound impact on the thoughts and actions of people. To what extent do you believe that Post Tramatic Stress Disorder is responsible for Amir's actions after the event that occured to Hassan in chapter seven? Use textual evidence to support your reasoning. 2. After reading chapter 17 and learning that Hassan and Amir were half brothers do you believe that Baba suffered from guilt from what he had done? Use textual evidence to support your reasoning. 3. Is it possible for Sohrab to overcome his PTSD? Consider the end of the novel in your reasoning.
 * Disscussion Questions: **

** Sources: ** 1) World of Health, 2007 2) PTSD, 2009 3)Post- Traumatic Stess Disorder (March, 2009) [] 4) [] 5)Myths and facts about PTSD (July, 2004) [] 6) How Common is PTSD? (December, 2011) []