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Understanding psychotrauma

Contents
How to spot post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Identifying complex PTSD?
PTSD in children
Stabilization and care
Training
Protecting yourself as a professional

Identifying post-traumatic stress disorder 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop following exposure to a traumatic event.

His diagnosis, recognized in the DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and Psychiatric Disorders) and the ICD 11 (eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases), is defined by specific criteria evolving for more than a month after the event.

PTSD alters the social, family and professional functioning of the individuals it affects, plunging them, in many respects, into often disabling difficulties. Their quality of life, and that of those around them, is greatly diminished, with devastating consequences on an individual level: stress, falling self-esteem, development of a resignation mentality, etc.

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PTSD mainly revolves around 3 categories of symptoms.

Revivals

Reliving the traumatic experience: intrusive memories of the event, nightmares, flashbacks, etc.

Avoidance

Avoidance of cues suggestive of the traumatic experience: avoidance of thoughts, feelings, places, people, activities, etc. likely to recall the event.

Threats

Persistent perception of a current threat: hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, difficulty concentrating, irritability, etc.

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Identifying complex post-traumatic stress disorder

When a traumatic event lasts for a long time or is repeated without the person being able to flee or protect him or herself, as is the case with sexual violence and abuse in childhood, harassment at school, violence within the couple, when the person is under the influence or dependent, or in war and torture, a second form of post-traumatic stress disorder can occur, called complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD).

According to ICD 11, in addition to the symptoms of PTSD, the person with complex PTSD suffers from lasting and pervasive impairment of emotional, personal and relational functioning.

This alteration results in :

Difficulties regulating emotions, negative self-beliefs ("I suck∙le", "I'm worthless"), themselves associated with emotions like shame or guilt, disturbances in relationships with others that prevent building lasting relationships.

They are even particularly vulnerable in that their level of emotional maturity is not sufficient to enable them to understand the event and make sense of it. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents

For a long time, it was believed that young age was a protective factor against psychological trauma. However, recent scientific research shows that children and adolescents, just like adults, can suffer psychological trauma and subsequently develop PTSD or complex PTSD.

They are even particularly vulnerable in that their level of emotional maturity is not sufficient to enable them to understand the event and make sense of it. 

Symptoms are the same as for adults (reliving, avoidance, hypervigilance) plus :

  • → Enuresis
  • → Regression in his behavior
  • → Disinterest in activities previously enjoyed
  • → Loss or increase in appetite
  • → Withdrawal or more aggressive attitudes
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Stabilization and care

All the information you need on PTSD on the psychiatric diagnostic and therapeutic support site for GPs, designed to help them make decisions during consultations:

More information on Psychiaclic.fr

Simple resources to pass on to someone who has recently experienced a potentially traumatic event

Training

It is possible to train in the identification, support and guidance of people with Alzheimer's while studying (by choosing a specialized Master's degree, for example), or to train throughout one's professional career, thanks to additional diplomas.

On the Cn2r website, we list the D.U. (university diplomas) and D.I.U. (inter-university diplomas) that provide further knowledge and skills in the management of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Discover DU and DIU

Scientifically validated therapies can also be the subject of training courses

- Cognitive and behavioral therapies (CBT) - Training offered by AFTCC

- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Training courses only available through the association EMDR France

Find out more about suitable therapies and treatments on :

Treating post-traumatic stress disorder

Protecting yourself as a professional

Compassion fatigue, burn-out, professional trauma... Are they all the same thing?

Vicarious trauma

Vicarious trauma occurs when professionals are repeatedly exposed to the trauma stories of others and develop post-traumatic reactions similar to those of direct victims. This repeated exposure can lead to intense reactions and symptoms similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some individuals.

Burn-out

Burn-out is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and diminished personal fulfillment due to chronic work-related stress. Unlike vicarious trauma, burn-out is often associated with organizational and professional factors, such as lack of recognition, value conflict, loss of meaning and lack of support. It can occur in people who are not necessarily exposed to traumatic stories.

Compassion fatigue

Compassion fatigue, also known as "compassion fatigue", occurs when professionals are indirectly and regularly exposed to traumatic events, leading to a form of attrition. Professionals become hypersensitive to the suffering of others, feel unable to help the people in front of them, and often question their vocation and the meaning of their work.

You don't need to know exactly how to distinguish between the three concepts, but you do need to recognize the different reactions in order to seek help when needed. In all cases, only a mental health specialist (psychologist, psychiatrist), trained in psychotrauma (not all are), can make a diagnosis. He or she will be able to guide you according to your needs.

(Re)learning the signs of trauma

Rearrange your schedule (as far as possible)

Working in a team

Be aware of "why we do this job".

Allowing yourself to express your emotions
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