Summary of Maija Experiences
Maija is a school teacher who decided to seek therapy after experiencing a traumatic event in her life. Ten years ago, Maija was raped, beaten, and tortured by a social worker. The social worker threatened Maija by saying he would take her children away if Maija told anyone about her traumatic experience with him.
In the beginning, when the social worker forced Maija to participate in sexual acts, she would cry. Unfortunately, the social worker told her crying would not save her, and it turned him on, more. As a result, Maija learned to disassociate her feeling and emotions from the physical and sexual assaults by the social worker. By detaching her feelings and emotions, she learned how to survive. The
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counselor uses the counting method to help Marija cope with her traumatic experience. Also, Maija was prescribed Prozac to manage her symptoms. Diagnosis Marji is diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). When a person directly experiences a traumatic event that individual may develop PTSD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An individual who has PTSD suffers from recurrent memories associated with the tragic event (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The person may have dreams, flashbacks, and prolonged stress (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As a result, the individual may try to avoid thoughts or feelings related to the tragic event. The individual may have a difficult time remembering essential facts about their traumatic experience. Individuals with PTSD may develop negative thoughts about the world and themselves.
Emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, and shame may develop (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As a result, the person may have a difficult time being happy. Individuals who are diagnosed with PTSD have two or more of the following: irritable behavior, reckless or self-destructive behavior, hypervigilance, exaggerated response, difficulty concentrating (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). However, the counselor must rule out that the individual is not experiencing a change in behaviors that may be influenced by drugs, alcohol, or medication (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In the case of Maija, ruling out Dissociative Amnesia (F44.0) in the DSM (2013) is …show more content…
essential. Counting Method The counting method involves the counselor counting from 1-100.
While the counselor is counting, the client is encouraged to visualize and revisit the tragic experience that is affecting their life (The Counting Method, 2011). In the Counting Method video (2011), Maija been to sob and place her face in her hands as the counselor continued to count. Near the ending of the counselor’s counting, Maija explained how she did not mind revisiting her traumatic experience because she knew the counselor was present with her. The counselor method allows the client to know they have a beginning, middle, and end (The Counting Method, 2011). Also, the Counting Method to relive their tragic experience in a safe environment.
The Counting Method is like Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR involves the clinician moving their figure in front of the client and asking the client to describe the traumatic event (Day, 2015). As a result, the pathways start connecting between the emotional part and the brain and other parts that are useful (Day, 2015). Therefore, causing the memories to distant themselves.
Techniques Removing
Stress Several techniques can assist with individuals who have PTSD. However, according to Hooley, Butcher, Nock, and Mineka (2017) Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Therapy would best benefit PTSD clients. Counselors who use CBT helps the client have safe reminders about their traumatic experience. Culture PTSD can affect men and women. However, according to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), women are more likely to get PTSD than men. Women who are diagnosed with PTSD experience distress longer than men (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The severity of PTSD depends on the impact of the traumatic event and the individual’s culture and religious beliefs. Summary Maija is a survived rape and torture. Her abuse and pain caused her to develop PTSD. Maija decided counseling would best assist her with coping with her traumatic experience. The counselor used the Counting Method to help Maija with her recollections.
Cynthia Adae was taken to Clinton Memorial Hospital on June 28, 2006. She was taken to the hospital with back and chest pain. A doctor concluded that she was at high risk for acute coronary syndrome. She was transferred to the Clinton Memorial hospital emergency room. She reported to have pain for two or three weeks and that the pain started in her back or her chest. The pain sometimes increased with heavy breathing and sometimes radiated down her left arm. Cynthia said she had a high fever of 103 to 104 degrees. When she was in the emergency room her temperature was 99.3, she had a heart rate of 140, but her blood
Antwone Fisher presents characteristics consistent with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 271). The American Psychiatric Association described the characteristics of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, as “the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic events” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 271). The American Psychological Association (2013) outlines the criterion for diagnosis outlined in eight diagnostic criterion sublevels (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, pp. 271-272). Criterion A is measured by “exposure to actual or threatened” serious trauma or injury based upon one or more factors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p.
PTSD occurs after experiencing traumatic events and prolonged periods of emotional distress. A traumatic event is something that a person experiences that causes them to feel like their lives, or the lives of others, are in immediate danger. If after traumatic events such feelings of fear or complete loss of control do not subside and cause disruptions in a person's everyday life PTSD may occur. Such traumatic events may include: Combat in a war zone, sexual or physical abuse or assault, major accidents, or natural disasters. There are four main symptoms used to identify PTSD: Reliving the traumatic event, which can include nightmares and flashbacks. Avoiding people or situations that could remind one of the event. Negative changes in a persons thoughts or feelings, such as fear, guilt, shame or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Lastly, hyperarousal, feeling jittery, alert and on the look for danger along with trouble sleeping or focusing. (National Center For PTSD). People suffering from Ptsd may also encounter problems with depression and anxiety along with relationship problems, physical symptoms, and drug and alcohol problems.
According to Sharf, (2008) the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) was designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder. EMDR requires that the clients visualize an upsetting memory and accompanying physical sensations. The clients repeat negative self-statements that they associate with the scene. The procedure is repeated again and again until the client’s anxiety is reduced. EMDR focuses on desensitizing strong emotional reasons in clients and help them to reframe their belief systems to accommodate new emotional states (Sharf, 2008).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a psychological disorder that is brought about after encountering a traumatic experience. This disorder can vary between mild and extreme severity in symptoms and effect on the suffering patient. It’s caused by hyper aroused state in the brain, using a magnetoencephalography
...ces, accidents or the abrupt death of a loved one, and physical or sexual assault. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. Generally EMDR has proven to be a very successful therapy, but one that many do not completely understand. While this lack of understanding creates some of the controversy surrounding EMDR most of the controversy is centered on whether the eye movement part of the treatment is essential to helping patients diagnosed with PTSD. So far researchers cannot yet be sure that the eye movement part of the treatment is essential to helping patients diagnosed with PTSD. Overall EMDR therapy is important because it helps to process distressing memories, reducing their lingering effects which allow patients to develop more adaptive coping mechanisms and lead ordinary lives.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is defined by our book, Abnormal Psychology, as “an extreme response to a severe stressor, including increased anxiety, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and symptoms of increased arousal.” In the diagnosis of PTSD, a person must have experienced an serious trauma; including “actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation.” In the DSM-5, symptoms for PTSD are grouped in four categories. First being intrusively reexperiencing the traumatic event. The person may have recurring memories of the event and may be intensely upset by reminders of the event. Secondly, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, either internally or externally. Third, signs of mood and cognitive change after the trauma. This includes blaming the self or others for the event and feeling detached from others. The last category is symptoms of increased arousal and reactivity. The person may experience self-destructive behavior and sleep disturbance. The person must have 1 symptom from the first category, 1 from the second, at least 2 from the third, and at least 2 from the fourth. The symptoms began or worsened after the trauma(s) and continued for at least one
The current criteria for assessment of PTSD is only suitable if criterion A is met. Every symptom must be bound to the traumatic event through temporal and/or contextual evidence. The DSM-5 stipulates that to qualify, the symptoms must begin (criterion B or C) or worsen (symptom D and E) after the traumatic event. Even though symptoms must be linked to a traumatic event, this linking does not imply causality or etiology (Pai, 2017, p.4). The changes made with the DSM-5 included increasing the number of symptom groups from three to four and the number of symptoms from 17 to 20. The symptom groups are intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and
PTSD is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayoclinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers. (NIMH) While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, and police and fire personnel and bystanders. PTSD can manifest itself in many forms. The primary signs and symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts), avoidance of places, situations, or events that may cause those memories to resurface, and hyperarousal symptoms (easily startled, feeling tense or on edge) (NIMH). Other symptoms may include not having positive or loving feelings toward other people, staying away from relationships, may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them, may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.
PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety disorder. It affects people that have experienced, witnessed, or were confronted with a life threatening event. It can cause flashbacks, depression, nightmares, and change of mood. Other common symptoms of PTSD are difficulty sleeping, anger outbursts, decreased interest in activities, avoidance of people and places that can trigger a memory, and inability to recall part of the trauma. Symptoms can occur right after the incident but also much later in life. Other common occurrences with PTSD are depression, suicide, and alcohol or drug abuse (FAQs about PTSD).
Manisha’s emotional resiliency was an integral part of her survival when her husband was sent to prison for eighteen months leaving her solely responsible to care for her children and her home and when her and her family moved the UN camps. The emotional resiliency that Manisha demonstrated during the imprisonment of her husband and living in the camps was observed again when her family moved to the United States and had to embrace a new culture and customs. (Hutchison, 2015, p.8) At the moment her family moved to the United States, her living environment would now be altered for the rest of her life.
With people who are suffering from PTSD their brain is still in overdrive long after the trauma has happened. They may experience things like flashbacks, nightmares, hallucinations, panic attacks, and deep depression. They tend to avoid things that remind them of their trauma and are constantly on high alert waiting for the next possible traumatic event to take place; in events such...
Next let us examine Mariam's plight. She is denied the chance to go to school. "What's the sense schooling a girl like you? It's like shinning a spitspoon." She lives with a cruel mother. "You are a clumsy little harami. This is my reward for everything I've endured. An heirloom-breaking, clumsy little harmi"(4). She has a neglectful father. "Mariam kept thinking of his face in the upstairs window. He let her sleep on the street. On the street. Mariam cried lying down"(35). Her mother commits suicide and Mariam blames herself. "You stop that. These thoughts are no good, Mariam jo. You hear me, child? No good. They will destroy you. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault no". Mariam nodded, but as desperately as she wanted to she could not bring herself to believe him"(44). She is forced into marriage to a man she does not love. "I don't want to," Mariam said. She looked at Jalil. "I don't want this. Don't make me"(47). She is sent to live in a strange city were she does not know anyone. She has a physically abusive husband. "Then he was gone, leaving Mariam to spit out pebbles, blood, and the fragments of two broken molars"(104). Her husband is cruel and says hurtful words to her. She can not do anything right in his eyes. When he is not ignoring her he is being verbally or physically abusive towards her.
An American psychologist called Francine Shapiro developed The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in the 1980s. Dr. Shapiro was born on February 18th, 1948, she is currently 67 years old. She earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the Professional School of Psychological Studies in San Diego, California (Shapiro, 2015). Dr. Shapiro is a senior research fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California (Shapiro, 2015). This therapy was created for the treatment of psychological traumas which led to controlled research studies about EMDR therapy (Trauma Recovery, 2015). She works in Northern California as a licensed clinical psychologist and author (Shapiro,
We learn that the process of healing and overcoming his struggles encompasses Makhaya working through his struggles by learning to trust and believe in the friends he makes and people he meets in Golema Mmidi. While all of Makhaya’s inner struggles are not fully resolved in the novel, he does comes to terms with who he is and learns to open up to the people around him. It is living within a community, learning to accept that certain things cannot be changed, and living simply that provides a ‘peace of mind’ for Makhaya. While his thoughts may not become quiet, they are soothed by his focus and determination, his involvement in the agricultural programme, his friendships and his relationship with Paulina.