Post Traumatic Stress Dis

Eric J . Kolesar

PSY 2205 (Eagle ) 08T3

Journal Article 1 Title of Journal Article

Key Elements in Couples Therapy with Veterans with Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Dis

Reference

Sherman , M (2005 . Key Elements in Couples Therapy with Veterans with Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Dis . American Psychological Association . [On-line] , xx . Available : HYPERLINK "http /www .apa .org /journals /features /pro366626 .pdf " \t "blank www .apa .org /journals /features /pro366626 .pdf

Abstract

Intimacy and relationships fall under Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs as love and belongingness . As humans , we all have the

need to feel loved and to love others in return . To others , it may give a sense of acceptance for who they are , in spite and despite of . For some , it is a need to have someone to grow old with and share memories with . An individual needs to fulfill these in to progress into the hierarchy , the next being self-esteem . With posttraumatic stress dis , fulfilling the love and belongingness need is impaired , if not impossible because of hindrances to the marriage and the family of the one suffering the dis . Not only is posttraumatic stress dis a barrier to developing deep and strong family ties , but it makes this bondage impossible . Social support , which includes the patient 's familial relations , is a key element in helping the posttraumatic stress dis patients ' recovery . It is in this concept that couples therapy is considered a treatment in posttraumatic stress dis

Review

Posttraumatic stress dis is a prolonged maladaptive reaction to a traumatic event that is characterized by intense fear , avoidance of stimuli associated with the event , and re-living of the event (Nevid 2007 . Among the people that can get affected by this dis are those that have suffered a tremendous amount of stress in relation to a traumatic event that he or she experienced . Although not everybody who have been traumatized will qualify for this dis , the risk factors that may put an individual under this condition include lack or limited social support , high levels of anxiety , low self-esteem , extroverted and neurotic characteristics , psychiatric dis history , and a previous diagnosis of an acute stress dis as stated in Psychiatric Nursing by Lippincott Williams Wilkins (2004

The effects and consequences of this dis are disturbingly grave in nature , as it was mentioned by Michelle Sherman in the article entitled Key Elements in Couples Therapy with Veterans with Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Dis , as it can lead to marital instability and even divorce . This article focused on clients with a combat-related posttraumatic stress dis , whom majority is of the male gender

Sherman et al . wanted to develop key elements in couple 's therapy that would make this intervention a better , conventional treatment . First they compared this new framework to the old by saying that the old program outlined family interventions for posttraumatic stress dis which includes using their respective partners as a possible source of social support during the recovery process . Furthermore , it also includes that they address disturbances in the relationship caused by the exposure...