Recognizing and getting help for psychological trauma
Symptoms
* Insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep deprivation * Altered eating habits, loss of appetite, "tastelessness" of food * Nightmares, flashbacks * Attention deficiency, loss of concentration * Unprovoked anger, irritability, resentfulness * Fatigue * Emotional numbness, intense feeling of isolation * Depression, helplessness, guilt * Avoidance/denial of triggering event * Anxiety/phobias (fear of imaginary threats) * Inhibitive reactions/ inability to function in daily life * Excessive dedication to work * Substance abuse/reliance (comparative to behavior prior to triggering event) Clinical diagnoses * Adjustment disorder - mild maladaptive symptoms (depression, altered behavior) persist no longer than 6 months, unless triggering event is ongoing or its consequences are ongoing * Acute stress disorder - symptoms seriously impair daily functioning, persist for several days * Post-traumatic stress disorder - as above, but symptoms last over a month * Dissociative identity disorder (children) - multiple personality syndrome resulting from repeated, ongoing abuse Treatment * Individual sessions (about 12) with psychologist or counsellor * Discussions/meetings with support groups, or group-oriented therapy, including marital/family therapy * Positive coping strategies - learning relaxation techniques, maintaining regular habits and schedules, recreational exercise in natural surroundings, therapeutic massages, keeping a diary/journal * Cognitive-behavioral treatment - focuses on acknowledging, accepting, understanding personal thoughts/feelings within a therapeutic environment * Psychodynamic psychotherapy - usually a one-on-one, interactive series of sessions with a psychologist to uncover unconscious roots and effects of trauma, often involves at-home exercises and learning coping techniques Practitioners * Psychiatrist - a mental health specialist with a medical degree (M.D.); focuses on unconscious/emotional/spiritual problems; able to prescribe medication * Psychologist - a mental health specialist with a background in research and/or sociology discipline(s); has a Ph.D.; focuses on behavioral aspects within a specific social context * Counselor - traditionally associated with education; provides guidance/advice on "normal" or conscious problems
*Note: The information above is provided as a general reference and is not intended for use in self-diagnosis. Counseling services/trauma centers * Atmajaya University/Psychology: (021) 5719558 * International Community Activity Center: (021) 7180010 * Sahabat Peduli: (021) 31901485/6 * University of Indonesia/Psychology: (021) 7863523 ext. 1201 * Yayasan Pulih hotline: (021) 7197476 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Sources: A Guide to Psychology and its Practice www.guidetopsychology.com; American Psychology Association www.apa.org; Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma www.dartcenter.org; Drayton Psychology Ltd www.draytonpsychology.co.uk