Post+Traumatic+Stress+Disorder

=__What is PTSD? (3)__= "Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating condition that affects people who have been exposed to a major traumatic event".
 * A response to a profoundly disturbing event
 * 5.2 million adults in the US have suffered from PTSD
 * Why some people develop PTSD while others do not is unknown

__Who develops PTSD? (4)__
(PTSD)
 * Eyewitnesses
 * Family members
 * Victims of rape, burglary, natural disaster, accidents etc
 * War veterans
 * Abuse victims

__Symptoms of PTSD (1)__
"As the individualstruggles to cope with life after the event, ordinary events or situations reminiscent of the trauma often trigger frightening and vivd memories, or flashbacks".


 * Flashbacks
 * Nightmares
 * Frightening thoughts
 * Emotional numbness
 * Insomnia
 * Depression
 * Anxiety
 * Irritability or anger

__Avoidance Symptoms(3)__

 * Avoiding thinking or feeling about the trauma
 * Inability to remember the event
 * Inability to experience emotion
 * A sense of shortened future

__Children and PTSD (1)__

 * May suffer from learning disabilities
 * Memory and attention problems
 * Suffer anxiety
 * May become self-harming

__Treatment__
 __Parallels(5) __ Amir: Shows several signs of PTSD Hassan: Shows some signs as well Sohrab: Shows signs of PTSD
 * Group therapy (1)
 * Exposure therapy (1)
 * Psychological counseling (1)
 * Anxiety and depressions medications (3)
 * Emotional support (3)
 * Insomnia – “That night I became an insomniac.” (p. 86)
 * Inability to remember – “My memory of the rest of that winter of 1975 is pretty hazy” (p. 87)
 * Anger – “ ‘Hit me back!’ I snapped. Hassan looked from the stain on his chest to me.” (p. 92)
 * Flashbacks – “ The rifles roar with a deafening crack…I woke up with a scream trapped in my throat.” (p. 240)
 * Insomnia – “Hassan looked tired too- he’d lost weight and gray circles had formed under his puffed up eyes.” (p. 86)
 * Emotional Detachment – “He held my glance, then looked away, his face set like stone. His eyes were still lightless, I saw, vacant, the way I had found them when I had pulled him out of the tub.” (p. 352)
 * Depression – “Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming. Screaming through my clenched teeth. Screaming until I thought my throat would rip and my chest would explode. Later, they said I was still screaming when the ambulance arrived.” (p. 343)

__Discussion Questions__

 * Do you think that Sohrab's experiences with PTSD will continue to dominate his life?
 * How did Amir's PTSD affect his relationships with the people in his life?
 * Do you think the lives of these characters would have ended up better if Amir had stepped in to help Hassan when he needed it most?

__References__
//Facts About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.// (1999, September). In SIRS. Retrieved from: http://sirs.com/factsaboutposttraumaticstressdisorder (1)

Hosseini, K. (2003). //The Kite Runner.// New York. Penguin Group Inc.(2)

//Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.// (2006, September 18). In Gale Student Resources in Context. Retrieved from: http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/referencedetailspage/referencedetailswindow (3)

Szegedy-Maszak, M. //"Cold Sweat and Flashback".// (2001, September 21). In SIRS. Retrieved from: http://sirs.com/ptsd.factsforhealth (4)

Hosseini, K. (2003). // Kite runner //. (pp. 86-352). United States of America: Riverhead Books. (5) = =

=__Pictures__= PTSD Linked to Hardened Arteries. [Article]. Retrieved From: http://coalitionforveterans.org/2010/11/ptsd-linked-to-hardened-arteries/