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Nicholas Milem
Dr. Zuber
LBST 2214
3/21/15
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic stress disorder is a common anxiety disorder that affects 1 in 10
Americans. Children as well as adults fall victim to this metal disorder, normally after a
traumatizing event in his or her life. Common people who are susceptible to this disorder are
members of the military, members of a family who are neglected, or children or older members
of society who have suffered some form of physical or mental abuse in their early childhood.
Symptoms of this disorder are people suffering severe emotional fear and trauma associated with
a traumatizing event. The afflicted often suffer nightmares and flashbacks correlating with the
event. PTSD is often treated by number of ways. Certain types of medications are used to help
the afflicted establish sleep patterns and help address the issues the patient may be feeling or
experiencing. Therapy and consulting others who have similar issues often helps the individuals
by reaching out for support. Such group support has helped numerous cases of PTSD and has
positive effects for the consultant and the consultee. (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division.)
Social determinates of health do play a pivotal role in the life of an individual dealing
with PTSD in their life. Social support is a large factor in the wellbeing of someones life, and
especially with someone dealing with PTSD. With adequate social support a person afflicted

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with PTSD can find an outlet, or someone to vent their issues to and to help them cope with the
certain events they may have experienced. Social support also can help the afflicted operate day
to day without experiencing the negative symptoms associated with the disorder. Stress also is an
important determinate of health associated with PTSD. The levels of stress that a person endures
can seriously affect their day to day mental stability as well as their irritability. A person living
with PTSD and under stress could be even more susceptible to the symptoms associated with the
disorder. Stress may influence the persons ability to cope with their symptoms and seek out the
help of others. (Social determinants of health. The solid facts. Second edition. (n.d.).)
There are certain stigmas associated with mental illness. Certain events such as shootings,
robberies, or outburst by a mentally ill person create a negative stigma surrounding certain
individuals with a mental illness. However the truth of the matter is that the amount of crimes
committed and this amount of crimes committed by a mentally ill person is disproportional, with
extended media coverage surrounding the crime performed by the mentally ill person. Such
negative stigma surrounding certain events sheds a negative light on mentally ill patients as a
whole. Stigma can make people classify the mentally ill as unstable, not able to operate unaided
in society, and subsequently shunned from the community. Stigma and the consequences that
come with it can negatively affect a persons ability to cope with their mental illness especially
socially. Being labeled in public, especially when dealing with mental illness can force the
individual to not seek help or support for their illness. (How shootings stigmatize people living
with mental illness - CNN.com.).

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Bibliography
1. How shootings stigmatize people living with mental illness - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 21, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/opinion/mental-health-stigmashootings/
2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
Division. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2015, from
http://ontario.cmha.ca/mental_health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/#.VQ9rTI7F9iY
3. Social determinants of health. The solid facts. Second edition. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21,
2015, from http://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/social-determinants-ofhealth.-the-solid-facts