h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A642395

My first article for a long while, which I hope will be a good compliment to Not Banned Yet's article on triggers. I look forward to hearing what people think of it with a certain degree of trepidation...

Kid

for World Mental Health Day, 9th October 2001

that should have read 10th October.

This is a much-needed topic for the edited guide -- *definitely* worth writing about.

My one problem with the entry as it stands is that it insinuates that PTSD is only caused by childhood trauma. This is far from the case -- PTSD was originally recognized as a disorder via how it relates to the traumas adult soldiers experience during war. You briefly mention this, but the bulk of your entry focuses on PTSD as it relates to children.

I think a good plan would be to pick a focus and make sure your title matches your focus -- you might choose something like:

PTSD and Child Abuse
PTSD in Children
PTSD: A General Overview

If the last, I think the entry would need some more research to balance it out.

A related issue I might raise deals with the high level of overlap between your entry and NotBannedYet's entry on PTSD Triggers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A615061 for those who haven't seen it yet). As your entry stands right now, it appears a little too similar to NBY's entry to be considered as a separate, Edited Guide entry. Picking a focus such as those above and revising your entry so that it surrounds that focus, and doesn't recover as much as the same ground as NBY's entry, would greatly enhance the chances of your entry being accepted.

Again, I think this is a really important issue -- I just think the entry needs a little bit more focus.


Mikey

I agree with Mikey that you need to emphasize a little more that PTSD is not always caused by childhood trauma, but can strike adults of any age too. Or you could switch your subject to just childhood PTSD. Either way, it's a pretty good article. I would like to hear more about how PTSD affects certain professionals who have to deal with trauma all the time, like policemen and fireman. JE

Hey Kid, be sure to read my posting under HiJEllen, as it is more extensive. Thanks, JE

I thought of a couple more important points. One, is that it only takes once. One mugging, one rape, one attack can be enough to cause lasting PTSD damage. Of course, sustained brutality can be a cause too, but it doesn't have to be ongoing. See what I mean? Secondly, I would emphasis that a trigger can be anything, even something normally considered positive. My trauma happened during a week of beautiful Spring weather. Ever since then perfect Spring weather makes me shaky and anxious. Of course, most people find the first days of Spring delightful. And so it goes...

There's a very good book about PTSD by Aphrodite Matsakis called I Can't Get Over It. She's also written a new one called Trust After Trauma, but I haven't read that one yet.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'. The author has chosen not to pursue this material - as discussed here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F56083?thread=146906