PTSD - A Psychodynamic Explanation

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder which you may develop after being involved in, or witnessing, traumatic events. The condition was first recognised in war veterans and has been known by a variety of names, such as 'shell shock'. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. Its estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not.

There are many theories that could be used to explain this condition. Psychodynamic approaches to PTSD focus on a number of different factors that may influence or cause PTSD symptoms, such as early childhood experiences, current relationships and the things people do to protect themselves from upsetting thoughts and feelings that are the result of experiencing a traumatic event. The psychodynamic approach focuses mainly on the unconscious, this is a part of the brain that we have no conscious awareness of this is where upsetting feelings, urges, and thoughts that are too painful for us to directly look at are housed. Even though these painful feelings, urges, and thoughts are outside of our awareness, they still influence our behavior. Defence mechanisms such as denial, repression and displacement are used to protect an individual from traumatic memories, so they are pushed deep down into the unconscious brain. However if these memories are not fully suppressed it may lead to disorders such as PTSD.

Therefore to attempt to cure the symptoms of PTSD requires ‘working through’ the traumatic memories that were suppressed in the unconscious. To do this, the psychodynamic therapist will assist the patient in recognizing the defense mechanisms being used, what they are being used for, connecting with and appropriately releasing those feelings and thoughts that were previously being avoided. For example, a therapist may notice that a patient is expressing anger and putting blame on family members even though they haven't done anything to deserve it. In this case, the therapist may interpret this behavior as a sign that the patient is actually upset with and blaming themselves for the traumatic event. Since this anger and guilt is too difficult to cope with, it is expressed toward others. This defense mechanism is referred to as "displacement."

The psychodynamic approach cannot be used to fully explain Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or any other psychological illnesses but is certainly an interesting explanation to look at.
I wonder who can tell I'm a psychology student :)

Kethujah Sethurajah
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/

https://www.verywellmind.com/psychodynamic-treatment-of-ptsd-2797670


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