Police shootings have been a hot topic in the media in the last several years. What’s at the root of this issue? In this episode we dive into Compound (Complex) Trauma and how it effects law enforcement, first responders, military personnel, and others. Chris makes the simple argument that, “Traumatic events have a cumulative effect on any individual; that effect needs to be managed with an eye towards the mental health of the individual.”
Show Notes
The APA defines trauma as: a person’s emotional response to an extremely negative (disturbing) event.
Traumatic event thus would be any event that causes trauma.
Compound trauma refers to a series of events where trauma is experienced over a lifetime.
Therapy fact: Simple trauma is easy to treat, whereas, compound trauma is very hard. Especially when it is extremely compounded, like for instance, over a career of service.
Four main symptoms to look out for that characterize PTSD:
- Re-experiencing: the experience (upsetting thoughts, memories, flashbacks, strong feelings when something is a reminder, physical responses with any reminders)
- Avoidance: avoid people, places or things, trying to be too busy to avoid memories or thinking on the event, avoid conversations,
- Hyperarousal: trouble sleeping, irritable, difficulty concentrating, feeling “on guard” , being “jumpy, or easily startled.”
- Negative thoughts and beliefs: hard time with specific memory of events, loss of interests, feeling distant from others, not feeling happy
Links
DSM Definition of a Traumatic Event
Listen to Episode #4 – Compound Trauma: The real issue behind police shootings and violence!
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