Citation

Chandler E. Accid. Emerg. Nurs. 1993; 1(2): 87-91.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0965-2302(93)90054-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the 20-odd years since the cluster of symptoms known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been studied, we have learned a great deal about treating the distress that accompanies trauma in its many forms. We will only know whether or not we have succeeded in preventing the disorder when we have access to long-term studies of people who received intervention immediately following a traumatic event. We do know, however, much more about the impact of trauma on victims and witnesses of traumatic events, sometimes long past the event itself. We know, for example, that 'triggers'-events reminiscent of the original event-play an extraordinarily important role in the development of symptoms. Removing those triggers is one method for alleviating distress. But a growing interest in the relationship between body, mind, and spirit points toward another possibility: counteracting the stressful triggers with equally powerful images that contain the seeds of recovery. Nurses are continually exposed to pain and suffering, stress and trauma, are themselves vulnerable to PTSD, and perhaps as much as the patients they care for, need hope and healing. We may not be able to prevent stress or distress. But we can alter the intensity and duration of stress related to trauma by naming our demons, daring to struggle with them, and by creating healing communities for ourselves as well as our patients.

Language: en