PTSD

["Field, R. William" <bill-field@UIOWA.EDU>]

Ruth,


You do not need to actually be injured "physically" to

experience PTSD.  Experiences that have a significant

threat of bodily

harm or death to a person or a loved one can trigger PTSD.  As the

threat becomes more severe to a person, the greater the chance of them

developing PTSD.  To many people around TMI, the

perceived threat

(real or not in others' minds) was very real them.


Bill Field


At 01:26 PM 3/8/2002 -0500, RuthWeiner@aol.com wrote:

> I
>
> am not questioning that post-traumatic stress syndrome exists. 
>
> However, actually being mugged and being in a battle in a war is far, far
>
> more frightening and stressful than hearing about TMI on the radio or
>
> reading it in the newspaper and never noticing any physical health
>
> consequence at all.  Even if the person fears cancer, the FEAR is
>
> likely to fade with the passage of time.  And what would trigger
>
> post-traumatic stress in someone who lived in Harrisburg when TMI
>
> happened?  A radio program?  A newspaper?   
>
>
>
> I just do not think one can compare having lived in Harrisburg, PA, or
>
> even in the Chernobyl fallout, AND HAVING SUFFERED NO PHYSICAL HEALTH
>
> EFFECT AT ALL, with shell-shock, or battle stress, or being a crime
>
> victim. 
>
> Ruth Weiner, Ph. D. 
>
> ruthweiner@aol.com






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