Joanne has PTSD

Case Study 4: Joanne, age 32, is involved with the first man that really counts in her life. As the couple has become more intimate, Joanne has started to have flashbacks about an uncle who touched her sexually when she was only eight years old. She is distressed to find out that she is shutting down feelings about her boyfriend and distancing herself from him. Although she has been sexual with other men, she says she can’t stand to let herself be sexual with someone she loves and trusts. She startles easily and reports a general increase in anxiety. She is very angry that she has to deal with the feelings about the incidents with her uncle that happened so long ago. She says that she thought she had gotten beyond all that.

Diagnoses:

Joanne probably has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with delayed onset. She experienced a trauma that was a threat to her physical integrity of self as a child, and it did not manifest itself until she was an adult. She tries to avoid anything that can be associated with the trauma, including her boyfriend, who reminds her of the trauma. She has recurrent and distressing flashbacks of the traumatic event, and intense psychological distress at cues that resemble the event, i.e when she and her boyfriend are intimate. She experiences irritibility and an exaggerated startle response, two symptons of PTSD.

http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm

Treatment:

It is critical that Joanne seek help right away, the longer she waits, the worse it will get. She should look for a therapist who specializes in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. Treatment focuses on helping her deal with the trauma she has experienced rather than avoid it.She should avoid alcohol and drugs, which can make her disorder worse. By getting treatment, Joanne may be able to overcome her symptoms and move on with her life

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm