Counselor Julie Kostrey & Host Sarah Harlow
At September’s Senior Education Network meeting, host Sarah Harlow with Home Instead introduced Julie Kostrey, a Board Certified counseling psychologist and clinical team leader with Summitstone Health Partners in Fort Collins. Julie presented how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects all ages including the elderly. She explained many people who experience traumatic events may have temporary difficulty in adjusting or coping with such events.
Julie explained PTSD is an anxiety disorder which patients experience life threatening events, while depression is a mood disorder which patients are sad, lack energy, or withdraw from daily activities. PTSD can also overlap depression symptoms, but depression is easier to diagnose.
Women are twice as likely to contract PTSD than men, because of several emotional factors. Up to 10% of the U.S. population will experience an PTSD episode in their lives. About 67% of people exposed to mass violence will develop PTSD compared to natural disasters or other traumas.
PTSD Types
Different PTSD Types: 1) Uncomplicated PTSD is a single event trauma with a recovery of less than three months, and 2) Complex, Complicated or Chronic disorder includes multiple traumas with a longer recovery period depending on the severity of the trauma and may need medication for treatment.
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD includes these three symptoms:
1) intrusions including flash backs, might mares, or hallucinations;
2) avoidance of places, people, activities, situations, or feelings as a reminder of the event, and
3) hyperarousal with sudden bursts of anger, difficulty in concentrating on tasks, having guilty or shameful feelings, difficult in sleeping, and substance abuse.
PTSD has 1) physical effects such as heart disease, hardening of the arteries, gastro-intestinal problems, and 2) psychological effects including nightmares, mood swings, and severe anxiety.
PTSD Treatments
Various treatments depending on the symptoms include 1) Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT) using less violence treatments and is the more popular method, Exposure Therapy which relives the trauma, 3) Prolonged therapy using manipulation and overcoming avoidance, 4) Eye Movement Dissociative Reprocessing therapy is developing coping mechanisms and takes less time for recovery than CBT , 5) Narrative therapy, which lets the patient write about his traumatic experience, 6) Creative Arts therapy, and 7) Psychodynamic therapy for the military suffering from combat trauma.
For elderly adults, main issues appear to be shame, guilt, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, avoidance, stuffing feelings, social withdrawal, establishing an environment where people feel comfortable disclosing difficult memories and reactions.
Suicide Affects All Ages
In the U.S., nearly 50,000 people of all ages commit suicide per year per the CDC. Although women attempt suicide more so than men, men are more likely to succeed in killing themselves during a suicide attempt.
Suicide is the 10th-leading case of death in the United States, according to the CDC. In the past five years in Larimer County, suicide was the third leading cause of death, according to the county coroner’s office. Nearly 1 in 3 people who died by suicide in Larimer County over the past 5½ years were between the ages of 45 and 64.
Those who have experienced a traumatic event and/or have PTSD may be more likely to attempt suicide (27%).
Nearly 22% of people who experienced rape also attempted suicide at one point. Nearly 23% of people who experienced physical assault also attempted suicide at some point in their life.
Suicide Warning Signs:
Per the CDC, there are the typical warning signs of suicidal victims:
Feelings of being a burden, entrapment, unbearable pain
Increased anxiety
Isolation
Increased substance abuse
Looking for access to lethal means
Increased anger or rage
Extreme mood swings
Expressions of hopelessness
Sleeping too little or too much
Talking or posting about wanting to die
Making plans for suicide
How to Help Someone Who Is Struggling
Ask how they’re feeling (don’t be afraid to use the word “suicide”)
Find out how to keep them safe
Be there for the person
Help them connect with resources, help
Follow up, even when they seem to be happy
Seniors and Veterans Needing Help
Bottom line is please seek help for yourself, your relatives, or your friends if you experience or see any of these PTSD or suicide symptoms. See your local doctor for help who will recommend a PTSD specialist.
SummitStone Health Partners accepts senior clients for services with Medicaid and Medicare/Medicare Advantage Plans. Seniors can call our “Same Day Access” Center at 970-494-4200, Option #2 between the hours on Mon 9a-5p and Tues-Thurs 8a-5p (closed Fridays) to make an appointment or visit their website at www.summitstonehealth.org.
If you’re a combat veteran, there is a VA medical facility in Fort Collins that specializes in PTSD and other mental problems. Please call 970-221-5176 for help!