New Genetic Study Could Transform Approach to Mental Health
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
Does your toddler or preschooler struggle with hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention? Are they prone to tantrums or appear overly sensitive? If so, you may wonder if these are just normal phases of childhood, or if they indicate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Many children can demonstrate the early signs of ADHD, such as restlessness, outbursts, or lack of concentration. Parents may expect them to “grow out” of these tendencies by their later years. But if they do have the neurodevelopmental condition and carry it into adulthood—especially if they remain undiagnosed and/or untreated—it can negatively impact their entire lives.
Today, we have more knowledge than ever about this common mental health condition, which affects 7 million (11.4%) children ages 3-17, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Children who are found to meet the criteria for ADHD can be diagnosed as early as 4 years old.
Recognizing the earliest warning signs of ADHD is key to getting kids the help they need. In this blog, you’ll discover seven ADD symptoms every parent needs to know.
A retrospective study of risk factors for ADHD in different stages of infancy found that eight elements were significantly associated with the condition’s later development. At 0-1 month old, these factors were:
At 3 and 18 months, a decrease in head circumference growth was associated with later ADHD. And, at 9 and 18 months, there were correlations found between ADD, delays in motor and language development, and having a difficult temperament.
A 2023 systematic review of 48 articles also found that temperament in infancy or toddlerhood could indicate an early risk for childhood ADHD. Moderate associations were found with activity level, negative emotionality, and sustained attention.
The first two of these were found to be “predictive of all three symptom dimensions (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and combined).” The third, sustained attention, was associated only with combined symptoms.
Further research will help explore the links between ADHD’s development and sustained attention and inhibition in a child’s earliest months and years.
Finally, in an overview published in Health Psychology Research, a variety of genetic, neurobiologic, and neurochemical factors were explored as contributors to ADHD in young children. These include:
What does this mean for parents who are concerned about possible early symptoms of ADHD in their child? Here are some early signs of ADHD to look out for in your toddler or preschooler:
The overview mentioned above notes that ADHD in children can manifest with poor motor coordination or motor performance and balance.
These children are also more prone to accidental injuries and physical trauma, including head trauma, which itself can lead to or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
One of the hallmarks of ADHD, impulsivity in a preschooler or toddler may present itself as speaking before thinking, impatience while waiting, or interrupting others.
An impulsive child may also yell or scream when they’re frustrated, get physical with other kids, or run into the street without looking for oncoming vehicles.
Once a child reaches preschool, their performance may already be compromised by the academic challenges associated with ADHD. One of the early signs of ADD in preschoolers, trouble with paying attention, impacts their ability to learn in a traditional classroom.
Parents working with their child’s teachers may be instrumental in helping children with ADHD perform better, which is one benefit of early diagnosis.
A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics noted that children with ADHD are more likely to have sleep disorders.
This association works in both directions. Not only does the degree of ADHD symptoms correlate with sleep disorder severity, but sleep disorders can trigger or worsen the symptoms of ADHD.
In the retrospective study mentioned above, researchers found that temperamental and behavioral problems in children 9 and 18 months old are “an important predictive factor for the development of ADHD.”
This may take the form of excessive crying during infancy. Later, these children displayed issues with sensory integration, attention, and behavioral development.
Emotional hyperarousal, emotional dysregulation, and rejection sensitive dysphoria are some of the common emotional issues faced by those who have ADHD.
Parents may notice that their child has intense reactions or stays “stuck” in emotions for longer periods than would be expected. Or perhaps their child has more, or longer-lasting, tantrums and outbursts, or frequently shows signs of frustration.
A 2021 study reported that 40% to 60% of children with ADHD also have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Another behavioral disorder that may overlap with ADHD is conduct disorder. Harming oneself and/or others (with behaviors such as biting) may also become an issue in children with ADHD.
Young children with ADHD can be excessively restless or fidgety, with difficulty sitting still and paying attention. They may be constantly in motion and excessively talkative. Parents may have trouble getting them to sleep, eat a meal, or focus on tasks.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents, ADHD criteria can be applied to children as young as ages 4-6. The guidelines advise medical professionals to note symptoms across multiple settings, such as home and preschool.
The most common treatment prescribed at these early childhood ages is parent training in behavior management (PTBM). The AAP explains that this consists of helping parents learn:
Parents who have spent time implementing and incorporating these strategies at home can then report their results to the medical professional, as well as provide a picture of the child’s persistent symptoms and struggles. This enables a more accurate ADHD diagnosis.
Brain SPECT scans can also help in the diagnosis of ADHD in toddlers and preschoolers. Because there are seven different types of ADD/ADHD, it’s crucial to pinpoint which type is interfering with a child’s development. With brain scans, clinicians can then determine an effective and personalized treatment plan.
Many doctors rely on prescription medications for childhood ADHD, and they can be highly beneficial for some kids. However, stimulant medications are not effective for all ADD types—and they may even cause harm. In addition to ADHD medication or in lieu of it, children can reap significant benefits from all-natural lifestyle changes, including:
Parents can also help by rethinking traditional discipline measures, which may not be helpful for children with ADHD. Instead of yelling, threats, and anger, these children tend to respond to different strategies. Remaining calm and positive will help better guide their behavior.
Finally, because there is a genetic component associated with the condition, parents of children with attention problems may want to undergo screening for ADHD themselves. At Amen Clinics, many adults with ADHD only learn about their condition after bringing in their child for an evaluation.
It’s never easy to be a parent. But it can be even more challenging when you’re parenting a child who shows the early signs and symptoms of ADHD.
Fortunately, we know more than ever about what to watch for in our toddlers and preschoolers—as well as the benefits of early diagnosis. With vigilance, patience, and understanding, we can help ensure that they are given the best chance of success in life.
Reviewed by Amen Clinics Inc. Clinicians
Amen, Daniel G et al. “Gender-Based Cerebral Perfusion Differences in 46,034 Functional Neuroimaging Scans.” Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD vol. 60,2 (2017): 605-614. doi:10.3233/JAD-170432
Nishizawa, S et al. “Differences between males and females in rates of serotonin synthesis in human brain.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 94,10 (1997): 5308-13. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.10.5308
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Has an enthusiastic new romantic partner ever overwhelmed you with effusive texts, frequent phone calls, plans for a future together, over-the-top displays of attention, or lavish you with many gifts? Did it feel wonderful—almost like a fairy tale relationship—but with an undercurrent of unease, perhaps due to the speed and intensity of the romance?
Did your love interest get prickly or refuse to listen when you tried to slow the pace of your romance or set boundaries? If so, you may have been subjected to narcissistic love bombing. And that could spell trouble.
Here’s what you need to know about love bombing, including how it can lead to an abusive relationship and clear signs on how to recognize it.
Love bombing is when an individual bestows another person with love “bombs” of attention, affection, and praise in the early stages of a new relationship in order to influence or manipulate them. It’s typically used as a tactic in romantic relationships but may be seen in other types of relationships, such as friendships and work dynamics.
Love bombing is when an individual lavishes another person with love “bombs” of attention, affection, and praise early in a new relationship in order to influence or manipulate them.Share on X
The term love bomb has become popular over the last several years—especially among young people. Do a search for #lovebombing on TikTok, and you’ll get hundreds of thousands of results!
A 2022 survey found that 70% of more than 1,000 participants, ages 18-55, had experienced some form of love bombing. Women encountered it at a significantly higher rate than men.
In some cases, love bombing may be innocent and seem like normal behavior. However, in other cases, it’s a form of emotional manipulation and abuse, such as with a narcissist love bombing scenario.
At some point, the love-bombing phase stops. A new phase follows, which may include manipulative tactics such as gaslighting, criticism, or controlling behavior, and in some cases, physical abuse and other red flags. Love bombing is not to be taken lightly because it is potentially the start of an abusive relationship.
People engage in love bombing for a variety of reasons, including:
Narcissism, especially individuals with narcissistic personality disorder
Attachment issues, such as being overly dependent or a survivor of childhood trauma
Loneliness
Genuine love
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Although love bombing is not a diagnostic term, mental health professionals typically use it to describe the manipulative behavior that narcissistic or abusive individuals employ in early romance. It is used to gain power over a person—often someone vulnerable to grand gestures and appearing in need of a “savior.”
Using gifts, affection, and positive attention, the narcissistic love bomber essentially taps into the recipient’s internal reward system. This psychological manipulation helps quickly create a bond that can have addictive-like qualities. This serves to make their partner feel dependent on them.
Indeed, when you’re the object of a love bomber’s desire, you might feel safe, secure, and totally adored. This is because these grand gestures initially boost your self-esteem and make you feel worthy and desired. You might believe you found your perfect match.
However, the secret motive of the love bomber is not simply to seek love. It is a manipulative tactic of narcissistic abuse. Research shows that narcissistic love bombers, who tend to be lacking in self-esteem, ultimately want to gain control over you.
Not all love bombing is a conscious manipulation tactic. In some cases, unconscious or unresolved attachment issues propel an individual to love bomb.
For example, someone who has an insecure attachment style may love bomb in an effort to “secure” the relationship quickly, because they fear being abandoned. Unfortunately, the love bombing may overwhelm a partner and turn them off, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Alternatively, an individual with an avoidant attachment style love bombs to feel in control over the level of intimacy. When the partner reciprocates, they typically get overwhelmed by the closeness and push the partner away, which leads to the opposite of love bombing: ghosting.
Sometimes love bombing can simply be enthusiasm from a lonely person who is desperate for a friendship or romantic relationship.
Love-bombing behavior may be an expression of genuine love, not a manipulative tactic, especially if an individual comes from a family or culture that is demonstrative with affection. In addition, it’s important to note that men tend to fall in love more quickly than women do, research has found.
In general, new love can be overwhelming. Brain-imaging research shows that falling in love affects the brain in a similar way cocaine does. It can trigger a flood of neurochemicals that produce a sense of euphoria.
At the same time, it activates areas of the brain that lead to intense focus and obsessive thoughts about a new love interest. This can make it difficult to tell if you’ve been love bombed or are embarking on a healthy relationship.
On the flip side, new love can reduce activity in brain networks involved in judgment and negativity. The neural systems responsible for critical assessments basically shut down. It’s as if the brain is driving us to fall in love and stay in love.
To protect yourself, it’s important to be able to assess and discern dangerous love-bombing behavior.
Although every relationship is different, nearly all instances of love bombing will include the following:
Excessive flattery and praise
Constant sharing of feelings
Showering you with gifts that you don’t want or need
Always wanting to spend time with you
Intense talks with you about a future together very early on in the romance (within days or weeks)
Additional signs of love bombing may include:
They shower you with over-the-top gestures (a romantic trip for the weekend, creating fairytale-like dates, sending 100 roses, etc.)
They say exactly what you want to hear
They refer to you as their “soulmate” or suggest your connection is “destiny” or “fate”
They push for commitment early in the relationship
They get upset with boundaries
They’re very needy
They want you to respond quickly to texts and calls
There’s lots of PDA and posting on social media
You feel uneasy like you have to tread lightly
They introduce you to close friends and family too soon
They prefer you alone, isolated from your family and friends
You have a feeling of being “swept off your feet”
They seem too good to be true
Love bombing has 3 stages:
Idealization phase
During this love bombing stage, your partner bombards you with over-the-top expressions of love and affection. It serves to draw you in and let your defenses down.
You may experience a feeling of being swept off your feet or that this new love interest is too good to be true. Unfortunately, their behavior could be signs of love bombing.
Devaluation phase
At this point, you start to relax and get comfortable in the relationship, but red flags begin to appear as the love bombing and idealization phase starts to end.
Perhaps your partner will try to control you by limiting your time with family and friends. You may see flashes of anger, especially if you say no or attempt to set a boundary.
They may withdraw their attention and become critical of you or suddenly cut off contact or blame you for the issues in your relationship. This is called gaslighting.
In some cases, an abusive person will employ other manipulative tactics, like fear and intimidation to control your behavior and may even use physical violence.
Discard phase
When a love bomber realizes they can no longer get what they want from you, they will likely discard your relationship and move on to a new one. This usually happens if you confront them about their harmful behavior or make an effort to implement healthy boundaries.
Love bombers try to avoid accountability. They will typically leave before cooperating or compromising.
If you leave a love bomber—especially one with narcissistic personality disorder— they may return later. Typically, they will begin again with extravagant and lavish gestures in an attempt to win you back. They may also say they will change. However, instead of changing, as they draw you into the unhealthy relationship they simply start a new cycle of abuse.
Experts say that the best indicator of an unhealthy love-bombing situation is your gut feeling. Healthy love generally makes you feel good. Toxic relationships make you feel stressed and uneasy, doubting your perceptions.
Love bombing can harm your self-esteem and sense of self-worth. You may have feelings of shame and self-doubt for not seeing the red flag waving. It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and confused, wondering how you became so dependent on a person you hardly knew. Be understanding and kind to yourself.
Love bombing is a form of emotional abuse that can lead to feelings of despair, anxiety, depression, and guilt. If you’ve been love bombed, look for support from non-judgmental, understanding friends and family members with whom you can share your own feelings about the emotional abuse you have gone through.
If you’re having trouble getting over post-love bombing symptoms, consider psychotherapy with a qualified mental health professional. Immediately seek help if you have experienced physical abuse or even threats of it. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233.
With time and effort, you can overcome past abusive relationships and learn to set healthy boundaries. This can help lead the way to a more loving relationship in the future.
If you recognize love bombing in yourself, working with a mental health professional can help address narcissistic traits or other underlying issues driving your behavior in relationships.
Strutzenberg CC, Wiersma-Mosley JD, Jozkowski KN, Becnel JN. Love-bombing: A narcissistic approach to relationship formation. Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. 2017. 18(1), 81-89. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/discoverymag/vol18/iss1/14
Harrison MA, Shortall JC. Women and men in love: who really feels it and says it first? J Soc Psychol. 2011. 151(6):727-36. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2010.522626. PMID: 22208110.
Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Patel N, et al. Neuroimaging of love: fMRI meta-analysis evidence toward new perspectives in sexual medicine. J Sex Med. 2010. 7(11):3541-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01999.x. PMID: 20807326.
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
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As parents, it’s common to focus on parenting strategies that will help you raise mentally strong kids, but you may be overlooking what NOT to do. These people are typically well-intentioned, but their parenting skills aren’t helping them get the results they desire.
Based on tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics, our child psychiatrists have seen parents who unknowingly engage in habits that are counterproductive. Here’s a look at 10 bad parenting habits you should avoid.
If you want to learn more about what too many parents are doing wrong, tune in to the Change Your Brain Every Day podcast, hosted by Dr. Daniel Amen and his wife Tana Amen. Their episode on parenting “don’ts” is available wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Your child’s brain controls everything they do—how they think, behave, and relate to others. When their brain works right, they work right, but when their brain is troubled, they are more likely to have trouble in their life. And if they have problems in their life, you have problems in yours.
Healthy brain function is critical for focus, mood stability, motivation, academic performance, and so much more. But most parents don’t think about the health of their child’s brain. This is a major mistake. If you want your child to be their best, you must teach them to love and care for their brain.
The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that a child’s brain health is linked to emotional and behavioral issues. The SPECT scans below show:
Healthy parent-child relationships require “special time” together. If you don’t spend time with them one-on-one, they are likely to develop resentment and rebel against you.
One of the most effective things you can do is spend at least 20 minutes of quality time each day with your child—listening and doing something they want to do (within reason).
Silence your phone so you can pay 100% attention to your child. Research has found that when parents are always distracted by their devices, it interferes with a child’s emotional intelligence development. A child may act out and behave poorly in an attempt to get your attention.
When you are disagreeing with your child and they are talking, do you interrupt them? Are you focusing on understanding what they are saying, or are you thinking of how you are going to respond to them?
Being a bad listener sends the message that your child isn’t important enough to merit your attention. And this can have devastating effects on their self-esteem.
Learn active listening. Don’t judge or criticize what they are saying, rather repeat back what you hear. Ultimately, your child can solve a lot of their own problems.
Never tell your child “You’re a spoiled brat” or say “You’re stupid” when they’ve made a mistake or done something wrong. This is not helpful for their development.
Children will internalize these negative names and begin to believe them, which can adversely affect their self-esteem.
Letting your child do whatever they want may make them “happy” in the moment, but it can be detrimental in the long run. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the children who grow up to have the most mental health problems had permissive parents who never set appropriate boundaries.
Children need clear boundaries to help them understand what is and is not OK. Do this by being firm and kind. Develop a set of rules and stick by them.
The brain’s frontal lobes—which are involved in planning, judgment, and impulse control—are not fully developed until about age 25. Therefore, you need to act as your child’s frontal lobes until theirs develop. Failing to do so increases the chances that your child will engage in risky behaviors that can have major consequences.
Healthy supervision means checking in on what your child is doing and with whom and helping them make good decisions. This doesn’t make you a helicopter parent—rather, it shows how much you care.
If your motto is “Do as I say, not as I do,” you’re setting yourself up for trouble. Being a poor role model means your child will likely pick up on that and follow your lead.
If you lie, cheat, are rude or disrespectful, eat an unhealthy diet, and never address your own health, your child is going to follow your example. So, model how you want your child to be.
Noticing all the little mistakes your child makes infuses them with a negative mind-set and self-view. This can carry over into adulthood and hold them back from reaching their potential.
In addition, if the only time you notice them is when they are doing something wrong, you are teaching them that doing something bad is the best way to get any attention from you.
Instead, do whatever you can to catch them doing things right as often as possible. By doing that, you will reinforce their good behavior and good choices.
Mental health issues, such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), can have a devastating impact on your child’s life. On average, it takes 11 years from the time a child starts to develop mental health symptoms to when they are seen for their first psychiatric evaluation.
In the meantime, children with untreated mental health conditions can struggle to succeed in school, in their friendships, and in life. These types of problems can rob them of their mental strength, happiness, self-esteem, motivation, and focus. As their parent, pay attention and take them for an evaluation if you have any concerns.
If you’re suffering from any mental health conditions, it can devastate your children. Remember the saying, “Put on your own oxygen mask first.” You need to take care of yourself and be the best version of you so you can also be the best parent to them.
If you have trouble with focus, anxiety issues, depression symptoms, or other mental health issues, seek help from a mental health professional.
Discover more common parenting mistakes and helpful parenting strategies on Dr. Amen and Tana’s Change Your Brain Every Day podcast, available wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Reviewed by Amen Clinics Inc. Clinicians
Keator DB, et al. Adverse childhood experiences, brain function, and psychiatric diagnoses in a large adult clinical cohort. Frontiers in Psychiatry, Volume 15 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1401745
Anda, Robert F et al. “The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology.” European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience vol. 256,3 (2006): 174-86. doi:10.1007/s00406-005-0624-4
Gu, Wenjie et al. “Impact of adverse childhood experiences on the symptom severity of different mental disorders: a cross-diagnostic study.” General psychiatry vol. 35,2 e100741. 22 Apr. 2022, doi:10.1136/gpsych-2021-100741
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents In the last decade, the question “What is CTE?” has been asked and searched online more than ever before.
Throughout their lifetime, at least half of all people will experience a traumatic event of one kind or another. For some, trauma begins early in life with the devastation of childhood abuse and other maltreatment, including neglect.
Beyond this, there are many other types of events that are inherently traumatic, such as military combat, sexual violence or other physical assaults, serious injury, motor vehicle accidents, being stalked or in a natural disaster as well as surviving a mass shooting or living in a war zone.
Essentially, any event during which a person experiences the fear of actual or threatened death can trigger PTSD symptoms. Some mental health experts suggest that living through the COVID-19 pandemic was yet another event that triggered trauma in some people.
It’s normal for anyone who has endured or witnessed experiences like these to have a strong emotional response that could last for days or weeks.
However, some people have a delayed and/or prolonged reaction to the traumatic event which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious mental health condition.
This blog will explore what happens during a PTSD episode, offering insights and coping strategies to help you deal with it.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD—the mental health services administration for veterans—approximately 7-8% of people in the U.S. will develop PTSD during their life—10% of women and 4% of men.
To be diagnosed with this condition, a person will have some specific PTSD symptoms, including several of these:
Recurrent and distressing memories or dreams of the traumatic event that cause severe anxiety
Prolonged or noticeable psychological and/or physical reactions, such as extreme fear, to cues resembling the experience
Flashbacks of the event or emotional/psychological dissociation during PTSD episodes
Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, people, places, or any reminders of what happened, often referred to as avoidance symptoms
Difficulty remembering details of the event
Changes in memory or thinking patterns or the development of mood symptoms and difficulty experiencing positive emotions and possibly feeling emotionally numb
Hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, anger outbursts, trouble concentrating, and suicidal thoughts as well as unhealthy coping strategies such as substance abuse and other self-destructive behaviors
While all these post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can cause significant impairment, some are more challenging to manage than others.
Studies show that PTSD symptoms are largely related to the amygdala, a structure deep in the brain that is best known for our fight-or-flight response.
When in danger, the amygdala assigns an emotional tag to any experience that could be life-threatening. Its function is automatically prioritized over other areas of the brain, including those that govern reasoning and memory.
Not everyone who experiences a traumatic incident will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, but for those who do, seeking treatment with a licensed mental health professional to help you reduce or manage PTSD symptoms can make a world of difference.
Fortunately treating PTSD is possible and mental health services that do this are widely available.
The amygdala doesn’t forget anything that it has deemed as dangerous and doesn’t discern whether the threat is real or imagined. This plays a big role in untreated post-traumatic stress disorder, especially when these symptoms occur:
Flashbacks are a nightmarish and intense reliving of traumatic events. Whether it is momentary or lasts a few minutes, hours, or even days, someone going through a flashback is unable to distinguish intrusive memories from reality.
Flashbacks are uncontrollable and very vivid, likely evoking strong sensory memories associated with the trauma that was endured and the environment in which it happened.
Someone experiencing a PTSD trigger and flashback might have heightened anxiety and other reactivity symptoms.
Dissociation occurs when a person feels separate or disconnected from their body and surroundings as though they are observing things from outside of themselves.
This tends to occur automatically as a coping mechanism to manage traumatic memories and the emotions and sensations associated with them in those who develop PTSD. Like flashbacks, dissociative episodes can be fleeting or last for a long time.
The amygdala (the brain’s fear center) doesn’t forget anything that it has deemed as dangerous and doesn’t discern whether the threat is real or imagined. This plays a big role in untreated PTSD. Share on X
Flashbacks and dissociation are often unpredictable and are caused by triggers in the environment that are reminders of the traumatic event. Such cues can be sights, sounds, odors, objects, people, places, or any number of things that are somehow associated—even unconsciously—with the fearful experience and lead to traumatic stress reactions.
During PTSD episodes, the brain responds by activating the amygdala as though real danger is imminent. This in turn causes an increase in heart rate, shallow rapid breathing, perspiration, and panic as the fight or flight system kicks in.
For Steven, an Amen Clinics patient who witnessed a horrific accident that killed 10 people, his hands would start shaking.
Although they come on quickly, a person will usually have a little bit of warning prior to a flashback or dissociation. For example, they may feel they are losing their connection to reality or things may start to look blurry.
One method for managing PTSD symptoms and not completely losing touch with reality is through a technique known as “grounding,” which is similar to mindfulness.
Just as it sounds, grounding can help a person stay present so that they recognize their oncoming PTSD symptoms for what they are. This technique involves strategies such as these:
Engaging each of the senses by identifying things in the immediate environment they can see, smell, touch, taste, and hear
Moving around—whether by walking, running, or jumping—to help disrupt the body’s stress response
Breathing deeply and slowly to help calm themselves
It is possible to recover from PTSD symptoms, and there are many PTSD treatment options that can be beneficial, including:
1.Talk therapy: Some mental health professionals offer talk therapy treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses ongoing negative emotions and negative thought patterns.
2.Exposure therapy: Another type of treatment, known as exposure therapy, incorporates present-moment relaxation techniques to help reduce symptoms of PTSD in the presence of a trigger.
Another form of this technique is called prolonged exposure therapy. This allows people to gradually face their feelings related to past traumatic events.
3.EMDR: According to research, one of the most effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This type of psychotherapy is done with a licensed mental health professional or other healthcare provider who is trained and certified in it.
After some sessions for EMDR preparation during which a client will identify triggers, accompanying physical sensations and distressing symptoms, a process called bilateral stimulation (BLS) is used. This involves having clients move their eyes side-to-side as they follow the therapist’s finger, having the client hold a small device in each hand that alternately vibrates.
At the same time, a traumatic memory and associated bodily sensations are recalled simultaneously with the BLS. The distraction of the BLS along with emotional support from the healthcare professional makes thinking and talking about the experience less terrifying or overwhelming.
This method helps the memories of traumatic events get “unstuck” so they can be more fully processed in the brain. This in turn opens the door to greater coping skills and emotional management and fewer negative thoughts related to the trauma or oneself.
4.Antidepressant medications: Mental health professionals may also recommend selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to help reduce day-to-day symptoms. It’s important to understand that antidepressant medication alone is unlikely to fully treat PTSD symptoms.
In general, doing therapy in conjunction with medication is usually recommended to overcome symptoms of PTSD.
Sadly, without treatment, many people won’t fully recover from PTSD. In this case, PTSD episodes are likely to continue or worsen with time. For some people, this can aggravate symptoms and may even lead to suicidal thoughts.
The stigma attached to mental disorders holds some individuals back from seeking help. Because of this, it’s important to know that reaching out to a mental health professional for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Understand that the road to recovery from PTSD and other types of trauma may not be a linear one. You may experience setbacks on your healing journey.
However, continued progress can lead to an improvement in mood symptoms, healthier coping strategies, and a greater ability to manage symptoms. Overall, this fosters a greater sense of well-being and more fulfillment in life.
Reviewed by Amen Clinics Inc. Clinicians
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. How common is PTSD in adults? https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp
Zotev V, et al. Real-time fMRI neurofeedback training of the amygdala activity with simultaneous EEG in veterans with combat-related PTSD, NeuroImage: Clinical, Volume 19,2018, Pages 106-121, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2018.04.010.
Medical News Today, Step-By-Step Guide on Grounding Techniques, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/grounding-techniques
Rothbaum, Barbara Olasov, and Ann C Schwartz. “Exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.” American journal of psychotherapy vol. 56,1 (2002): 59-75. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2002.56.1.59
Wilson, Gemma et al. “The Use of Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder-A Systematic Narrative Review.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 9 923. 6 Jun. 2018, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents In the last decade, the question “What is CTE?” has been asked and searched online more than ever before.