Poisoned by war - on the brink of a new pandemic in Ukraine

After going through more than a year of war in Ukraine, I began to observe widely symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome PTSD, and sometimes PTSD. In ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) these diseases are included in the section "Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders" (headings F40 - F48).

These are the following symptoms:

- Outbursts of aggression and anger, 

- chronic fatigue and exhaustion, 

- sadness and sadness, 

- Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, 

- hypersensitivity and emotional reactivity to minor events, 

- low moods and loss of joy, 

- desensitization, and others.

I observe these symptoms in myself as well as in my immediate environment, my clients, being in the rear. This is especially evident in the media space, such as the "Shark and the Kangaroo" debate. 

It is important for me, as a practicing psychologist and psychotherapist, to tell the general public about the mechanism of PTSS as well as possible solutions for overcoming these illnesses. 

Man is not only mental functions: thinking, logic, feelings, emotions, man is a complex biological organism, which is inextricably linked to the psyche. Psycho is the soul, Soma is the body. Psychosomatics - a whole section of medicine, which deals with diseases of psychosomatic origin.

Every person at the front and on the home front experiences tremendous stress: air raids, bombings, loss of loved ones and many other events. 

Here are some of the main reasons why the body reacts to stress:

- Evolutionary adaptation: the stress response has an evolutionary explanation. Historically, stress has often been associated with physical threats, such as predators or hostile tribes. The organism has evolved to mobilize energy and resources to respond quickly to danger or to ensure survival.

- Escape or freeze: The response to stress, known as the "escape or freeze response" activates the sympathetic nervous system. Activation of this system causes the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which causes the heart rate to increase, the airway to expand and the energy level in the body to prepare for physical action or escape or causes a person to lose consciousness. 

- Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: Stress also activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). The hypothalamus, part of the brain, produces corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH, in turn, stimulates the adrenal glands to synthesize and release stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. 

CONCLUSION: A person under stress, especially prolonged stress or psychological trauma, has no control over the processes going on in his body!

Thus, under the influence of changes in the hormonal background there is a deformation of the psyche and affective behavior with the manifestation of the symptoms described above. 

I have no statistical data, but I can only assume that our society is on the threshold of a new epidemic - PTSD, PTSD, PTSD.

There is another terrible danger that threatens us because of the massive spread of PTSD: alcoholism and drug addiction!

A person who has chronic PTSD, experiencing fatigue, low mood, loss of joy, fear, sadness tries to compensate for their depressed state with drinks containing alcohol or in other ways.  

According to statistics from the DSS, in 2022 from May to October, despite the loss of territories and emigration of part of the population, received an additional amount of excise duty 1 billion hryvnia, 29%. In addition to the DSS measures of "detenization", the increase in excise tax revenues, is due to increased sales of beverages containing alcohol, and consequently an increase in alcohol consumption!

I have some good news!

If you have read this article up to this point, it means that the problem is identified and is available for awareness and understanding. 

The first step to solving the problem is to be aware of it. The second step is acceptance. The third step is developing a plan of action on how to solve the problem. 

If you have the symptoms described above and you have been experiencing them for more than two weeks, you need to contact your family doctor for a referral for diagnosis. Only upon the fact of diagnosis can therapy be prescribed! 

However, exactly what you can do yourself is to cut down on your alcohol consumption! Alcohol only exacerbates PTSS and is a very dangerous and toxic drug.  

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

Therapies for PTSS are known:

Medication treatment (only as prescribed by a psychiatrist):

Antidepressants: medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can help manage the symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with PTSS.

anxiolytics: these medications, such as benzodiazepines, can help relieve symptoms of anxiety and increased arousal.

Antipsychotic medications: in some cases, antipsychotic medications may be prescribed when a patient has symptoms of psychosis.

Psychotherapy:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Gestalt psychotherapy, and other psychotherapy modalities. 

Supportive social environment: it is important to have a supportive family, friends and social network that can help with awareness and coping with traumatic events.

Group psychotherapy: participating in group sessions with other people experiencing similar traumas can provide a sense of understanding, support.

Health to all !

Psychologist. Psychotherapist.

Oleg Gorodnichy.