Autism :: Papers Disorders Childhood Autistic Essays

Autism Autism is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and imagination, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. Symptoms of autism usually appear during the first three years of childhood and continue throughout life. Although there is no cure, appropriate management may foster relatively normal development and reduce undesirable behaviors. People with autism have a normal life expectancy. Autism affects an estimated two to 10 of every 10,000 people, depending on the diagnostic criteria used. Most estimates that include people with similar disorders are two to three times greater. Autism strikes males about four times as often as females, and has been found throughout the world in people of all racial and social backgrounds. Autism varies a great deal in severity. The most severe cases are marked by extremely repetitive, unusual, self-injurious, and aggressive behavior. This behavior may persist over time and prove very difficult to change, posing a tremendous challenge to those who must live with, treat, and teach these individuals. The mildest forms of autism resemble a personality disorder associated with a perceived learning disability. The most distinct feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Children with autism may fail to respond to their names and often avoid looking at other people. Such children often have difficulty interpreting tone of voice or facial expressions and do not respond to others' emotions or watch other people?s faces for cues about appropriate behavior. They appear unaware of others' feelings toward them and of the negative impact of their behavior on other people. Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and hair twirling, or in self-injurious behavior such as biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of "I," or "me." Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking. People with autism often have abnormal responses to sounds, touch, or other sensory stimulation. Many show reduced sensitivity to pain. They also may be extraordinarily sensitive to other sensations. These unusual sensitivities may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as resistance to being cuddled.

Fortress of North Carolina’s History

Stretching almost 500 miles through North Carolina and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains stand like a fortress that conceal some of the oldest settlements of both pre-historic and early European settlement. Much of the 200-year-plus history of Appalachian culture still persists by simply discovering what remnants are left. In 1539, the first European expedition to venture into the Blue Ridge region was led by Span’s Hernando de Soto, as his troops landed near Tampa Bay, Florida, with over six hundred soldiers and some additional men (mostly servants and slaves).Soto's expedition headed toward the Appalachian interior with two goals — to find adventure and to discover gold and other precious metals rumored to be in the region. Numerous Native American tribes (most of them Mississippian cultures) resisted the Spaniards' advance (Olson 1988, p. 3). In May of 1540, Soto's expedition crossed the Blue Ridge, probably guided by Native American scouts who knew of a well-establ ished trail over the mountains. The expedition passed through the domain of the region's predominate tribe, the Cherokee, quickly and without difficulty.The reason behind must be that the tribe had already been decimated by smallpox or other European disease that spread to the Cherokee from coastal tribes, which likely had contracted that disease from earlier European explorers. The Peachtree site within the Cherokee county fits the description of the town of Guasili visited by Soto. The Peachtree site is geographically and topographically more accurately situated for the location of Guasili than either the Nacoochee or Etowah mounds, both of which had previously been considered as the site of Guasili.At present, this site in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the feasibility of trails is limited, coincides more nearly with the expected situation as described by the chronicles than any other location. However, the significant point in this report is not whether this is the site of the ancient town of Guasili as shows at least one trail of importance which passes the site, while several others are connected to it (Setzler, Jennings & Stewart 1941, p. 9).However, it was England and France that garnered the political control of eastern North America, as many English settlers avoided exposure to the fighting by moving from the North Carolina and Virginia piedmont onto Cherokee lands in the Carolinas. In reaction, the Cherokee staged a series of attacks on English settlements and fortifications, a situation which came to be known as the Cherokee War. The Cherokee won several of these contests, including one major victory, the capture of Fort Loudoun on the Little Tennessee River in 1760.In retaliation English soldiers under Major Hugh Waddell in 1761 stormed Cherokee towns along the Little Tennessee River; suffering many casualties, the Cherokee pled for peace (Ehle 1988, p. 51). The English, recognizing that they could not fight the Cherokee and the Fren ch at the same time, forged a new alliance with the Cherokee. By 1763, this alliance had defeated the French and their Native American allies.English monarch King George III rewarded the Cherokee for their loyalty by issuing the Proclamation of 1763, which established a boundary line intended to prevent colonists from venturing onto Cherokee land. As the nineteenth century dawned in the Blue Ridge region with several states was mired in political squabbling over territorial boundaries. By 1800, the border between North Carolina and Virginia had already been surveyed, but North Carolina's border with the new state of Tennessee.As a cause of the frequent revision of county lines in the North Carolina Blue Ridge, it prompted the slowing the development of stable and productive county governments. The limited state funds allocated to mountain counties were often rendered ineffective by a lack of competent administration within the counties. For decades after the Revolutionary War, count ies in the Blue Ridge region not only were generally underrepresented in state politics, but also received little benefit from the federal government.Much of the western North Carolina landscape had been destroyed by the Revolutionary War, yet the state government of North Carolina put little effort toward boosting the region's economy. This was in part because the state's economy was sluggish, the result of many factors: a lack of harbors, the absence of an effective road system by which to conduct trade within the state, high transportation tariffs, and an over-dependence on agriculture (McPherson 1988, p. 65-71). In the North Carolina General Assembly in 1823, the state allocated funds for a trans-mountain road, the Buncombe Turnpike.Completed in 1827, this road linked South Carolina with Tennessee, allowing safe wagon transport from Greenville, South Carolina, over the North Carolina Blue Ridge, then through the valley of the French Broad River to Greeneville, Tennessee. A toll road, the Buncombe Turnpike profoundly affected the Blue Ridge communities through which it passed, providing economic relief to an impoverished region. Inns, supply outlets, and wagon-repair shops sprang up in a number of places along the turnpike. Owing to its strategic location along the turnpike, Asheville, North Carolina, grew quickly as a supply center for travelers.An important tourist attraction also emerged along the turnpike: Warm Springs, later called Hot Springs. The Buncombe Turnpike not only benefited the communities through which it was routed, but also served the nation by providing eastern markets with a steady supply of agricultural products, poultry, and livestock raised to the west of the Blue Ridge (Dunaway 1996, p. 113-115). During the Civil War, no major battles took place in the North Carolina Blue Ridge because political loyalties within the region were sharply divided, countless skirmishes occurred there.These conflicts were particularly frequent after July 1863, when the Confederate congress elected to position militia throughout the South in an attempt to capture draft evaders, return deserters to their commands, and control marauders who were opportunistically exploiting undermanned southern farms and villages. Confederate soldiers were soon present in the Blue Ridge, causing conflict wherever they encountered Union sympathizers. Thus, when the Civil War ended in 1865, marked the slowdown of political and social turmoil in the Blue Ridge region.The war had a profound impact on the region, as many people became disgusted at their ruined environment and disillusioned with their government. This is even worsened by the fact that political representation of the Blue Ridge people during Reconstruction was marked by corruption. Only after Reconstruction ended in the mid-1870s did state governments reorganize and actively participate in the economic development of the Blue Ridge. Finally, this improved the conditions in the region, which harnessed the forces of industrialization to come in. References Dunaway, Wilma A.(1996). The First American Frontier: Transition to Capitalism in Southern Appalachia, 1700-1860, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Ehle, John (1988) Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation, New York: Anchor Press. McPherson, James M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, New York: Ballantine Books. Olson, T. (1998). Blue Ridge Folklife. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Setzler, F. M. , Jennings, J. D. , & Stewart, T. D. (1941). Peachtree Mound and Village Site, Cherokee County, North Carolina. Washington, DC

W.E.B Dubois’ Theory on the “Double Consciousness” ...

LIT 327 W.E.B DuBois’ Theory on the â€Å"Double Consciousness† Conflict/Radical Marxist Theory as it applies to the Novel – A Lesson Before Dying DuBois’ theory on the â€Å"Double Consciousness† states, â€Å"After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world,--a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at ones self through the eyes of others, of measuring ones soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels†¦show more content†¦In addition, in Chapter 8, Matthew Antonine, a man of mixed race openly admits to Grant that he views himself as superior to blacks, but inferior to whites. He says his perception of superiority is not natural, it is something that was created by society, the society that they live in. He advises Grant that after a person is constantly reminde d of his or her inferiority, it is no longer important how one actually views him or herself, because you will only be feel as you are treated. Both the conflict and radical Marxist theory exists in the text. The conflict theory states that society is controlled by the rich and powerful. The criminal justice system is controlled by the rich and powerful, therefore the moral standards and good behavior is set by the powerful. This allows them to separate, dominate and control the poor. This separation is to protect s the rich from crime, and helps maintain their status quo. As a result of this, minor crimes committed by the poor are severely punished while large financial and business crimes are treated with leniency. In the process, the legal rights of the less fortunate are ignored and the middle-class side with the powerful in hopes that they will achieve the same status as the rich and powerful. This theory exists in the text, because during that time period many black men , such as Jefferson, who were involved in small or big crimes, whether they were guilty or not,Show MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesSandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics of Law Enforcement and the LAPD Allen Hunter

Theme of Loneliness - 1240 Words

LONELINESS The dark intense feeling of loneliness is an element of life that is inevitable to all people on a global level. To me it is like a parasite, is a virus eating away at the soul. ‘Of Mice and Men’, by Steinbeck exemplifies the loneliness of life on a Californian Ranch. John Steinbeck accomplishes this through characters as well as name of the town. A theme should be present during every element of the story, there are many themes that are present most of the way such as friendship but loneliness is present from beginning to end. From the beginning of the story the tone of loneliness is depicted through the title of the town, ‘A few miles south of Soledad’. Soledad is short for the town’s full name, Neustra Senora de Soledad†¦show more content†¦The person she thought would end her suffering; Lennie did just that by killing her. ‘Curley’s wife lay. All the meanness and the planning and the discontent and the ache from for attention where gone from her face’, her death symbolises her release from the chains of isolation and despair. George is a good hearted man who agonises from the feeling of solitude brought about by the obligation of Lennie, which is revealed throughout the book. George releases his frustration and deep anger on Lennie. He is always repeating to Lennie how far he could get without him, ‘God you’re a lot of trouble†¦I could get along so easy and so nice, if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl’, this quote clarifies the pain and frustration George is feeling, he does care about Lennie but he is missing out on life carrying a burden like Lennie. George shows his isolation and lack of a social like when he grumbles’†¦if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work an; no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want, why I could stay in a cat think of.. an’ watta I got, I got you’. This emotio nal outburst from George reveals his longing to intersperse in the world freely without Lennie. A parallel can that can be drawn from the relationship of George and Lennie, andShow MoreRelatedThe Theme Of Loneliness1549 Words   |  7 PagesIn â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,† by Hemingway and Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield what they both have in common is the literary device theme loneliness. Theme is the general idea or insight revealed in a narrative. These two stories are also different from the style of writing these two authors wrote how to tell their stories. Loneliness is introduced in the beginning of the short story â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place† by Hemingway. The deaf old man, with no wife and only a niece to care for himRead MoreLoneliness Theme1121 Words   |  5 PagesLoneliness Faces All In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, he illustrates the journey George and Lennie have throughout a significant part of their lifetime. Throughout the novel, many characters, including George and Lennie, are facing lonesome and they struggle to deal with it the right way. Most of the men are all alone because they have no family left or they isolate themselves from their peers. Loneliness touches each character at some point in the novel and it really emphasizes the impactRead MoreThemes Of Loneliness And Solitude1331 Words   |  6 PagesTony Samson Mrs. Maddox English 9 9 September 2016 Themes of Loneliness and Solitude in The Samurai’s Garden I.Introduction: A: Hook- Many view loneliness and solitude with distaste, why would someone want to be without the company of others? B: Bridge- Being alone and isolated is seen as dark and dismal. 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To begin, Steinbeck uses Crooks, the stable hand who is discriminated against, to contribute to the theme of loneliness. Crooks is so highly discriminated against because he is the only black man on the ranch, and is tired of being by himself all the time. Crooks explains, â€Å"Spose you didnt haveRead MoreTheme Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men998 Words   |  4 Pages In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck utilizes loneliness as an overarching theme, there is however one character that is noticeably longer than the others in Steinbecks novella. This character is Crooks, a bitter and aloof man, he used to have a family with brothers and a 10 acre chicken ranch. Now he lives the life of a stable buck isolated by his race (he is the only African American on the ranch) among other things (Steinbeck,2002). This loneliness truly characterises him and causes no end toRead MoreTheme Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men1368 Words   |  6 PagesOf Mice, Men and Loneliness John Steinbeck is the author of the story Of Mice and Men. He grew up in the Salinas River Valley in California, where Of Mice and Men takes place. Steinbeck grew up in 1929 when the Great Depression was going on. Of Mice and Men also takes place during the Great Depression. There were many migrant workers during the Great Depression. Migrant farm workers are men who move around the country working and earning wages and then moving to the next farm. These migrantRead MoreOf Mice and Men - Theme of Loneliness1641 Words   |  7 Pagesand Men - Theme of Loneliness Controlled Assessment - Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men’ is written by John Steinbeck. The novel is set in the 1930s during the great depression in California, America. Loneliness is the consistent theme running through the novel, relating as it does to the other themes namely: broken dreams and prejudice. Steinbeck illustrates through Curleys wife, Candy, and Crooks, three main characters of the novel the great negative effect of loneliness on humansRead MoreThe Theme Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men1919 Words   |  8 Pagesbunkhouses with the rest of the workers, but lives in the barn with the animals. Solely based on the color of his skin. Noticeably, in the novella, Candy, Curley’s wife, and Crooks are all outcasts on the ranch and gradually reveal the powerful themes of loneliness. In chapter three, an older migrant worker called Candy explains to George how he lost his hand on the ranch and was compensated with a â€Å"swampin’† job and 250 dollars. Because of Candy’s older age, readers can infer that he has outlivedRead MoreOf Mice and Men - Theme of Loneliness Essay609 Words   |  3 PagesOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is book of many themes; one that is very prominent is loneliness. Loneliness is common in many peoples lives and that is also true for the lives of the characters of the book. Almost all characters in the book are lonely in one way or the other. The main characters of the book are George and Lennie. Even though these two seem to have each other, they are both lonesome in a way. Lennies mental retardation isolates him from many people. George is the only person

Why I Am Interested Of Taking The Chromatin, Epigenetics,...

â€Å"No man’s knowledge can go beyond his experience†, this statement by John Locke captures the essence of why I am interested in taking the Chromatin, Epigenetics, and Gene Expression course. I have always had a lifelong thirst for knowledge. As a child I was always asking questions about why or how things worked. I would always tinker with things, taking them apart and reassembling them. I questioned pretty much everything and longed to be able to do experiments and find solutions to unanswered questions on my own. In high school, I volunteered, participated in athletics, held leadership roles in several clubs, and also worked part-time. Despite my many extracurricular activities, I never lost my thirst for knowledge and academic success remained my foremost goal. To challenge myself I enrolled in the most advanced courses available and took classes offered from a nearby community college, I graduated with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree. Motivated by my life experiences, I began my collegiate career at Virginia Tech (VT) as a biological sciences major. In short time I decided that I would pursue a dual degree, adding psychology on as another major. It was at VT that I would get my first opportunities to further my experience alongside my knowledge. This experience would come in the form of research. As a freshman I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Karen Brewer. I conducted synthesis, purification and characterization of organometallics and refined key

Family Friends Free Essays

Families look forward to vacation time it is always exciting. The family has to choose where they will vacation. There are things to consider when picking the right vacation location that everyone in the family will enjoy. We will write a custom essay sample on Family Friends or any similar topic only for you Order Now Two common-places families choose for vacation is Disney, and a cruise. Both places have a variety of activities, which are fun. The cruise offers activities that Disney cannot offer and Disney offers activities the cruise cannot offer. Disney, and the cruise are totally different. This essay will compare and contrast the types of activities, climate, and the locations of Disney and the cruise. Both vacation locations have a variety to offer, and the choice will depend on what the family is seeking to accomplish on vacation. First, the tree aspects of Disney are types of activities, climate, and location. It is important for a vacation to be enjoyable that the climate is pleasant. The hot weather in Florida is the first barrier to enjoying Disney, but the temperature and climate in Florida determines the types of activities Disney offers. Florida is a place that is always hot, and during the summer it rains every day. Disney is on land and the only water involvement is the water theme parks. A person can choose not to participate in the water activities if he or she cannot swim. The rain, however; does not mess up the vacation plans because the sun shines most of the time. The theme parks, water parks, shopping, and eating with characters are some of the activities the family can enjoy in Disney. Disney brings out the child in every adult, and children literally lose him or herself in the activities. Fun and sun are two words that describe Disney. The night life in Disney is fun however; the excitement is during the day. Second, the three aspects of a cruise are types of activities, climate, and location. The climate for a cruise is both warm, and cold, and it is important depending on where a person wants to travel. If a person dislikes the ocean, he or she may have a hard time on a cruise. Another issue for a cruise is becoming sea sick and not participating in the activities. The sea and the warm climate determine the available activities on a cruise. Gambling, nightclubs, formal dinners, and excursions are some activities individuals enjoy when going on a cruise. The night life on the cruise is the exciting part for adults and the day life is more exciting for the children. In some of the cities the cruise docks restaurants, dancing, and parties are everywhere. There are many cruise lines and locations people can go and have a vacation to remember. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival are cruise lines that families can travel with, and have fun. There are cruises for the entire family and for adults only. Releted essay –Â  An Empty Purse Frightens Away Friends Depending on what a person is trying to experience a cruise has a variety of locations to offer. With a cruise the family can travel outside the country and experience other cultures. No matter which place a family decides to choose fun is a guarantee. Families often choose one of two locations to spend their vacation. Much preparation goes into the vacation planning, and depending on which activities, location, and climate the choice is made. Sometimes taking a risk on a different vacation spot can be fun and exciting. Disney is one location, and a cruise can offer a variety of different locations. When an individual thinks of Disney, he or she thinks family, Mickey Mouse, theme parks, and hot. When an individual thinks of a cruise, he or she thinks of partying, drinking, and a getaway from the children. Expanding and changing the mind to enjoy where ever, a person vacations is rewarding. Fun and excitement is the ultimate goal of any vacation. Family vacations bring the family closer together, and this is a time for bonding. How to cite Family Friends, Essay examples

Ptsd Rape free essay sample

Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that has existed for many years but is just now beginning to be accepted by mainstream society and government bodies. In this brief paper, I will discuss the history of PTSD as a recognized disorder as well as the symptoms exhibited by someone suffering from the disorder. To conclude the paper, I will discuss some of the techniques that have proven useful in treating PTSD. History The history of PTSD is three-prong. With the advent of the railroads and increased travel by rail, doctors began to see train wreck victims who presented with symptoms even though there was no physical cause. So common was this phenomenon that medical doctors began diagnosing it as â€Å"railway spine. † Psychologists were more derisive however, labeling it â€Å"compensation neurosis,† believing that the victims were malingering in order to receive insurance benefits. Across the ocean, Sigmund Freud was working with young women when he began noticing symptoms of denial, repression, avoidance. He believed these were due to childhood sexual abuse and labeled it â€Å"hysterical neurosis. † His findings of widespread childhood sexual abuse were not well-received by polite Victorian society and he was forced to disavow his findings. However, it has been exposure to combat that has generated the greatest number of incidents. As early as the American Civil War, symptoms labeled â€Å"neurasthenia,† â€Å"soldier’s heart,† and â€Å"nostalgia† were reported. In World Wars I and II, the increase in aerial bombardment and artillery gave rise to the terms â€Å"shell shock† and â€Å"combat fatigue. Although doctors did not know how to treat it, PTSD (or the symptoms rather) were recognized as a psychological disturbance by the end of World War II and the Korean War years. It was the war in Vietnam and the sheer volume of affected returning soldiers that truly thrust PTSD in the spotlight. Although it was previously denied by policymakers, a coalition of grass-roots support groups forced politicians and health sciences officials to acknowledge the reality of the issue. Research into rape and child and spousal abuse victims found that many of the symptoms being reported were the same as those afflicting soldiers. With the publication of the DSM-III, Vietnam Veterans syndrome, rape trauma syndrome, battered woman syndrome, and abused child syndrome were combined under the rubric Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Diagnosis Diagnosing PTSD is challenging. Frequently, the symptoms presented could be indicative of several different diagnoses and many times other diagnoses are comorbid such as alcohol abuse or depression. According to the DSM-IV-TR, in order to be diagnosed with PTSD, the client must have been exposed to an event that involved actual or perceived death or serious injury or threatened the physical well-being of themselves or others. They must also persistently re-experience the event in at least one of the following ways: recurrent and intrusive recollections of the event, recurrent nightmares, flashbacks that cause the person to dissociate and act or feel as if the event were recurring, intense distress upon exposure to cues that resemble the event, or physiologic reactions upon exposure to cues that resemble the event. The client must persistently avoid the stimuli in at least three ways: attempts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or dialogues associated with the event; avoids activities, people, or situations that arouse recollection of the event; unable to recall important aspects of the event; exhibits markedly diminished interest in significant activities; detached emotionally and socially from other people; numbed feelings resulting in restricted emotional affect; and general sense of foreshortened future. Finally, persistent symptoms of increased nervous system arousal that was not present before the event must manifest, as indicated by at least two of the following symptoms: difficulty sleeping, irritability or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, or exaggerated startle response (APA, 2000). Children can also experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Children will often manifest symptoms by exhibiting agitated or disorganized behavior. They often experience nightmares, especially of monsters or rescuing others. They may believe that they will not live to experience adulthood or that they can predict future traumatic events. Finally, physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches may develop (APA, 2000). A second form of PTSD, known as â€Å"complex PTSD† or â€Å"disorder of extreme stress not otherwise specified† (DESNOS), may develop after long-term exposure to traumatic events. This may present in soldiers who have been in long-term combat, victims of chronic childhood sexual abuse or domestic violence, or concentration camp survivors (James amp; Gilliland, 2013, p. 153). This disorder manifests as three primary symptoms: somatization such as physical problems, pain, and limited functioning; separation of the personality into distinct components (dissociation); and affect dysregulation including alterations in impulse control, attention, and consciousness, perception of perpetrators, relationships with significant others, and systems of meaning (Courtois, Ford, amp; Cloitre, 2009, p. 85-86). Treatment Treating PTSD can be broken down into individualized treatment and group treatment. It can be further into the population being treated, whether it is an adult, child, or the family. Due to page limitations of this paper, I will limit my discussion to that of adults. In individual adult treatment, there are five stages: the initial emergency or cry for help, numbing and denial, intrusive-repetitive, reflective-transition, and integration. In the first stage, the primary goal is to get the client stabilized. Meditation, relaxation, hypnosis, and biofeedback are all techniques that may be utilized (Evans, 2003; Kolb amp; Mutalipassi, 1982). After the client is relaxed, the therapist can provoke central nervous system arousal to elicit the traumatic memories. Flooding, systematic desensitization, implosion, and Gestalt techniques are useful in this activity. The second stage of recovery is the denial and numbing stage. In this stage, the goal of the therapist is to bring into conscious awareness the traumatic event and hidden details and emotions the client may deny (Brende amp; Parson, 1985, pp. 191-192). Using reminiscence, the therapist breaks through the client’s defense mechanisms and exposes the event as it truly happened, rather than the fantasized version the client’s mind has created (James amp; Gilliland, 2013). Using a psychodynamic approach, the therapist clarifies and interprets the information that the client has given. This marks the third stage of recovery, interpretation. The goal is to integrate the trauma of the past event with the healing of the present therapeutic moment (Lindy, 1996, p. 534). Because clients may lash out at the therapist for the pain they are experiencing, an effective therapist will expect this and remain as empathetic as possible (Lindy, 1996, p. 536). In the fourth stage, reflection and transition, the goals for the client are to re-experience the emotions felt at the time of the event and examine the coping methods used to process it. The techniques of flooding, thought-stopping, and journaling are effective in this process. In flooding, the therapist continuously presents the fear-evoking stimuli while removing the reinforcement for the anxiety. The client discovers that their fear is unfounded and anxiety dissipates. In thought-stopping, the therapist progressively builds the fear-inducing scene to maximum arousal. Once there, the therapist shifts the client from that scene back to a positive, affirming place. The final technique, journaling, is beneficial to both the therapist and the client. By writing his thoughts down and hearing it read aloud, the client can process the thoughts at a safe psychological distance and move from self-condemnation to animated guilt (James amp; Gilliland, 2013). The final stage of individual treatment, integration, is the act of bringing the traumatic event out of the client’s past and working it into the conscious awareness. Techniques such as empty chair have been proven useful in helping clients deal with the â€Å"unfinished business† (Cohen, 2002, 2003; Scurfield, 1985). Group therapy is also effective in treating PTSD. First formed in New York City in 1970, grassroots support groups formed to assist veterans returning from Vietnam who could not receive help through government channels. Adapted to serve widely diverse populations, support groups help counter the social isolation and emotional estrangement that accompanies PTSD by giving the client a sense of community with people like them who are facing similar struggles. Clients also gain knowledge from other clients facing similar issues. After the trauma of the event is resolved, clients move into the second stage of group treatment, the life adjustment group. The goal of this group is to integrate the events of the past with an attempt to move forward and adjust to society. Action and behavioral change is mandatory at this stage (James amp; Gilliland, 2013). This is extremely difficult for many clients and will cause many to drop out of the group. Work to reestablish healthy relationships within the family are vital to long-term continued success. Coordination to or with a specialist in family therapy is recommended. Conclusion Recognizing and treating PTSD is important for several reasons. First, many disorders and crises may have their root in PTSD. Substance-abuse, child-abuse, domestic violence, and suicide may all be maladaptive coping mechanism from someone trying to cope with a traumatic event or the event that causes PTSD to emerge. Additionally, the aging of Vietnam veterans as well as the similarity of the Afghan and Iraqi wars to Vietnam ensure that PTSD will be a significant issue in mental health care for many years to come. Finally, mental health workers who deal with PTSD regularly may begin to develop symptoms themselves (Halpern amp; Tramontin, 2007; Pearlman amp; Saakvitne, 1995). By recognizing the symptoms and seeking appropriate help early, mental health workers can resolve the issues quickly and return to the â€Å"front lines† sooner. References American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Brende, J. O. , amp; Parson, E. R. (1985). Vietnam veterans: The road to recovery. New York: Plenum Press. Cohen, A. (2002. Gestalt therapy and post-traumatic stress disorder: The potential and its (lack of) fulfillment. Gestalt! , 6(1), 21-28. Cohen, A. (2003). Gestalt therapy and post-traumatic stress disorder: The irony and the challenge. Gestalt Review, 7(1), 42-55. Courtois, C. A. , Ford, J. D. , amp; Cloitre, M. (2009). Best practices in psychotherapy for adults. In C. A. Courtois amp; J. D. Ford (Eds. ), Treating complex traumatic stress disorders: An evidence-based guide (pp. 82-101). New York: Guilford Press. Evans, B. (2003). Hypnosis for post-traumatic stress disorders. Australian Journal of Clinical amp; Experiential Hypnosis, 31 (1), 54-73. Halpern, J. , amp; Tramontin, M. (2007). Disaster mental health: Theory and practice. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. James, R. K. , amp; Gilliland, B. E. (2013). Crisis intervention strategies (7th ed). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Kolb, L. C. , amp; Mutalipassi, L. R. (1982). The conditioned emotional response: A subclass of the chronic and delayed stress disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 12, 969-987. Lindy, J. D. (1996). Psychoanalytic psychotherapy of post-traumatic stress disorder: The nature of the therapeutic relationship. In B. A. van der Kolk, A. C. McFarlane, amp; L. Weisaeth (Eds. ), Traumatic stress (pp525-536). New York: Guilford Press. Pearlman, L. A. , amp; Saakvitne, K. W. (1995). Trauma and the therapist. New York: Norton. Scurfield, R. M. (1985). Post-traumatic stress assessment and treatment: Overview and formulations. In C. R. Figley (Ed. ), Trauma and its wake: The study of posttraumatic stress disorder (pp. 219-256). New York: Brunner/Mazel.