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PTSD, Trauma & Depression

By Tracy Latz · Comments (1)

Monday, October 10th, 2011

PTSD, Trauma & Depression by Tracy Latz, M.D.

Depression is a common problem that can occur following trauma. It involves feelings of sadness or low mood that last more than just a few days. Unlike a blue mood that comes and goes, depression lasts 2 or more weeks. Depression can get in the way of performing activities of daily life, make it hard to function and can cause you to lose your passion for living. It can affect eating and sleeping habits, ability to concentrate, and your confidence or self-esteem.

How commonly does depression follow trauma?

Depression affects almost 1 in 10 adult Americans yearly. Depression is a frequent symptom that occurs following trauma. For instance, a survey of survivors from the Oklahoma City bombing revealed that 23% reported depression after the bombing as compared to 13% of survivors who reported having depression before the bombing. Depression is frequently experienced in people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What are the symptoms of depression?

Real depression differs from feeling sad in that with a clinical depression the sad, blue, depressed mood or lack of interest in usual hobbies or interests must last for at least 2 weeks and must be accompanied by at least 3 to 4 of the following: significant weight loss or gain, sleep disturbance (increased or decreased), agitation or decreased motor activity, fatigue or loss of energy, excessive feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, concentration difficulty, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

How are depression and trauma related?

Depression can either “come from out of the blue” or it can be triggered by stressful events such as divorce, loss, or a trauma. Difficulty coping with painful experiences can often lead to intense sadness or depression. Veterans returning from military conflict or a war zone, for instance, may have painful Read More→

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Categories : Alternative Medicine, Body/Mind/Spirit, EFT, Energy Techniques, Inspiration, Integrative Medicine, Marion Ross PhD, Meditation, Personal Transformation, Self-Help, The Shift Doctors, Tracy Latz MD, Vibrational Medicine

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: What Is It & What Can Be Done About It?

By Tracy Latz · Comments (3)

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Dr. Tracy Latz, M.D., M.S. is a respected, board-certified, practicing integrative psychiatrist who has worked in the past “in the trenches” in a regional state psychiatric hospital and in local county mental health center systems in North Carolina as well as in community hospital settings. She has done both inpatient and outpatient work with the seriously mentally ill. Dr. Latz received her bachelor degree in Biology from Wake Forest University, a masters degree in Immunobiology from Georgetown University, and her medical degree from Wake Forest University Medical School/Bowman Gray School of Medicine. She is now in solo private integrative psychiatric practice in a suburb of Charlotte, NC in Mooresville, NC. She has written a landmark article on PTSD/Dissociative Disorders in a peer-reviewed journal, co-authored 2 books on personal transformation, recorded 2 meditation CDs to assist others with creating inner peace, filmed self-help integrative medicine videos, and has contributed to or been interviewed by many mainstream media outlets including CNN, Good Housekeeping, SELF, Glamour, AOL Health, Woman’s Day, Fitness, Whole Living, and Health – to name a few. You can find out more about Dr. Latz at www.shiftyourlife.com

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can affect anyone who has experienced a trauma that is outside of a person’s usual life experience. In order to develop PTSD, a traumatic event must be experienced by you first-hand or the traumatic event may have involved another person that is witnessed by you. During this type of traumatic event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You may feel intensely afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening around you or to you.

Events that may induce PTSD in some people include: combat or military exposure, child sexual or physical abuse, terrorist attacks, physical or sexual assault, serious industrial or motor vehicle accidents, or natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption, hurricane, flood, mudslide or earthquake. After the event, you may feel frightened, confused, or angry. If these feelings don’t go away or worsen over time, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may begin to disrupt your Read More→