October 27, 2010 [Esta comunicado está disponible en Español]—In cases of child sexual abuse, there are children and teenagers that blame themselves (for example, thinking something they did led to the abuse) or their family (thinking that their family should have protected them) for the abuse suffered in their childhood. This type of victim resorts more frequently to avoidance coping. Thus, they try to sleep more than usual, avoid thinking about the abuse, or resort to alcohol and drug abuse—especially in the case of teenagers. This behaviour leaves important psychological after-effects on victims: specifically, they present more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
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August 15, 2010—How many times have you heard someone say, "I've had my share of trauma and stress, but I've managed to get over it. Why can't that other person just quit wallowing in their misery and get on with life?" What makes the difference? Why do some bounce back very quickly from stress while others succumb to depression, anxiety or even Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Are some people just better at pulling themselves up by their bootstraps? If so, why?
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SAN DIEGO; August 14, 2010—Children who experience trauma may enter a cycle of negative emotion—anxiety and depression—that could contribute to health problems later and precipitate an early death, a leading health psychologist said Saturday.
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January 15, 2010—In a world where even ordinary stress on the job or at school can seem battering at times, and outside influences are in constant flux, home, hearth and family are expected to remain steady—a serene and sheltering haven. Home, they say, is where the heart is. Unfortunately for many, home can be anything but a safe haven. Men and women alike may find their home a fierce battleground. For children it may be where they are most vulnerable to assault, misuse or deprivation, ironically at the very hands of those who have a duty to safeguard and nourish them. Even the elderly may have reason to fear those who should be their caretakers. (Full story . . . )
June 21, 2008—In its 2007 World Health Statistics report, the WHO calls depression “an important global public health problem” by virtue of both its prevalence and its far-reaching effects. Even worse, the WHO insists there is new research to establish that PTSD occurs more often and carries far more serious consequences than was previously believed. How can communities prepare people for psychologically stressful events and increase the potential for recovery? Is it even possible to affect psychological resilience? Aren’t some personalities naturally just more optimistic than others? Can anything be done on the individual level to promote robust emotional health for communities in an increasingly turbulent world?
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March 18, 2008—A traumatic event is much more likely to result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults who experienced trauma in childhood—but certain gene variations raise the risk considerably if the childhood trauma involved physical or sexual abuse, scientists have found. The research was conducted with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, and others.
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August 16, 2007—Once upon a time it was not so unusual for extended families to live together in the same community—each family member contributing significantly to the wellbeing of the group. When children were old enough to help, they worked alongside their parents, and if a mother became overwhelmed with the care of an infant, there were likely to be grandparents, cousins or siblings who could step in to help.
This hands-on experience taught older children how to care for infants in the family, so that by the time they had children of their own they were not ignorant about child care. Unfortunately, say some experts, modern populations are far more "illiterate" about developmental needs for children than ever before.
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