Ishmael: Symptoms Of PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental disorder of prolonged emotional and mental stress that typically occurs after a traumatic experience. According to the National Center for PTSD, research shows that “children exposed to traumatic events” are more likely to develop PTSD than adults (2007). Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder can include flashbacks, nightmares, and outbursts of anger that can interfere with daily life (Symptoms, 2012). During and after Ishmael’s recovery, he experienced symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, primarily invasive memories through flashbacks and nightmares.

Many instances of Ishmael having invasive memories was during sleep; he would experience nightmares that forced him

In chapter 19, Ishmaels cousin took him to a club in Freetown to dance, sadly, the dance floor triggered a memory that ruined that entire evening for Ishmael. The memory was of a town that he had attacked while students and teachers were at a school dance—Ishmael said he could hear screaming and the dance floor looked as if it were covered in blood. It was as if he were reliving it (Beah, 2007, p. 231). Later in the memoirs, on page 239, Ishmael told of how when he would see a tree with “red frozen sap” on it he would have flashbacks of shooting rebel prisoners while they hung from trees. Eventually Ishmael was able to recognize when something would be a trigger, for on page 266, he observed soldier barricades that reminded him of when he and other soldiers would attack those barricades. However, before the memory would force him to relive it, he “dismissed the thoughts” (Beah, 2007, p.

(2012, May 15). Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/symptoms_of_ptsd.asp This is a government site run by the United States department of Veteran Affairs and the National Center for PTSD. It was created to inform veterans and the general public of post traumatic stress disorder, its symptoms, and what to do if a person has symptoms.

Epidemiology of PTSD. (2007, January 31). Retrieved March 12, 2018, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/epidemiological-facts-ptsd.asp This is a government site run by the United States department of Veteran Affairs and the National Center for PTSD. It was created to inform researchers on the epidemiology of post traumatic stress disorder. It tells of the prevalence of PTSD in America, the world, veterans, and