Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Effects on Holocaust Survivors

By: Mary Catherine Perryman

The Holocaust
Known as a brutal catastrophe, mass murder and genocide conducted by the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler in an attempt to eliminate Jews throughout Germany and other Germanyoccupied territories. Concentration camps where organized to starve, torture, and abuse the Jews.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

!! Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder, or PTSD is a common psychological disorder that is developed after a terrifying ordeal that may involve physical harm or threat of physical harm. !! The first modern understanding of PTSD was when soldiers began to return home from the Vietnam War in the 1970s. !! The amygdala is a part of the brain that has a role of affecting emotion, learning, and memory.

PTSD Symptoms
!! Grouped

into 3 categories
!! Re-Experiencing !! Avoidance !! Hyper-Arousal

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Re-Experiencing !! Flashbacks, bad dreams and frightening thoughts Avoidance !! Feeling emotionally numb, guilt, staying away from certain areas, worry, and depression

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Hyper-Arousal
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Being easily startled, feeling on edge or tense, difficulty sleeping, having sudden outburst.

PTSD Symptoms on Holocaust Survivors

!! Most
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survivors struggle with the common symptoms such as:

Numbness !! Death Imprint
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Survivors Guilt
!! Mental

The idea of death itself and all forms of torture and gruesome images of death. condition that occurs when a person perceives themselves to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not.

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The search for the meaning of the traumatic events

Sonia Reich
Ms. Reich was a Jewish Survivor of the Ukrainian-Russian area who spent over 5 years fleeing from the Nazis after her family had been killed. In 2001 Reich fled from her home claiming that someone was trying to kill her. She was later diagnosed with late-onset PTSD.

PTSD Research
!

Judith Hassan

Ms. Hassan was a doctor that specialized in Holocaust survivors with PTSD and a director of services for Holocaust Survivors and Refuges. Hassan stated that survivors that were traumatized in the camps or in hiding were least likely to seek help due to their fears of weakness and vulnerability.

PTSD Research Continued

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Shalom Robinson M.D. conducted a study that analyzed survivors who were orphaned in comparison with survivors who were with their parents. ! Table 2 provides numbers of each survivor that experienced PTSD symptoms. ! Table 4 provides data for survivors who are still suffering today and having long term effects.

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The duration of treatment depends on the individual some last 3-6 months and some last longer than 2 years. To treat the survivor must have a supportive relationship with a friend, therapist, or spouse. Relaxation helps to cancel out the physical tension throughout the body. Support groups are available and are offered in many different languages. Cognitive behavioral therapy is way to help comprehend the trauma and its aftermath.

Treatments for PTSD

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Exposure therapy is helps to lessen fear about the traumatic memories by the creation of programs of steadily escalating steps or challenges. Eye Movement Desensitization is used to help process these distressing memories and reduce the lingering effects by the clients recalling the events while receiving a type of bilateral sensory input. Cognitive behavioral therapy is way to help comprehend the trauma and its aftermath.

Treatments for PTSD Continued

PTSD Medications
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors also known as antidepressants help with depression. Some are known as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil).

PTSD in Soldiers
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Natasha Young was a marine diagnosed with PTSD and medically discharged from the Corps after losing multiple friends. Downward Spiral is known as depression, then substance abuse, and can sometimes lead to suicide. The symptoms consist of:
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Headaches Sleeplessness Irritability Depression

PTSD Comparison
War Veterans
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Holocaust Survivors
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A study was conducted where 78% of the 239 Vietnam veterans experienced full or parttime PTSD. In 2007-08, 78 veterans participated in a study aged 60 or older. 38% has PTSD symptoms. In a comparison between Vietnam and Holocaust survivors the veterans were 20% more symptomatic.

A study was conducted that stated 46% of the 124 Jewish Holocaust Survivors met the criteria for PTSD.

Conclusion
!! After

researching to find out more details about PTSD in Holocaust survivors its interesting to read and hear the survivors stories. Survivors with PTSD lead to drastic symptoms, there are various treatments that are suitable for each person, and almost have identical symptoms as veterans from the Vietnam War. PTSD is a disorder that no one should have to endure; but each person diagnosed has the opportunity to make their lives easier and more enjoyable by putting an end to the traumatic events of their past.