Trauma Case Study for Maryam

Trauma Case Study

PCN545-0500 Spousal and Child Abuse, Crisis, and Trauma Counseling

Instructor

Trauma Case Study

Trauma is deemed a result of an extremely stressful event(s) that may shatter ones sense of security and make him or her feel vulnerable and helpless in the society. Assessment of trauma cases entails several steps or procedures. However, these steps can only be executed after determining major trauma-related issues on a victim. These issues include cause of the trauma, symptoms of the trauma and risk factors associated with the trauma. For instance, Maryam’s case is that of a university student who portrays all the symptoms of trauma. Some common trauma symptoms include lack of sleep, nightmares, lack of concentration, fatigue, agitation, fear and anxiety, withdrawal from colleagues and feeling hopeless. Thus, Maryam’s condition clearly depicts an individual who is traumatized; she lacks sleep, experiences nightmares and has a relatively high blood pressure. Basically, a crisis is situation that results to dangerous and unstable conditions affecting an individual. Therefore, Maryam’s case can be considered to be a crisis because it has a negative impact on her daily life. This condition has made her to live in fear, to lack sleep and even to have a low self-esteem; she appeared tired and drained (Jackson-Cherry and Erford, 2014).

Maryam’s immediate need is an emotional and psychological treatment that will heal her from trauma. This treatment would entail facing and resolving the difficult memories and feelings she has been avoiding through drinking of alcohol; otherwise they might return again and become uncontrollable. Thus, this client’s condition can be intervened by a successful trauma treatment procedure that should address imbalance in her daily life and reestablish her physical and emotional safety. The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an intervention or treatment that fully incorporates the features of a cognitive-behavioral healing; it is performed through movement of the eyes alongside other types of rhythmic eye stimulation. Such movements work effectively by releasing the traumatic memories and allow them to resolve. Moreover, this behavioral therapy assists in processing and evaluation of feelings and thoughts concerning a particular trauma.

Maryam’s condition shows all signs of a stress disorder (Post Traumatic) since she has all the symptoms that are related to a traumatic incident; car accident. Thus, the possible diagnosis in this situation, according to Schiraldi (2000), is the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This disorder’s symptoms include nightmares and startle reactions that are clearly portrayed by Maryam. Therefore, Maryam is suffering a stress disorder.

An individual who survives a trauma cannot be in a position to ignore emotions so as to improve his or her logical thinking. Maryam is a trauma survivor and such people cannot be told how to behave or think in traumatic circumstances. Thus, when it happens, the limbic system sends an alarm to alert the frontal cortex about the danger. However, the limbic system is unconscious in most cases. Therefore, traumatized individuals always have no idea of what and why they experience some feelings; they are not in position to identify the reasons behind their feelings (Jamieson, 2012).

The family of Maryam should be notified about her condition because families are crucial systems within which we function. In addition, this case is critical; considering the student is still under the care of her parents. Therefore, involving the family might accelerate Maryam’s recovery from the trauma since she might experience some level of family comfort and love.

I would feel competent enough to handle this case because of the following reasons: To start with, healing from any kind of trauma requires time. Thus, I would be patient, understanding and avoid judging my client since people respond to recovery in different ways. Additionally, I would support my client by encouraging her to take part in social activities and engage in normal activities with normal people. I would advise her to join a group that supports survivors of a trauma as this would assist her to reduce her feeling of isolation and learn how others cope with such cases. Lastly, I would take her through a trauma treatment procedure that would assist her to fully recover and go back to her normal daily life.

I do not need any additional resources to assist with case since the symptoms shown by the client can be comfortably resolved by the techniques or treatment procedure I mentioned above. However, the only treatment issues to consider are her ability to cooperate and respond positively to every step that she will be taken through. In addition, the risk factors under this case would be put into consideration as it will offer the road map or determine the type of treatment the client should receive.

References

Jackson-Cherry, L. R. &Erford, B. T. (2014).Crisis Assessment, Intervention and Prevention.

Boston: Pearson Publisher

Jamieson, A. (2012). Biology of Trauma: Re–conceptualizing Child Traumatic Stress. Retrieved

From: http://www.bcasw.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Biology-of-Trauma-Reconceptualizing-Child-Traumatic-Stress.pdf

Schiraldi, G. (2000). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook. New York: McGraw Hill

Professional.