Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, 2005 edition
by
David Kinchin
ISBN 0952912147
Paperback, 16 chapters, 224 pages, resources, index
 
Replaces these previous editions of this book which are out of print:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: a practical guide to recovery, ISBN 0722529554
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, ISBN 0952912112
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, 2001 edition ISBN 0952912139
(The name of author David Kinchin is sometimes misspelt as David Kinchen or David Kitchen)

The only book in the world, we believe, written by a former PTSD sufferer for PTSD sufferers (and their families, carers and professionals)

Now in its fourth edition with over 8000 copies of all editions sold worldwide.

"I'm a 27 year old woman with PTSD and ADD. I just wanted to tell you that the book, "Invisible Injury" is the perfect title for a book that deals with PTSD. So few people understand it unless they've been through something traumatic themselves." (D Williamson)

"I want to thank you for your life-saving information. It helped me realize that I HAVE been injured and am not going crazy." (V Lyttle, Texas)

"Most people will survive a major trauma but many do not believe this.
David Kinchin's compassionate and informative contribution will help them."
Suzanna Rose, Institute of Psychiatry

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural emotional reaction to a deeply shocking and disturbing experience after which it can be difficult to believe that life can ever be the same again. Few people realise that trauma and psychiatric injury can be more devastating than physical injury. Traumatic events strike unexpectedly turning everyday experiences upside-down and destroying the belief that "it could never happen to me". A former PTSD sufferer, David Kinchin tells his story and those of ten others. He describes in plain language what it is like to suffer from PTSD and explains all the complications the disorder can include.

The causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder range from a single major life-threatening incident (eg war, terrorism, act of violence, accident, disaster, etc) to a prolonged series of events (eg bullying, harassment, abuse, violent partner, attending road traffic accidents, fires and disasters etc). PTSD resulting from an accumulation of incidents is now referred to as Complex PTSD (it was formerly known as Prolonged Duress Stress Disorder, or PDSD).

PTSD has been recognised since at least the sixth century BC and has been given many names including shell shock, war neurosis, soldier's heart, gross stress reaction, transient situation disturbance, tunnel disease, railway spine disorder, combat stress, combat fatigue, battle fatigue, stress breakdown, adjustment reaction of adult life, post-Vietnam syndrome, traumatic neurosis, rape trauma syndrome, child abuse syndrome, battered wife syndrome and Buffalo Creek syndrome. The name Post Traumatic Stress Disorder first appeared in 1980 in DSM-III, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Third Edition. The diagnosis was updated in 1994 in the latest edition, DSM-IV (click here to see diagnostic criteria). Tim Field prefers the term "psychiatric injury" to "mental disorder" (click here to see differences between psychiatric injury and mental illness).

In World War 1, PTSD (then called shell shock) was labelled by British Army officers as "cowardice" and "desertion" often as a pretext for shooting their own men (306 were so executed - see separate page); in World War II it was labelled by the UK Royal Air Force as "lack of moral fibre" or "LMF". Today in the workplace it is often labelled as "stress". In each instance there is a deliberate inference that it is the individual's inability to cope; in truth, the designation is more likely to be a projection of the accuser's own inadequacy.

In the UK, almost a million people are suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Now surveys suggest as many as 14 million people are bullied at work and thus many more people are suffering symptoms of PTSD. Whilst we can all recognise physical violence and the injuries and damage it causes, we are less good at recognising psychological violence (bullying) and the psychiatric injury it causes. When psychiatric injury is caused by conditions in the workplace, the diagnosis is usually "stress" and "anxiety"; however, most employees are unaware that their ill health symptoms collectively are PTSD or that the cause of their stress is bullying.

The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) include:

• sleep problems including nightmares and waking early
• flashbacks and replays which you are unable to switch off
• intrusive, troubling images of the event or events which caused you to suffer PTSD
• impaired memory, forgetfulness
• inability to concentrate
• hypervigilance (feels like but is not paranoia)
• exaggerated startle response
• irritability, sudden intense anger and occasional violent outbursts
• panic attacks
• hypersensitivity - almost every remark is perceived as critical
• obsessiveness - the experience takes over your life, you can't get it out of your mind
• joint and muscle pains with no obvious cause
• feelings of nervousness and anxiety
• depression (reactive, not endogenous)
• excessive levels of shame, embarrassment and guilt
• survivor guilt for having survived when those around you didn't
• undue fear
• feelings of low self-esteem, low self-confidence and low self-worth
• physical numbness
• emotional numbness (an inability to feel love or joy)
• detachment behaviours
• avoidance of anything that reminds you of the experience
• physical and mental paralysis at any reminder of the experience

Further symptoms of chronic stress and reasons for chronic fatigue are listed on the injury to health page.

Few people realise that a psychiatric injury like PTSD can be even more devastating than physical injury; however, prospects for recovery are good, especially when you are in the company of fellow survivors or those with genuine insight, empathy and experience. Untreated, the symptoms of PTSD can last a lifetime, impairing health, damaging relationships and preventing people achieving their potential. Although knowledge of PTSD and its treatments is still rare within the medical and mental health professions, when the right counsel is available, prospects for recovery are excellent. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, 2001 edition furnishes PTSD sufferers (and their carers, families and professionals) with knowledge, belief and advice to hasten recovery, re-establish relationships and enable people to once more find purpose in life.

David Kinchin shares the knowledge and insight gained from his own experience in a unique book by a former PTSD sufferer for PTSD sufferers, showing you how to:

• put the experience behind you
• master the memory that remains
• take advantage of counselling
• seek help and evaluate treatments
• understand and overcome the complications and setbacks that occur
• recover by tackling the problem, not avoiding it
• regain your life

Chapters
1. What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? How many people suffer PTSD? PTSD and the UK disaster era 1985-1990 (Heysel, Hillsborough, Hungerford, Herald of Free Enterprise, Piper Alpha, Marchioness, etc).
2. Personal stories - follow the progress of eleven people recovering from PTSD having experienced violence, rape, accident, bullying, ship sinking, suicide of friend, etc
3. Symptoms. The six criteria required for a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
4. Families, friends and faith. The reactions and support of those around the sufferer.
5. Complications. Panic, depression, drug abuse, adverse publicity, ignorance of PTSD, relapses in recovery, measuring progress in recovery.
6. PTSD and abuse. Betrayal of trust and its effect on relationships.
7. PTSD and bullying. David Kinchin's and Tim Field's books are, to my knowledge, the only books in the world that map the collective symptoms of psychiatric injury caused by bullying onto PTSD, or Complex PTSD.
8. PTSD and children. Characteristics of PTSD unique to children. Not only adults suffer PTSD. Aberfan, Romania, Bosnia, Ethiopia. Children are the forgotten victims, not only of hunger, disease, injury, abuse, malnutrition, and starvation, but also often a lifetime of unrecognised and undiagnosed trauma.
9. PTSD and terrorism. The eight crucial Do's and Don'ts when helping victims of terrorism.
10. People who can help. Resources from professionals to fellow sufferers.
11. Treatments for PTSD. An overview from drugs to counselling and therapy.
12. The debriefing debate. Critical incident debriefing, the Mitchell Model, the Dyregrov Model and the three-stage revised model (after Parkinson).
13. Recovery from PTSD. The snakes and ladders model, revised thinking, recovery from Complex PTSD.
14. Personal stories. Progress of the eleven people featured.
15. Legal actions. Pursuing compensation through the courts.
16. The future. Final update on the eleven cases.
References and further reading.
Index.

Reassuring and essential reading for survivors of

• accident
• disaster
• violence
• rape and incest
• bullying, harassment and discrimination
• stalking
• domestic violence
• physical and sexual abuse
• crime
• abduction
• kidnap and hostage situations
• terrorism
• war
• torture
• bereavement
• trauma

and their rescuers, relatives, carers, counsellors, therapists, etc as well as those who have witnessed such events

Unique insight for anyone working in

• healthcare
• psychology, psychiatry and mental health
• social work
• employment
• personnel
• law
• research
• victim support
• emergency services
• uniformed services
• rescue services
• critical incident debriefing (CID)
• traumatic incident reduction (TIR)
• research in any of these fields

Anyone suffering stress and anxiety will also find relief in this clear and sensitively written text.

A reader's review at www.amazon.com:

Not only is this a must read for those suffering from PTSD, it's a must read for friends and family who want to understand but really don't. After being diagnosed with PTSD, I was unsure of what that meant, why I was so greatly effected by my traumatic experiences and why I felt so weak at times when I never use to feel that way. Why? As the book explains, it is a "normal reaction to an abnormal situation". And because of that abnormal situation, you get injured just like someone who breaks a leg. The leg heals, but you must guard it and protect it until your strength is restored. And your strength can be restored, given time, work and your desire to heal!

There are accounts of 10 individuals that had their own PTSD story to tell. The book includes a chart of their traumatic experiences, which you can refer to when needed. Following their stories and reading the positive outcomes helps you gain the confidence you need to continue the fight to overcome PTSD. Their stories gave me the feeling of "I am not alone", "Wow! That person suffers the physical ailments of PTSD that I suffer" and "It is possible to recover! Here's proof"!

A reader's review at www.amazon.co.uk:

A brilliant book, very easy to read, concise, and aimed primarily at victims of PTSD. This book along with additional support has helped me recover from PTSD. So that I am no longer a victim, but now a survivor.

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, 2005 edition
by David Kinchin, ISBN 0952912147
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