Case Study 2: Hannah, age 55, was in a major car accident 20 years ago during a cross country trip. Ever since, she has been unable to drive on major highways. Although she does drive, she goes to great length to travel only on back roads and scenic routes. She is able to go where she wants but it often takes her much longer to get there than it should.

Hannah seems to be experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The major car accident was a traumatic event in which Hannah had a life-threatening experience. Hannah suffers from psychological distress whenever she is exposed to an external cue, driving on major highways, and cannot travel on major highways anymore. She makes an effort to avoid driving in situations similar to those that resulted in her major car accident like driving on major highways, and travels only on back roads and scenic routes.

To help Hannah manage her trauma, she should talk to someone she trusts about the car accident she experienced to help her cope with her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. By helping her manage her anxiety and teaching her relaxation techniques, Hannah can begin to deal with her anxiety disorder.

I do not believe Hannah needs any medication to help her manage her anxiety disorder because her symptoms are not irrational or violent. Hannah is not endangering herself or others; she is only using more time to travel and avoiding major highways.


http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/page5.htm

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is most well-known as a comedian and an actor in the United Kingdom as the star of various shows such as A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie. Most American fans know him as Dr. Gordon Wyatt in Bones. Fry has also been the voice behind the Harry Potter audiobooks and several video games. Recently, in 2006, Fry fronted the Emmy Award-winning BBC documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, a program that explores how he and other people have dealt with their experiences with bipolar disorder.

As a sufferer of bipolar disorder, Fry must deal with harsh mood swings and his several suicide attempts and try not to let them interfere with his life and work. Fry is fortunate because his disorder is not severe enough to require him to take medication. Fry's form of bipolar disorder, hypomania, is a form that affects his energy and vitality, which results in his depressive states and mood swings.

Bipolar disorder is a very difficult disorder to have a deal with in everyday life because one never knows when the next mood swing or depression is going to occur. However, Stephen Fry has obviously been able to overcome his hypomania in life and become successful in his career.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio/secretlife_documentary.shtml

http://www.stephenfry.com/