On November 5th, authorities indicate that a U.S. Army psychiatrist, Dr. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, opened fire at Fort Hood resulting in the death of 13 people. CNN.com provides a wealth of information on this event. Events such as this can be very difficult to cope with. Fortunately, the American Psychological Association provides helpful information on effective ways of coping in the aftermath of a traumatic event such as this.

The American Psychological Association's (APA) Stress in America survey paints an alarming picture about the level of stress experienced by children and adults. The survey shows a substantial proportion of both children and adults report that their stress levels have increased in the past year.  In addition, the survey found that many people report experiencing negative physical effects of stress, such as headaches, change in appetite, loss of sleep, and depression. It also appears that parents don't always recognize the level of stress that their children may be experiencing. Stress is unavoidable; however, by learning healthy ways of managing stress, a person can reduce its potential to have a negative impact on physical and mental health. You can read more on the results of the APA Stress in American survey on APA's website.

If you have PTSD, you may find that you often experience very strong emotions, and as a result, managing your emotions may be hard to do. You are not alone. Many people with PTSD experience difficulties regulating their emotions. For example, it has been found that PTSD is linked with difficulties accepting emotions, low emotional awareness, and being unable to control impulsive behaviors when distressed. Fortunately, there are things you can do to better manage your emotions. Try out some of the coping strategies listed in this article.

PTSD has been found to be associated with a number of physical health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and poor cardiovascular health. In addition, the symptoms of PTSD often lead to behaviors that may have a negative impact on a person's health, such as smoking or alcohol use. It is not surprising then that a recent study by Dr. Marek Brzezinski and colleagues at the University of California, San Franciso, found that veterans with PTSD may be at greater risk to die within a year following surgery as compared to those without PTSD. Specifically, they found that approximately 9% of veterans with PTSD died following surgery whereas only 7% of patients without PTSD died within a year after surgery. These findings are concerning and demonstrate the far-reaching impact of a PTSD diagnosis. They also demonstrate the importance of seeking out treatment for PTSD symptoms. You can read more about the study at CNN.com.

It may be hard to find good and accurate information on PTSD. The American Psychological Association has an entire section devoted to information on PTSD, including current research, treatment options, and books. You can check out this website here. For additional resources on PTSD, look at the Resources section on this website, or look through this article which describes some popular websites on PTSD that provide accurate, useful, and up-to-date information.

On Tuesday, American Samoa, as well as Samoa and Tonga, were hit by an earthquake and a tsunami, resulting in the death of at least 111 people. A tsunami such as this one would definitely qualify as a traumatic event that would have the potential to lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We have learned much about the psychological effect of a tsunami from the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. In a study of the long-term psychological effects of this event, it was found that approximately 21% of people developed PTSD, 16% had severe depression,30% had severe anxiety, and 22% experienced physical symptoms without an apparent medical explanation. In addition to these psychological difficulties, many people also had difficulties in their work, social life, and family life. However, it was also found that many people came together to help others and provide social support.

Although it is too early to tell what kind of psychological effect the recent tsunami in American Samoa will have, it appears as though people are already beginning to pull together to provide support and assist in the recovery process. Social support is incredibly important in the aftermath of a traumatic event, as it has been found to be a major factor in helping people overcome the negative effects of a traumatic event.

Many people with PTSD experience their emotions as very intense, unpredictable, and out-of-control. As a result, they may be more likely to try and avoid their feelings, such as through alcohol use or deliberate self-harm. However, although these coping strategies may be helpful in the short-run, they only increase distress in the long-term. Therefore, it is very important for people with PTSD to learn healthy ways of expressing and managing their emotions. One such strategy is journaling or expressive writing.

Expressive writing has been found to improve physical and psychological health. In regard to PTSD in particular, expressive writing has been found to have a number of benefits including improved coping and posttraumatic growth (or the ability to find meaning in and have positive life changes following a traumatic event), as well as reduced PTSD symptoms, tension, and anger. Learn how to start writing for your psychological health here.

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. This event had  and continues to have a tremendous effect on many people. Please take some time today to remember the people who lost their lives, as well as the many people who stepped forward to help those in need.

The story of Jayce Dugard and her captivity has shocked the nation. In 1991, at the age of 11, Jayce Dugard was kidnapped, held in captivity, and sexually assaulted by Phillip Garrido in Antioch, California. She was discovered eighteen-years later. What kind of psychological effect does long-term captivity have on a person? The symptoms of PTSD apply well to people who have experienced a discrete or short-lived traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident, natural disaster, or rape. However, the symptoms of PTSD do not always completely map onto the experiences of people who have experienced chronic, repeated, or long-lasting traumatic events, such as prolonged captivity and/or abuse. Therefore, some mental health professionals believe that we should distinguish between the type of PTSD that develops from chronic, long-lasting traumatic events as compared PTSD from short-lived events. The diagnosis of "Complex PTSD" refers to the set of symptoms that commonly follow exposure to a chronic traumatic event. You can learn more about Complex PTSD in this article.

Hurricane season generally lasts from August to October, and this can be a very stressful time for many people living along the Eastern and Southern coasts of the United States. Hurricane Bill was the first hurricane of the season that was expected to make landfall. Fortunately though, the hurricane passed by the New England coast without making landfall, and it has currently been downgraded to a tropical storm.

However, even when weakened, hurricanes can still be very dangerous, as seen by the death of a 7-year-old girl this Sunday at Maine's Acadia National Park who was swept into the ocean by a large ocean wave that was the result of Hurricane Bill. Therefore, even though only a few major hurricanes are expected this year, it is important to learn ways of coping with their effects. The American Psychological Association provides a number of useful tips on how to cope with the effects of a hurricane. You can also learn more about hurricanes and their psychological effect from the articles below.

The Psychological Effect of Hurricane Katrina and Other Natural Disasters

The Psychological Impact of the 2004 Tsunami

Hurricane Katrina and its Effects on Mental Health