Most of us have heard of PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), but now there is another type of stress syndrome that psychiatrists are introducing to our society. It is known as Post-Traumatic Embitterment Syndrome (PTES).
Because I work with teenagers who have emotional problems, my eyes opened wider when I saw the title, “Nothing Sweet about this type of Bitter” in the Los Angeles Times health section.
No, it was not a recipe, although from the title it sounds like it could be. It is a psychological disorder in which some psychiatrists have recently shown some interest.
This disorder has become of interest because there has been an awareness of a vast number of people whose bitter behavior has become a danger to society. These people are so angry because they feel that they have been wronged by someone. Because they are so unhappy, they want to “get even” with the person or persons they feel harmed them.
Because this behavior has gotten to be so common and extremely destructive, some psychiatrists are describing this type of behavior as a mental illness under the name post-traumatic embitterment disorder.
It is common for people who have this disorder to seek revenge. Their bitterness and anger is described as being one step more complex than anger. They are described as being angry and helpless as well.
Embittered people are known to generally be good people who have worked hard at something important, such as a job. Their personality is completely changed when something unexpectedly terrible happens. For example, if they don’t get a promotion or their spouse files for a divorce, they feel that they have been terribly wronged….“they do not deserve this type of treatment.”
Because they feel that they have been victimized, they become extremely angry. They become irrational and want to get even with the offender in the most extreme manner. They cannot let go of their feelings of being wronged. With this type of person, you cannot reason with them. They are constantly thinking of ways to get even.
There are only a handful of studies on this type of behavior, but psychiatrists feel that there is much needed research in order to help people with this behavior disorder.
Unfortunately, people with this embitterment disorder do not seek help because they so strongly feel that they have a good reason for their angry feelings and thoughts of wanting to get even. In their minds “the world is wrong and they are right.”
Some psychiatrists believe that people who were once known to be loving, normal individuals, who suddenly snap and kill their family and themselves may have post-traumatic embitterment syndrome.
Most of us have read news items where someone seemed to have gone “off their rocker,” and killed some family member for no apparent reason. This new awakening may explain the reason for this type of behavior.
Source: Los Angeles Times—Shari Roan
