PTSD

What is PTSD?

PTSD develops when you experience trauma. Trauma describes severely distressing or terrifying experiences, like:

• Terrorist acts
• Personal or public transport accidents
• Severe injuries
• Losing a loved one
• Military combat
• Fires and floods
• Mass shootings
• Natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes
• Personal assault or rape

Some people experience these events and recover from their trauma; others develop PTSD.

If you suffer a trauma, seeking treatment from experts like the Pro Health Psychiatry Nursing Corporation team helps reduce the symptoms and supports you during recovery.

How do I know if I’ve got PTSD?

You might have PTSD if you experience the following symptoms:

Intrusive thoughts

Nightmares and flashbacks are common problems when you have PTSD. Flashbacks transport you to the traumatic experience so you feel like you’re reliving it. They usually happen in response to a trigger, like a sound or smell, that you associate with your trauma.

Negative thoughts

Fear, worry, stress, and anxiety often affect people with PTSD. You might develop clinical depression and suffer from panic attacks — times when anxiety overwhelms you so you can’t function properly. You might have problems trusting others and develop paranoid thoughts, believing others are plotting behind your back.

Reactive symptoms

People with PTSD are always on guard, easily startled, and have difficulty sleeping. Anger, irritability, and believing none of your family or friends can understand your experience are common. Self-destructive behaviors like drinking excessively, taking risks, and using recreational drugs affect many people with PTSD.

Avoidance

To prevent distressing PTSD symptoms, people often avoid talking about their trauma or doing anything that could trigger a flashback.

PTSD doesn’t just affect people who experience short-term trauma. Complex PTSD develops in those who suffer long-term abuse like neglect, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and stalking.

What treatments help with PTSD?

Treatments for PTSD include:

Medication

Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and antipsychotics can reduce your PTSD symptoms significantly. Combining medication with psychotherapy often achieves the best results.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy uses varying techniques that involve talking with a skilled counselor. Typical approaches used to help people with PTSD include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes cover everything from changing your diet and increasing exercise to reducing alcohol intake and quitting smoking. Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and other activities help you let go of stress.

Call Pro Health Psychiatry Nursing Corporation today or book an appointment online to receive compassionate, expert help with PTSD.