Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that people sometimes develop in response to a traumatic event. After a traumatic event, PTSD can leave you feeling stuck with a constant sense of danger and painful memories. New coping skills can help you feel safe and function again. Are you experiencing past or current trauma? Ada psychiatry experts can help.
Condition
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can follow experiencing or witnessing any disturbing event that makes you fear for your safety. It is normal to feel frightened, anxious, sad, and disconnected after a traumatic experience; if the symptoms do not improve, you may be experiencing PTSD. When you experience a stressful event, your nervous system reacts with the fight-or-flight response. Your heart pounds faster, blood pressure rises, and muscles tighten, increasing your reaction speed. Once the danger has passed, your heart rate and blood pressure return to a normal state. These traumatic events can leave you feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, and helpless, and emotionally shattered.
Factors And Symptoms Of PTSD
Factors Can Trigger PTSD
- Witnessing or being the victim of a terrorist attack
- Being in or witnessing a severe car accident
- Train derailments, plane accidents, or other disasters
- The sudden death of a loved one
- Witnessing any other kind of violence
- Reexperiencing a traumatic event
- Victim to abuse (sexual, mental, physical)
Symptoms of PTSD:
- Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
- Nightmares (either of the event or other frightening things)
- Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma.
- irritability or outbursts of anger.
- Difficulty concentrating
Subcategories of PTSD
- Simple PTSD
- Complex PTSD
- Comorbid PTSD
PTSD And Comorbid Disorders
Comorbid PTSD is when someone has PTSD alongside another mental health condition, such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or substance abuse. As a result, this can make treatment challenging because there is more than one issue.
Therapy For PTSD
Psychologists and licensed therapists can help people with PTSD find healthy ways to process the trauma they experienced. These professionals can use several types of counseling to help patients, including
- Prolonged Exposure
- Narrative Exposure
- Group Therapy
- EDMR
Medication For PTSD
Most guidelines for treating PTSD in adults recommend using trauma-focused psychotherapy first, with medications added as needed. Medication can help provide relief from symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or nightmares that are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. A mental health clinician can recommend various medications, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.
Ada PsychiatryFind Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment At Ada Psychiatry
We offer comprehensive treatment plans for people with trauma. This may include medication management and therapy depending on the client's needs.
Ada also offers telepsychiatry as an option for patients who love the convenience of their homes. Being unable to come into the office should not prohibit anyone from receiving treatment for PTSD. Ada Psychiatry will tailor your treatment plan that fits your specific needs.
Frequently asked questions
PTSD can look different for each person. You may feel panicked, dreadful, or have palpable reactions in the present moment to something traumatic from your past.
In order to receive a PTSD diagnosis, a mental health clinican will look for at least:
- 1 recurring symptom
- 1 avoidance symptom
- 2 arousal and reactivity symptoms
- 2 cognition and mood symptoms
PTSD symptoms can sometimes go away on their own. For most people, symptoms can last for years, especially if left untreated.
If you think you or a loved one is experiencing PTSD, speaking with a mental health professional is best. The clinicians at Ada Psychiatry are ready to help you.