Overview
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a condition characterized by a severe emotional response to a traumatic event such as rape, natural disaster, or accident. Many individuals who have PTSD suffer from shock and denial immediately after the traumatic event, and longer-term, have to deal with painful flashbacks, strained relationships, and physical symptoms like nausea and headaches. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms should seek immediate help from a qualified PTSD counselor.
Symptoms
PTSD brings a number of symptoms with it. Many individuals with PTSD relive the triggering event via intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares; avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma; and have anxious feelings that are so intense that their lives are disrupted. Aside from flashbacks, the two other main symptoms are jumpiness and emotional detachment. With jumpiness, a sudden noise is so startling to individuals with PTSD that they drastically overreact, and emotional detachment is a feeling of being emotionally drained and distant from loved ones.
Causes
You’re most likely to get PTSD by seeing or going through an event that causes extreme helplessness, horror, or fear. Although it’s clear that post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by some kind of traumatic event, it’s not as clear to doctors why some people develop PTSD and others do not. The main factors seem to be:
- inherited mental risks,
- temperament,
- life experiences,
- and brain chemicals related to stress.
Treatment
It helps to get diagnosed with a PTSD mental health screening, followed by interaction with a professional therapist. Through grief counseling and psychotherapy, individuals often begin to reframe their thoughts towards the traumatic events, and start the journey of letting go of their guilt and shame, which are often associated with the past memories. Medication is also that falls under the categories of antidepressant and anti-anxiety are also available. With a combination of these techniques, patients can reduce or eliminate the symptoms caused by PTSD and live happy lives.
Prevention
No prevention for PTSD exists, especially when you consider how random and unexpected many traumatic events are. However, if you begin treatment with a mental health professional shortly after suffering a traumatic event, you are more likely to avoid the worst symptoms and bounce back.
Why Choose New Horizons to Treat PTSD?
Our McKinney and North Dallas PTSD therapists, with their empathic and non-judgmental approach, can become a partner in this journey with you. We have the experience and skills to help you through the difficulty of recovering from PTSD. Please contact us to start healing. We’re only a call or click away.
