Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be scary for both the people experiencing it and those around them. The good news for people living with PTSD is that treatment is available at Advanced Mental Health Care, with locations throughout the Greater Palm Beach, Florida, area. AMHC has a team of trained and caring professionals experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Call or book an appointment online today.
During a traumatic situation, it’s normal to feel afraid. Fear triggers a fight-or-flight response in the brain, which helps the body defend itself and avoid danger. However, if you continue to experience that fear long after the traumatic event has ended, you may have PTSD.
You may be at an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder if you have:
However, you may be able to fight off the symptoms of PTSD if you:
If you think you might have PTSD, it’s important to get properly diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist.
Symptoms of PTSD are separated into four main categories:
Re-experiencing symptoms are characterized by feeling like you’re reliving the traumatic event. You may have flashbacks, bad dreams, or frightening thoughts related to the traumatic event.
This includes steering clear of places, events, or objects associated with your traumatic experience. You often push out thoughts or feelings that remind you of the traumatic event.
Arousal and reactivity symptoms make you feel tense, on edge, and easily startled.
If you’re experiencing cognition or mood symptoms from PTSD, you have trouble remembering the event, have negative thoughts about yourself, and have distorted feelings of guilt.
PTSD is treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Antidepressants can help control the sadness, worry, and anger associated with PTSD, while other medications can treat sleep problems or nightmares.
Psychotherapy gives you the opportunity to talk through the traumatic event, either one-on-one or in a group. Treatment typically takes 6-12 weeks, sometimes longer. Exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring are also common PTSD treatments.
If you think you might have post-traumatic stress disorder, contact Advanced Mental Health Care today, so they can create an individualized treatment plan to manage your PTSD symptoms.
