PTSD

What is PTSD?

At its core, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that develops on the heels of witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. While the relationship between PTSD and military veterans garners more attention, and rightfully so, it’s important to understand that PTSD can appear after any traumatic incident, including domestic or sexual violence, as well as defining and tragic events, such as acts of God or a car accident. Recent research is starting to suggest that even less traumatic events like being bullied or consecutive lesser losses over time may play a part as well.

While anyone who goes through a traumatic event may have some difficulty processing the experience, PTSD lingers long afterward and can have a cascading effect on your life because of debilitating symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Everyone handles trauma differently, but there are certain markers of PTSD that medical professionals divide into four categories:

Re-experiencing

If you experience flashbacks that place you squarely in the event over and over, this is a sign of re-experiencing. As well, nightmares that plague your sleeping hours or severe reactions to things that remind you of the trauma fall into this category.

Avoidance

If you avoid people, places, things, or memories related to the trauma, this is considered avoidance.

Negative thinking or moods

If your thinking or moods become more negative, about yourself and the world around you, this is a sign of PTSD.

Reactivity

If you startle easily, remain on heightened alert, or overreact to certain situations, these are signs of excessive reactivity.

How is PTSD diagnosed and treated?

While there’s no blueprint for PTSD, if you display one or more symptoms in each of the categories mentioned above for longer than a month, the odds are that PTSD is present. After a thorough evaluation of your symptoms, the team at Hope Mental Health is able to determine whether you might be suffering from PTSD.

If they diagnose PTSD, they tailor a plan that they think best meets your unique experiences and goals. When PTSD interferes with your life, the goal at Hope Mental Health is to give you coping mechanisms that help you process the trauma and move forward. 

Ms. Woodland is certified in exposure and response prevention therapy, which are two effective tools that help patients gain the upper hand on PTSD.

To explore your options in PTSD treatments, call Hope Mental Health, or request an appointment using the online booking button.