What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms vary from person to person, but those that are common to all include:
- Re-experiencing the event through flashbacks and intrusive memories
- Avoiding talking or thinking about the event
- Feeling emotionally numb
- A permanent state of hyperarousal
- Mental health issues – phobias, depression, and anxiety
- Destructive or self-harming behavior
- Physical symptoms – headaches, stomach aches
If you’ve been through trauma and are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek advice from a medical professional.
What causes PTSD?
Not everyone who goes through a traumatic event experiences PTSD. If a traumatic event happens to you directly instead of witnessing it, you have a greater risk of developing PTSD.
Women are more likely to experience sexual assault and child sexual abuse that leads to PTSD. In contrast, men are more likely to experience a disaster, physical attack, and combat-related trauma.
Certain events are more likely to trigger PTSD than others, including:
- Natural disasters
- Being a victim of a crime or witnessing one
- Being involved in or seeing a severe vehicle collision
- Sexual assault
- Physical assault
Some careers have also shown a higher propensity to expose those working in them to situations more likely to cause PTSD, including:
- Military personnel
- Police officers
- Firefighters
- First responders
- Health care professionals
- War correspondents
- Photojournalists
No one ever knows if they’ll have PTSD following an event, and whether they do or not is firmly out of their control. If you’ve gone through any of these experiences and want to talk to someone, make an appointment with the team at Sal Psychiatry Services.
How is PTSD treated?
When treating PTSD, the goal is to help the person cope with the event that triggered their disorder, reduce the symptoms they experience, and improve their day-to-day functioning. A PTSD-trained therapist prescribes medication, psychotherapy, or both.
Medication
Depending on the nature of their patient’s PTSD, practitioners usually prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or blood pressure medication.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy treatment draws from various other therapy practices and techniques, including family therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy.
PTSD doesn’t have to control you. Work with one of the experienced providers at Sal Psychiatry Services to successfully treat and manage your symptoms and get back to doing the things you love. Call the office, or schedule an appointment online today.
