PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop who have experienced a life-threatening event. These life-threatening events can include combat, natural disasters, car accidents, sexual assaults and more.

PTSD symptoms can vary, but patients typically note:

  • Re-experiencing through flashbacks or nightmares
  • Avoidance of any memory joggers
  • Avoidance of thinking about it
  • Avoidance of friends or hobbies
  • Irritability
  • Hostility
  • Social isolation
  • Insomnia
  • Hypervigilence 
  • And more…
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Treating PTSD on Psychiatry.Live
Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD can affect anyone and often affects people in different ways. It’s very normal for people who have experienced a traumatic life-threatening event to have a difficult time going through their typical, everyday activities for a while.  However, most people do try to get back to their daily activities as the immediate impact wears off.  In PTSD however, getting back to your routine can be a big challenge. Effects of PTSD can last anywhere from a few weeks to the rest of one’s life.

Importantly, you can also indirectly be affected by PTSD by proxy, meaning by hearing of a relative or close friend who has experienced a traumatic event. 

There are many factors that can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under one’s control. Personal factors, like previous traumatic exposure and age can affect whether or not a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the event is important – stress will only make things worse and social support can make the effects of trauma less severe.

Dealing with the past can be tough for people struggling with PTSD. It’s easy to keep things bottled up and to yourself when dealing with this type of trauma. Talking with a psychiatrist or therapist can help you get better.

Diagnosing and Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Your Psychiatry.Live licensed therapists will work with you and determine what type of treatment is needed. They will ask you a series of targeted questions to determine the severity of your PTSD. 

Once a diagnosis has been made, your psychiatrist or therapist will go over the risks and benefits of the various treatment plans. Treatment for PTSD is different depending on the severity.

Options for treatment of PTSD may include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    • Research shows this is one of the most effective types of counseling for PTSD
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Prolonged Exposure (PE)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor’s (SSRI)

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