PTSD

If you’ve gone through a traumatic event and are experiencing prolonged episodes of fear, stress, and disturbing thoughts, you may have PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Fortunately, help is available at Jehovahs Behavioral Care, led by Grace Fomunung, PMHNP, in Lilburn, Georgia. To learn more, schedule an in-person or telehealth visit online or over the phone today.

What is PTSD?

PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that can develop after witnessing or living through a traumatic event or experiencing prolonged trauma.

Events that can trigger PTSD include events like:

• War or combat
• Natural disasters
• Bad accidents
• Physical violence
• Child abuse
• Spiritual abuse
• Sexual assault or rape
• Intimate partner violence
• Bullying 

PTSD causes intense, disturbing thoughts, fear, and stress, along with a host of other symptoms, even after the traumatic event has ended. Symptoms vary in severity and frequency from person to person.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Psychologists divide PTSD symptoms into four categories:

Intrusive thoughts

These include nightmares, repeated and involuntary memories, and flashbacks to the traumatic event. 

Avoidance

Individuals with this symptom avoid thinking, remembering, and talking about the traumatic event, to the point of avoiding objects, people, places, and activities that can trigger unwanted memories.

Negative changes in mood and thinking

Examples of this include:

• Negative, distorted thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
• Feeling hopeless about the future
• Memory trouble, including forgetting important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from others
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• The inability to experience positive emotions
• Emotional numbness
• Continued feelings of fear, anger, shame, guilt, horror, etc.

Changes in physical and emotional responses

These types of symptoms include:

• Irritability 
• Aggression or angry outbursts
• Reckless or self-destructive behavior
• Being easily startled or frightened
• Always being overly vigilant of your surroundings
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating

For these symptoms to qualify as PTSD, they must last for over a month and cause significant disruptions to a person’s work, relationships, and daily functioning. 

Those who suffer from PTSD also often experience related conditions, like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder.

How do you treat PTSD?

PTSD is a complex condition that can vary in intensity over time, and not everyone requires treatment. However, if you’re struggling with intense feelings, disturbing memories, or other disabling PTSD symptoms, there are treatment options for you.

In general, healthcare providers may treat PTSD with a combination of proven methods, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, group therapy, cognitive processing therapy, medication, or holistic practices such as yoga.

PTSD can make you feel like you’re broken, but you’re not. Take a step towards renewed wellness by booking an appointment with Jehovahs Behavioral Care online or over the phone today.