Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that people sometimes develop in response to a traumatic event. Approximately 7.7 million adults live with PTSD in the United States. Anyone who experiences past trauma, of any kind, can be at risk.

Common symptoms

PTSD can look and feel different for everyone. Common symptoms can be broken up into three categories – intrusion, avoidance, and reactive:

Intrusion Symptoms —

• Psychological distress when exposed to cues that relate to the event.
• Significant physical responses to cues that relate to the event.
• Dissociative reactions or flashbacks in which the person relives the event.
• Repeated dreams about the trauma.
• Persistent and involuntary dreadful memories of the event.

Avoidance Symptoms —

• Avoidance of external factors (such as locations, conversations, people or activities) that remind the person of the traumatic event and cause terrifying thoughts, feelings or memories.
• Avoidance of painful memories, thoughts or feelings associated with the trauma.

Reactive Symptoms —

• Irritability and anger, typically expressed as aggression.
• Self-destructive behaviors.
• Hypervigilance or hyperarousal (increased anxiety and detection of threats).
• Exaggerated response to being startled.
• Concentration difficulties.
• Sleep problems

Treatment

Total Health Primary Care will take the time needed to understand, diagnosis, and discuss various options of treatments that best fit your needs. For some people, the symptoms and effects of PTSD may last a few month, while in others, they can last for years. With proper behavioral therapy and treatment, individuals diagnosed with PTSD can make significant progress. We will partner with you through every step of your treatment journey.