The experience of recovering from a traumatic event may vary from person to person. For most people, intense feelings of shock, anger, and disbelief may fade away after some time. However, if you have PTSD in Irvine, these feelings may worsen and affect your productivity. The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include having nightmares and flashbacks of the traumatic events. You may also become overly anxious and easily startled. It is essential to visit your psychiatrist for effective treatment to manage PTSD symptoms.
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What Causes Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD mainly occurs after witnessing or learning about stressful and horrifying events such as:
- A car accident.
- Physical assault.
- Sexual violence, including rape.
- Childhood abuse.
Besides being a victim of traumatic events, you may develop PTSD when certain parts of your brain fail to respond to serotonin.
Symptom Categories for PTSD
Intrusive Thoughts
If you have post-traumatic stress disorder, you may find yourself reliving traumatic events. Other times, you may have distressing memories of the traumatic event. You may also experience intense emotional distress when something reminds you of a terrifying event. People with PTSD may also have upsetting dreams concerning the experienced trauma.
Avoidance
You may try to avoid people, palaces, and situations that remind you of the traumatic event. This may cause you to detach yourself from friends and family.
Negative Moods
PTSD may result in feelings of hopelessness about the future. You may blame yourself and other people. Other times you may avoid or lose interest in activities that were once enjoyable to you.
Risk Factors for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder may affect people of different age groups, from children to adults. However, certain factors may put you at risk of PTSD.
- Experiencing horrific events at an early stage in life, such as childhood abuse, may increase your chances of developing PTSD.
- First responders and military personnel may have PTSD because of frequent exposure to traumatic events during the line of duty.
- Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety may increase your chances of PTSD after a terrifying event.
- Alcoholism and substance abuse.
Treatment for PTSD
Psychotherapy
This form of treatment involves the use of various therapies, including cognitive and exposure therapy. During cognitive therapy, you may talk with your therapist to help you get rid of negative thoughts and emotions of yourself and others. Exposure therapy is designed to help you develop coping mechanisms and strategies to manage your PTSD symptoms. It involves the use of virtual reality programs that cause you to relive the trauma you experienced.
Medication
Your specialist may prescribe antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to help manage symptoms of depression. Anti-anxiety medications may also reduce anxiety symptoms. Your specialist may recommend that you use these medications for a short time to prevent addiction and abuse.
Group therapy may also help you relate with friends and family members healthily and rebuild any lost connections. Living with PTSD may be stressful. If you have symptoms such as excessive worry and fear or have further inquiries, visit your specialist at Americas TMS Center for a consultation to learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder.