PTSD

About 7%-8% of Americans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) today. The compassionate team of mental health specialists at Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling understands that PTSD symptoms can make you feel helpless and hopeless, but they’re here to help you take your life back. Call the Bentonville, Arkansas, office or click the online booking tool to request your telehealth or office appointment now.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who experience trauma. Examples of events that may precede PTSD include: 

• Military combat
• Terrorist attack
• Physical assault
• Sexual violence
• Kidnapping
• Natural disaster
• Auto accident
• Harassment 
• Loss of a loved one
• Diagnosis of a serious or fatal disease

PTSD was once known as an anxiety disorder but is now considered a trauma- and stress-related disorder.

What does PTSD feel like?

PTSD can cause physical and mental symptoms that disrupt your day-to-day existence. The four types of PTSD symptoms are:

Intrusive symptoms

Intrusive symptoms are unwanted thoughts and feelings connected to the triggering event. You may experience unpleasant memories, nightmares, or flashbacks to the event. Sometimes it may feel like living the experience all over again. 

Avoidance symptoms

Avoidance symptoms can include trying to restrict your thoughts to avoid speaking of the event and refusing to visit places or people who might trigger your intrusive symptoms. 

Cognition and mood changes

PTSD can cause a significant shift in your thoughts and feelings about yourself and others. You might develop wrong beliefs about yourself or others or experience frequent guilt, anger, shame, or other negative emotions. Many people detach from their loved ones due to these feelings.

Arousal and reactivity

With PTSD, you can become hyper-aware of everything and might be overly quick to react to perceived dangers. This may make you overly watchful of your environment, easily startled, and quick to lash out. 

Symptoms generally start within three months of the traumatic experience. Your PTSD symptoms might be hard to separate from other issues because PTSD frequently happens along with depression, addiction, and other mental and physical problems.

Is PTSD treatable?

PTSD is treatable with a comprehensive approach, including integrative holistic care focusing on mind and body healing. 

Counseling is the cornerstone of PTSD treatment. Several types of counseling may be very effective, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Many patients experience good results with medication alongside counseling. The psychiatry specialists at Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling can determine the ideal medication and treatment plan. 

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a newer treatment option with excellent results in people with PTSD.

Call Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling or book your appointment online for PTSD help now.