It all started when…

Something terrible happened. Perhaps you were a soldier or were abused in some way. Maybe you were affected by a natural disaster, a medical trauma, or automobile accident. In any of these situations, some people have lingering symptoms for months or even years. It is not something wrong with you, it is something wrong with what happened to you. Please watch the video. If these symptoms sound familiar please contact me. We offer evidenced based treatment for PTSD including EMDR and CPT. Please click the links for more information.

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What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma. Some people recover over the next few weeks or months and other people continue to experience symptoms for years. However, PTSD is treatable even for those who have had symptoms for many years.

What are Signs and Symptoms of PTSD?

Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short-term (acute) PTSD. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. 

The symptoms of PTSD fall into categories: 

• Re-experiencing symptoms

• Avoidance symptoms

• Arousal and reactivity symptoms

• Cognition and mood symptoms

Re-experiencing symptoms include:

• Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating

• Bad dreams

• Frightening thoughts

Re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine. The symptoms can start from the person’s own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing symptoms.

Avoidance symptoms include:

• Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience

• Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event

Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:

• Being easily startled

• Feeling tense or “on edge”

• Having difficulty sleeping

• Having angry outbursts

Arousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic events. These symptoms can make the person feel stressed and angry. They may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

Cognition and mood symptoms include:

• Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event

• Negative thoughts about oneself or the world

• Distorted feelings like guilt or blame

• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

Cognition and mood symptoms can begin or worsen after the traumatic event, but are not due to injury or substance use. These symptoms can make the person feel alienated or detached from friends or family members. 

It is natural to have some of these symptoms after a dangerous event. When people have very serious symptoms that go away after a few weeks, it is called acute stress disorder. When the symptoms last more than a month, seriously affect one’s ability to function, and are not due to substance use, medical illness, or anything except the event itself, they might be PTSD. Some people with PTSD don’t show any symptoms for weeks or months. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more of the other anxiety disorders.

Do children react differently than adults?

Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but some of their symptoms may not be the same as adults. Symptoms sometimes seen in very young children (less than 6 years old), these symptoms can include:

• Wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet

• Forgetting how to or being unable to talk

• Acting out the scary event during playtime

• Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult

Older children and teens are more likely to show symptoms similar to those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge.

If you or a loved one have some of these symptoms, please reach out for help. We offer a free PTSD assessment.

Adapted from National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

How can I get help for PTSD when I don’t want to leave my house?

Because of the hyper-vigilance that is common among those experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, many have difficulty in public places, new places or even familiar places. Beginning treatment is difficult because it involves going someplace new, meeting a new person, unknown variables, etc. Online treatment allows you to get the help you need in the comfort of your home. Call (832) 534-3624 to schedule your free consultation.