Traumatic events can cause a dent in your life, preventing you from enjoying your life. The painful memories may make you lose hope in life, but there is always a reason to be optimistic. If you are struggling with PTSD, Innovative Psychiatry Center offers practical noninvasive treatment approaches that restore the lost light in your life.
What factors trigger post-traumatic disorder?
Anyone can experience post-traumatic disorder regardless of age or sex. But, certain factors may increase your chances of developing this mental disorder and learning about or experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual violation, threatened death, or severe injury.
In some cases, specialists may not be able to identify your PTSD trigger, but they can work with other therapists to develop a custom treatment plan. Like other mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder may occur due to stressful experiences, your brain’s inability to regulate the hormones and chemicals released due to stress, a family history of PTSD, and inherited personality features like temperament.
What symptoms signify that you have a post-traumatic disorder?
You may start experiencing PTSD symptoms a month after a traumatic event, but in some cases, the symptoms may not manifest until years later. These disturbing symptoms may interfere with your school, work, social relationships, and ability to complete your tasks effectively. This disorder may also make you lose interest in activities you found fun. PTSD symptoms are categorized into intrusive memories, avoidance, negative thoughts, and emotional and physical reaction changes. Intrusive memories include flashbacks of the traumatic event, recurrent distressing memories, and upsetting dreams.
How can your doctor diagnose PTSD?
During your appointment, the specialists create a friendly and comfortable environment that allows you to express yourself without worrying about confidentiality. Your provider may discuss your symptoms, perform a physical exam and review your family and health history.
The team may also perform specific lab tests to rule out the possibility of a physical disease that may cause similar symptoms. After analyzing your results, the specialists may create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs. You may have post-traumatic disorder if you have disturbing nightmares, flashbacks, and negative thoughts that persist for more than one month after the traumatic event.
What are the available treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder?
PTSD treatments focus on improving emotional and physical symptoms to restore your ability to enjoy fun activities and overcome the traumatic experience. Your physician may recommend antidepressant medications to control anxiety and restore calmness in your life. In some cases, the specialists may recommend blood pressure medicines such as clonidine for peaceful sleep, propranolol to inhibit traumatic memories, and prazosin to prevent nightmares. Medical experts discourage using tranquilizers like clonazepam because they are addictive and may not offer the expected results.
Your provider may also recommend psychotherapy to instill skills necessary for managing your symptoms. Therapy also educates you about PTSD and how to face your fears. Some of the psychotherapy approaches you may undergo include prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
For more post-traumatic disorder information, call your doctor or schedule an appointment online.
