Dealing with feelings of sadness, terror, and fear is hard enough, but understanding why you feel this way can be vital for getting help. There could be several things causing these feelings, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Around 5% of the U.S. population suffers from this condition at any given point. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder generally occurs after a traumatic event; however, there are different types of PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD is a mental health condition. Professionals diagnose it by meeting with a person and gaining an understanding of how they feel and past experiences. PTSD can cause numerous signs and symptoms, including:
- Trouble focusing
- Depression
- Sadness
- Anger
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Insomnia
- Lack of motivation
Many mental health issues usually result in a combination of these feelings; however, PTSD is generally accompanied by painful memories that trigger feelings of anxiety. Some people even have significant symptoms, such as panic attacks, while others might demonstrate less severe symptoms.
Types of PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder comes in different forms. Some of the more common types include uncomplicated, acute stress disorder, dissociative, complex, and comorbid.
Uncomplicated PTSD
When you develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from one specific traumatic event, you may have uncomplicated PTSD. Experts consider this uncomplicated because it occurred from one experience. As a result, diagnosing it is often simpler.
A sexual assault, car accident, or unexpected loss of a loved one are examples of an event that can cause uncomplicated PTSD. After the event happens, you begin experiencing the symptoms. Experiencing sadness and anxiety after an event is normal. The feelings shouldn’t continue to linger and interfere with your life for months or years after. You may have uncomplicated PTSD if you continue to experience symptoms for an extended period.
Acute Stress Disorder
Acute stress disorder is very similar to uncomplicated PTSD, but its symptoms are generally less severe. While acute stress disorder isn’t really PTSD, its symptoms mimic those of PTSD. Professionals treat acute stress disorder the same as PTSD. It can occur from the same types of events as uncomplicated PTSD.
Dissociative PTSD
Dissociative PTSD is common when people experience abuse, especially during childhood. This form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder causes a person to dissociate from the bad memories they underwent when they were younger. Unfortunately, dissociating from these memories causes people to stay unresolved in their minds. They might not even remember all the events, yet the events affected their thoughts and feelings.
People with dissociative PTSD tend to experience major problems with attention and focus. It also causes people to pull away from their feelings. A person with this might state they feel “numb” and can’t experience emotions.
Complex PTSD
Professionals characterize complex PTSD as the most severe form. Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the most challenging to treat, but it is treatable. A person develops complex PTSD after experiencing repeated traumatic events. It could be similar events that happen over and over, or it can also be a series of unrelated, different traumatic events.
The symptoms that people experience from complex PTSD are often more substantial and more frequent than with other forms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In many cases, people with this demonstrate aggression, anger, and impulsive behaviors.
Comorbid PTSD
Comorbid PTSD is a complicated form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder because it involves a second issue. The second issue is generally a substance abuse problem or another mental health condition. Sometimes PTSD causes the second issue, but sometimes it’s the other way around. A trained professional can identify both issues and offer a custom treatment plan to address both conditions.
Treatment for PTSD
We can help you if you’re struggling with PTSD. Getting better consists of several steps, including a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing the condition occurs with a psychological evaluation. This evaluation consists of questions that help a professional determine your mental state and if you have PTSD or another mental health condition. During the evaluation, they also determine the type of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder you have. These evaluations generally take around an hour to complete. These preliminary steps help us determine the best treatment plan.
Therapy
Most treatment plans consist of multiple strategies and techniques. We’ll base it on your type of PTSD and the severity of the symptoms, and most plans include therapy.
The first is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is one of the most popular forms of therapy, and experts use it for treating most mental conditions. CBT is talk therapy. It’s a process of working through thoughts, feelings, and memories. The goal is to resolve them in the mind. By doing this, a person finds relief from bad memories and thoughts.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another form of therapy. EMDR can help you reprocess your memories, which enables you to react differently to them.
Education
Education is another form of treatment for PTSD. Learning why you have this condition is step one. Next, you’ll learn ways to detect triggers and avoid them. You’ll also learn coping methods.
For example, exercise can be a beneficial outlet for treating mental conditions. Exercise stimulates feel-good hormones and is healthy for the body and mind.
Group therapy is also beneficial. You can talk to others with similar experiences, and they’ll understand. Learning how to talk about your mental health is extremely helpful for most people.
We can also prescribe medications to treat the issues. Medication isn’t always necessary but can be helpful for some people.
Every plan is different and unique, based on the person’s needs. It’s important to know that PTSD doesn’t go away on its own. It requires professional intervention. If you experience PTSD symptoms, seeking treatment is the best thing you can do.
Learn More About Treating Your Condition
Suffering from PTSD can disrupt your life. It’s challenging, but help is available. Reach out to us if you’re experiencing signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We can help. Comprehensive Wellness Centers offers a personalized approach to mental health and addiction treatment. Our team of experienced professionals treat each person with care and empathy.
We can help you work through your trauma and find relief from your PTSD symptoms. Learn more about our facility and contact us today to learn more.
