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PTSD

It may be very difficult to seek professional help following a traumatic event. Know that PTSD is treatable, and with time, treatment can help you feel better. Talk with our Mission Psychiatry team about therapy and medication options and remember that they’re available to help and support you.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
 

At Mission Psychiatry, our highly trained psychiatric professionals will help those with PTSD and their loved ones learn how to live with and manage the condition. Our patients will learn their triggers and how to properly manage them. Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition that some people develop after they experience or witness a traumatic event. The traumatic event may be life-threatening or pose a significant threat to your physical, emotional or spiritual well-being. PTSD affects people of all ages.

People with PTSD have intense and intrusive thoughts and feelings related to the experience that last long after the event.

What are Symptoms of PTSD?

To receive a PTSD diagnosis, symptoms must last for more than a month and must cause significant distress or issues in your daily functioning. The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:

Intrusion:

  • Intrusive thoughts, such as repeated, involuntary memories

  • Nightmares

  • Flashbacks of the traumatic event, which can be very vivid and feel real

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Avoidance:

  • Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event, like people, places, activities, things and situations

  • Avoiding remembering or thinking about the traumatic event

  • Avoiding talking about what happened or how you feel about it

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Changes in thinking and mood:

  • Ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame

  • Memory loss of important aspects of the traumatic event

  • Ongoing negative and distorted thoughts and feelings about yourself or others

  • Distorted thoughts about the cause or effects of the event that lead to wrongly blaming yourself or others

  • Feeling detached from others

  • No longer enjoying activities you once did

  • Being unable to experience positive emotions

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Changes in arousal and reactivity:

  • Irritability and angry outbursts

  • Reckless or self-destructive behavior

  • Being overly watchful of your surroundings (hypervigilance)

  • Being easily startled

  • Problems concentrating or sleeping

How is PTSD Treated?

If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they're severe, or if you feel you're having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

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