PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder


What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post traumatic Stress Disorder is diagnosed when an individual experiences some type of traumatic event. The event may be an exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The traumatic event does not necessarily have to happen directly to the individual; the individual can be a witness of the event happening to someone else or they may simply hear about a traumatic event happening to a loved one.

Symptoms of Post traumatic Stress Disorder

In order for a diagnosis of Post traumatic Stress Disorder to be given an individual must have symptoms for at least one month that cause significant distress or impaired functioning. The symptoms of Post traumatic Stress Disorder vary somewhat depending on the individual’s age. Below are symptoms that indicate an individual is suffering from Post traumatic Stress Disorder.

Symptoms for adults, adolescents, and children older than six:

  • Intrusive symptoms such as recurrent distressing memories of the event, intense psychological stress when they are reminded of the event, or reactions where the individual feels as if the event is happening again.
  • The individual must either avoid distressing memories, thoughts or feelings that are associated with the event or avoid reminders of the event that elicit those memories, thoughts, or feelings.
  • Negative changes in their cognition or mood in association with the event.
  • Experiencing changes in their arousal or reactivity associated to the event such as irritable behavior, destructive behaviors, or sleep disturbance.

Symptoms for children six years old and younger:

  • Intrusive symptoms such as repetitive play related to the event or dissociative reactions where the child feels or reacts as if the event is recurring and may be seen in their play.
  • Either persistent avoidance of stimuli to the event or negative changes in thoughts and mood-related to the event.
  • At least two alterations in arousal and reactivity associated to the event such as angry outbursts, exaggerated startle response, or impaired concentration.

Treatment for Post traumatic Stress Disorder

If you have experienced a traumatic event in any of the ways listed above and believe you are suffering from the symptoms of Post traumatic Stress Disorder then seeking therapy can be extremely beneficial for you. Therapists, Counselors, Psychotherapists, and Psychologists at each of our locations offer several different approaches to helping individuals with Post traumatic Stress Disorder overcome the negative effects that exposure to a traumatic event in some way has affected them. Comprehensive cognitive-behavioral intervention is a treatment that has been proven very effective for treating individuals with Post traumatic Stress Disorder. This intervention uses exposure, cognitive restructuring, anxiety management, and other similar techniques to help individuals overcome their symptoms and become resilient. The experience of a traumatic event can be life-changing and have a magnitude of negative effects on an individual. While in some instances individuals are able to overcome the effects of the traumatic event on their own, there are many instances where the individual is still living in distress from the event over a month after it has occurred. It is important that individuals know they can find the support they need at Sollars and Associates to stop living their life with fear and anxiety related to the event.

PTSD Treatment Near You

PTSD treatment is available at our locations across the state of Michigan.  Click on the link of the location nearest to you to find out more about who we are and what we can do to help.

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