Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Specialist

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which people suffer severe anxiety following a traumatic event. The traumatic event may have been something they experienced or witnessed personally, or it may have been something that happened to a person they love. Traumatic events are usually classified as those that expose a person to possible death, death threats, serious bodily injury, or sexual violence.

What Are the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

It can be different for each person, but most people who experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder re-live the traumatic event, either fully or in part. This often includes things like memory flashbacks, nightmares, and intense panic attacks. People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may have a notable physical reaction to these memories, including elevated heart rate, excessive perspiration, and nausea or vomiting. Some people who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder become emotionally numb and go to extreme lengths to avoid any reminders of the trauma. These symptoms often cause other symptoms, including insomnia, inability to concentrate, and increased irritation at even small things.

Who Can Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can happen in people of any age, even very young children. It isn't definitively known why some people who go through traumatic events suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder while others who went through the same event do not. A person's personality, mental health history, family history, childhood experiences, and many other factors may play into the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. People who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may have higher levels of the "fight or flight" hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine.

How is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treated?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder depends on the specific trauma that the client is dealing with. We will customize a treatment program for each individual. Many people who suffer from this disorder find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to be very useful, as it helps people deal with the negative behaviors and turn them into healthier coping mechanisms.