PTSD

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can be severely disabling without expert treatment. It develops when you’ve experienced an event that is deeply shocking or traumatic.

War zones are a typical example of the type of experience that can lead to PTSD and it’s a condition that affects a large number of service personnel. Still, being in a combat situation isn’t the only way to develop PTSD.

Some people develop PTSD after a serious auto accident or a traumatic experience like getting trapped underground, being in a burning building, or suffering a violent assault. Intense emotional reactions following the trauma contribute to the development of PTSD.  

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms cover four areas:

Intrusive thoughts

One of the most common forms of intrusive thoughts is a flashback, where you feel like you are reliving the traumatic experience. You might hear the sounds, smell the smells, and feel the same feelings that you did when the event initially took place.

You might also have very vivid nightmares from which you awake feeling as though you’d lived through the trauma again.

Avoidance

People who have PTSD often avoid other people, as well as certain places and activities. This is partly to avoid the triggers that remind you of the event. For instance, you might avoid trains and railway stations if you were in a bad train wreck.

Avoidance is also about not wanting to talk about the traumatic experience, which can feel very difficult. People living with PTSD may withdraw from friends and family and might turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their mental anguish.

Changes in thoughts and mood

Depression and other negative emotions are common when you have PTSD. You might have feelings of:

• Hopelessness
• Worthlessness
• Despair
• Guilt
• Anger
• Anxiety

You might find the activities you used to enjoy now bring you no pleasure and very few things make you feel happy.

Changes in physical and emotional reactions

PTSD can cause behavioral changes that may feel alienating to friends and family. It’s common for people who have PTSD to overreact when they’re under stress or behave as if they’re being threatened.

PTSD can also affect your quality of sleep and may be associated with significant changes in appetite and concentration. 

How is PTSD treated?

Medication and psychotherapy are usually helpful for people with PTSD. Medications that could ease your PTSD symptoms include:

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants
• Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants
• Antipsychotic medications

If your initial treatment program doesn’t ease your PTSD symptoms, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be an effective alternative. Bowman Medical Group has considerable experience using TMS, which is a safe, noninvasive form of treatment.

Find out more about TMS and other treatments for PTSD by calling Bowman Medical Group or booking an appointment online today.