Trauma & PTSD
Counseling, Treatments & Services
PTSD therapy and counseling involve working one-on-one with a mental health therapist. This process allows individuals to explore their traumatic experiences by addressing negative feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. In general, PTSD therapy aims to help clients talk through mental health issues and triggers. It also supports healing, enabling individuals to move toward a more productive and healthy life.
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What is PTSD
How PTSD Affects Life
Treatments for PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes referred to as shell shock or combat fatigue syndrome, is a lasting consequence of traumatic experiences that cause intense fear, helplessness, or horror. People with PTSD experience symptoms for more than one month and may find it difficult to function as well as they did before the event that triggered the disorder. Examples of events that can lead to PTSD include sexual or physical assault, the sudden death of a loved one, accidents, war, or natural disasters.
If you feel that you may be suffering from PTSD and are ready for change, we can help. Give us a call today to get started.
HEAL from PTSD
If you have PTSD, working with a mental health professional can address your specific symptoms and bring about lasting change. At Leilani Sinclair Psychotherapy, we can help you determine the best path to healing.
What are the signs and symptoms of PTSD?
People with PTSD may experience feelings of panic or extreme fear, similar to those felt during the original traumatic event. Others may experience chronic lethargy that can last for years. Additional symptoms of PTSD include difficulty sleeping, irritability, and lack of concentration. People may become easily startled and may continually look for signs of danger. Intense emotional or physical reactions—such as sweating, heart palpitations, or panic—can occur suddenly when PTSD is triggered. These experiences can be confusing and disorienting, and may lead to fears of feeling out of control.
Reaching out for help is a vulnerable and courageous act. We have the experience to help those living with PTSD. Give us a call today. We can help. There is hope for living a happy, productive life.
Who suffers from PTSD?
Instances of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increase dramatically among military personnel; up to thirty percent of men and women in active war zones go on to develop PTSD. Rates of PTSD in the military vary depending on circumstances such as the branch of service.
According to the National Center for PTSD (a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), roughly 5% of men and 10% of women living in the United States will develop PTSD at some point during their lifetime. This accounts for 6–7 million adults in the United States today who suffer from PTSD, although even children can develop the disorder. This number is expected to rise due to increasing unrest in the world. Most individuals show early symptoms of PTSD shortly after experiencing a traumatic event, but there can also be a delayed reaction months or even years later (ptsdalliance.org).
There is hope for a happier you
About 3.6% of adult Americans -- about 5.2 million people -- have PTSD during the course of a year, and an estimated 7.8 million Americans will develop PTSD at some point in their lives.
What treatments are available for PTSD
Treatment for PTSD usually begins about two weeks after a traumatic experience. Most people experience symptoms in the first few weeks following the event. It is best to start with psychological treatment rather than medication. If symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, a doctor or mental health professional may recommend beginning treatment. The most effective therapies involve talk therapy, but medication can also be prescribed if needed. Drug treatment is not recommended within the first four weeks after symptoms appear. However, if the severity of a person's distress cannot be managed by psychological means alone, medication may be considered.
Symptoms of PTSD may worsen over time. Addressing them now can help prevent further deterioration in the future. Getting help for your PTSD can also improve your family's quality of life. Learning more about effective treatments can make it easier to seek help and lead to better outcomes.
Why you should seek help for PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD may worsen. Dealing with them now may help to stop them from getting worse in the future. Getting help with your PTSD can help improve your family's life. Finding out more about what treatments are working can make it easier to get help and lead to better outcomes.
Eight million adults in the U.S. experience PTSD in any given year. If you have frequent upsetting thoughts, see your healthcare provider or mental health professional right away.
For example, a person who has PTSD may say things such as:
- I don't want to think (or talk) about it.
- I can't get it out of my head.
- I feel like I'm losing my mind.
What causes PTSD
Experts have identified three categories (or clusters) of PTSD symptoms. These symptoms generally persist for at least a month, and for many survivors, they represent their first struggles with anxiety. The symptoms fall into three categories: re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and hyperarousal.
Trauma depends on many factors, including a person's perception of and proximity to the event. In general, traumatic events expose children to death, serious injury, or violence. Examples of events that can lead to PTSD in children include car accidents, natural disasters, and more.
What is Complex PTSD
Some people with PTSD experience symptoms throughout their lifetime due to prolonged exposure to trauma. Trauma can cause systemic and hormonal changes in the brain's chemistry.
Complex PTSD is particularly common in people who have experienced childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. It may also lead to PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, inappropriate sexual activity, and other behavioral problems later in life.
