PTSD

If you’ve experienced a traumatic event and now experience prolonged episodes of fear, stress, and disturbing thoughts, you may have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Fortunately, PTSD treatment is available at Iasis Solutions, led by Virginia Ndoro FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, in Framingham, Massachusetts. Start your treatment by scheduling an appointment online over the phone today.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person has witnessed or lived through a traumatic event or experienced prolonged trauma.

Events that can trigger PTSD include:

• War or combat
• Natural disasters
• Bad accidents
• Physical violence
• Child abuse
• Spiritual abuse
• Sexual assault or rape
• Intimate partner violence
• Bullying 

PTSD causes disturbing thoughts, fear, and stress, along with a variety of other symptoms, even after the traumatic event has ended. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Psychologists divide PTSD symptoms into four categories:

Intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts include nightmares, repeated and unwanted memories, and flashbacks to the traumatic event. 

Avoidance

Another symptom of PTSD is the avoidance of thinking, remembering, and talking about the traumatic event, and avoiding objects, people, places, and activities that can trigger unwanted memories.

Negative changes in mood and thinking

PTSD can cause negative changes in mood and thinking like:

• Distorted thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
• Feeling hopeless about the future
• Memory problems, including forgetting important details of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from others
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• The inability to experience positive emotions
• Emotional numbness
• Continued feelings of fear, anger, shame, guilt, horror, etc.

Changes in physical and emotional responses

Examples of these types of PTSD symptoms include:

• Irritability 
• Aggression or angry outbursts
• Reckless or self-destructive behavior
• Being easily startled or frightened
• Always being overly vigilant of your surroundings
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating

Many people have these types of symptoms from time to time. PTSD, however, causes symptoms that last for over a month and cause major disruptions to a person’s work, relationships, and daily functioning. 

People with PTSD also frequently experience related concurrent conditions, like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.

How do you treat PTSD?

There is no “one size fits all” treatment for PTSD, and not everyone with PTSD requires treatment. For those that do, Iasis Solutions offers a variety of treatment options. 

These options include, but are not limited to, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), telepsychiatry, medication management, and more. 

Your PTSD doesn’t define you. If you’re ready to regain control, book an appointment with Virginia and her caring team at Iasis Solutions online or over the phone today.