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Trauma / PTSD Therapy
Trauma/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health problem that can develop after you’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, serious injury, or assault, including sexual assault. It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event.
​PTSD can occur in any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and affect people of any age. In fact, according to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD affects around 3.5% of adults every single year in the U.S., and one in 11 people experience PTSD during their lifetime.
If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, or if you’re struggling, schedule an appointment with San Antonio Authentic Counseling today.
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PTSD ​Symptoms
Symptoms vary in intensity but commonly include intrusive thoughts, including repeated memories that occur involuntarily; bad dreams; traumatic event flashbacks. The latter can feel as if you’re reliving or seeing the traumatic event right before your eyes, such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
PTSD Symptoms: Avoidance
PTSD also includes avoidance issues, such as avoiding anything that reminds you of a traumatic event, including people, activities, places, and objects as well as any situations that could be triggering for you. You may also try to avoid thinking about upsetting, traumatic memories, or resist speaking about them and talking about them.
PTSD Symptoms: Mood and Cognitive Changes
Experiencing mood and cognitive alterations, such as being unable to recall aspects of the trauma, or experiencing negative thoughts and feelings and distorted, continuing beliefs about yourself or other people. You may also have distorted thoughts about a traumatic event, its cause, and its consequences. Such thoughts can lead to blaming oneself or others incorrectly as well as fear, guilt, anger, or shame. And, you may be less interested in activities that you enjoyed previously, or even be unable to feel positive, happy, or satisfied emotions.
Experiencing alterations in arousal and reactivity, ranging from irritability to anger, reckless or self-destructive behavior, or extreme caution and watchfulness. You may also find that you're easily startled or have issues with concentration or sleep.
If you’re experiencing PTSD-related symptoms and would like to speak to an experienced therapist, get in touch with San Antonio Authentic Counseling today.
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When Can PTSD Occur?
PTSD can occur immediately or months following the traumatic event experienced, especially if not followed up by trauma therapy. However, symptoms must last a month or longer, causing distress, and issues with functioning in daily life, to be diagnosed as PTSD. Some symptoms may last for months or even years.
PTSD frequently occurs along with other conditions like depression, substance abuse, or other physical and mental health conditions. In our San Antonio office, we treat any number of mental health conditions.
Effective Treatments are Available
PTSD can be effectively treated through options such as cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Some medications such as SSRI antidepressants can also be effective.
Combining medication with psychotherapeutic treatment can be extremely effective.
If you would like to know more about treatment for PTSD, and how we can help at San Antonio Authentic Counseling, please reach out to us today!
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