Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event. Even if there was no singular event in your past that caused trauma, you can develop PTSD because of challenging long-term circumstances in your life or by simply witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD affects as much as 30% of veterans and is estimated to affect over 5% of all adults.
There are new tools and treatment options that can support/empower patients to overcome the effects of past trauma and take back control of their lives.
Patients who have PTSD often experience anxiety, nightmares, depression, mood swings, avoidance, memory loss, feelings of uneasiness, jumpiness, or can be easily startled or angered. Symptoms are profound and are frequently severe and debilitating to your daily activities.
When thoughts, situations, or people trigger an acute complex PTSD episode, you struggle to go to or function at work, unable to engage or enjoy time with family, or carry out even the most basic elements of your daily routines.
PSTD symptoms vary from person to person and can cause ongoing challenges in your life. They fall into four key categories:
Re-experiencing the event - Flashbacks, nightmares, or memories that suddenly return make you re-experience the traumatic event. Remembering the event often triggers strong emotional distress and physical symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Heightened arousal - Heightened arousal means you feel emotions or engage in behaviors that are different from the way you were before PTSD. For example, you may become unusually aggressive or reckless.
Avoidance behavior - You’ll do anything to avoid the person or place that reminds you of the trauma that triggered your PTSD.
Negative mood, feelings, or thoughts - It’s common to feel angry, lose interest in activities you once enjoyed, or to blame yourself for the trauma. You may become isolated, lethargic, and depressed.
PTSD, meaning post-traumatic stress disorder, often occurs following a complex stress or traumatic or life-threatening event. You may experience or witness the trauma, although you don’t have to be directly involved in the event. You may develop PTSD after hearing about the experience of a friend or family member who suffered a traumatic experience.
PTSD may arise from many types of complex traumatic or stressful situations, such as:
- Combat duty
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Gun violence
- Severe accident
- Natural or man-made disasters
You may also develop PTSD following the death of a loved one.
PTSD is treated with a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Effective therapies include exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Medications like SSRIs and SNRIs can help manage symptoms by adjusting brain chemicals, while mood stabilizers may be prescribed if symptoms of anger or agitation persist.
What does Libertas Mind offer for PTSD treatment options
If your PTSD symptoms are not well controlled with your current medications, consider the following options below.
Ketamine
Ketamine treatment offered has shown to have near-immediate and remarkable success in patients with severe or chronic PTSD. Learn more here.
Stellate ganglion block
A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a procedure that can help reduce PTSD symptoms by injecting nerves in the neck that control the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system.
Studies suggest it can lower anxiety, hypervigilance, and other PTSD symptoms. especially for those who haven’t found relief from traditional methods like therapy or medication. The procedure involves injecting a local anesthetic near the nerve bundle using ultrasound guidance, which may help “reset” the brain’s stress response.
