POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD):

Overview:

Everyone will go through a range of different traumatic experiences in their lives, most of which people resolve naturally after time, support from others, and self-care. However, with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) a person with PTSD can experience high levels of physical symptoms associated with the stress response (heavy breathing, increased heart rate) or hyper-alert even when the danger is no longer present. PTSD is often triggered by witnessing or experiencing a particularly traumatic or terrifying event. In addition, PTSD symptoms can be made complicated or increased by repeated exposure to trauma and generational trauma (e.g., parent’s experience of trauma and ineffective coping skills shared to their children). Most people who have gone through a traumatic event will experience temporary difficulties with intrusive thoughts, emotions, and action urges. However, if these difficulties last months to years PTSD may be present in your life. Getting the proper treatment can greatly reduce symptoms and help improve life function.

Symptoms:

Sometimes, symptoms do not appear until months or years after a significant event. Unfortunately, these symptoms can cause issues within personal relationships and work/social situations. Symptoms can also affect day-to-day activities, these symptoms include:

• Irritability

• Urges to self-harm/suicidal ideation

• Guilt/shame

• Avoidance of the location or reminders of the traumatic experience

• Loneliness

• Hostility

• Emotional detachment

• Insomnia

• Nightmares

• Outbursts of anger

• Easily startled

• Always on guard for danger—hypervigilant

• Children who are experiencing PTSD may experience frightening dreams and may re-enact traumatic events through play.

Therapy:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatments can help a person integrate the experience and support the regulation of both the physical and emotional experiences of PTSD. Through therapy, a variety of skills can be used to effectively cope with symptoms or stressful situations that may be triggering of traumatic memory. The evidence-based therapies offered for PTSD by SOGIA are:

-For adults, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a manualized treatment that usually provided over 12 sessions following an intake. This therapy supports patients in reframing or challenging unhelpful or self-judgmental beliefs related to the trauma narrative. The purpose is to help the patient develop a new understanding of the traumatic event to decrease ongoing negative effects on current living.

-For youth and children, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), is a skills-based treatment that is usually provided at most 16 sessions following an intake. This therapy supports patients in processing emotions, beliefs, and problem behaviors that may be related to the trauma. In addition, parents are provided parenting skills that can be used in tandem to support their children engage in skills and communicate with one another in health ways.