Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 5 Facts You Should Know

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often experienced following a traumatic event involving physical or psychological harm. PTSD was originally brought to light in relation to war veterans, but it can stem from a wide array of harmful incidents such as rape, molestation, child abuse, car accidents, natural disasters or kidnapping. The individual who develops PTSD may have personally experienced harm, or witnessed a painful event happening to friends, family members or even strangers. The board-certified practitioners at Fieve Psychiatry Center in NYC specialize in treating patients for PTSD, anxiety and other stress-related disorders.

The Warning Signs of PTSD

Individuals living with PTSD tend to startle easy, become emotionally distant, and/or lose interest in past favorite activities. Someone experiencing PTSD can even show signs of violence and aggression. This psychological condition interferes with daily life and causes people to avoid situations that trigger reminders of the original incident, such as an anniversary or a specific location. The majority of people suffering from PTSD have constant flashbacks throughout the day and night, reliving the trauma over and over again. These flashbacks often consist of images, sounds, feelings and smells that are triggered by common occurrences, like a car backfiring or a door slamming shut. It is common for someone having a flashback to mistake these illusions for reality.

People with PTSD experience signs and symptoms differently. As opposed to, for example, a sprained ankle, PTSD is difficult to self-diagnose. While it may appear to be a case of anxiety, depression or anger, PTSD is very different. When time passes following a traumatic event, it is natural to think that your mind and body have learned to cope, but signs of PTSD can appear years later. Some people experience symptoms within 3 months of the traumatic event, but others do not begin experiencing symptoms until years afterward.

How To Prevent Stress From Becoming PTSD

The board-certified practitioners at Fieve Psychiatry Center in New York maintain a special focus on anxiety and stress related disorders. Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the process of healing from trauma. Every individual heals differently, and it is important to be patient. Studies have shown that actively attempting to avoid emotional pain and past experiences triggers longer-term suffering. So the more you try to avoid facing something awful that happened in the past, the more you are likely to develop PTSD. While there is no way to prevent, or avoid psychological issues related to the human experience, we can minimize the amount of suffering by doing the following:

• Maintain a healthy support system
• Open up about the trauma to loved ones
• Identify as a survivor instead of a victim
• Smile, laugh and try to enjoy life
• Create purpose by helping others heal
• Believe in yourself and your growth throughout healing

It is important to remember that you are allowed to feel sensations related to loss and trauma following a life-altering event. Welcoming pain may sound dangerous, but pain is meant to be felt and guide us in the face of future loss. Try setting aside a window of time daily to experience all thoughts and feelings that flow through your mind. Our minds and bodies are resilient and remarkably able to power through traumatic events and thrive.

Treatment for PTSD in New York

At Fieve Psychiatry Center, located in NYC, each patient works with a professional PTSD therapist team to develop a treatment plan. We use the most trusted and proven treatment modalities to treat all symptoms that accompany PTSD. At Fieve Psychiatry Center we understand that PTSD is hard to live with so we create an environment of trust to help patients navigate this difficult condition. At our treatment center we help thousands of patients who suffer from PTSD using cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and expert psychopharmacology. Contact us for a consultation today.