PTSD

Approximately 6% of Americans will have PTSD at some point in their lives. The disorder can cause feelings of regret, fear, nightmares, and flashbacks. Fortunately, Will Lambert, PMHNP, FNP, and the experienced providers at Optimus Health and Wellness offer PTSD care to patients aged 12 and older. The practice provides in-person and telehealth appointments to the community in The Woodlands, Texas, and telehealth care to patients in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Vermont, Maine, and Maryland. If you or a family member has experienced a traumatic life event resulting in PTSD symptoms, call the practice or book an appointment online.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that occurs after a life-threatening event that you witness or experience. Feelings of danger or fear may linger even after the event is over.

Car accidents, war, injuries or invasive medical procedures, natural disasters, the death of a loved one, bullying, neglect, or any type of abuse can lead to PTSD. 

Women are about twice as likely as men to develop the disorder. This statistic is partially due to the fact that women are more likely to experience a traumatic event — like sexual abuse — than men. Veterans are also more prone to PTSD than civilians. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

For an official PTSD diagnosis, adolescents and adults must experience symptoms for one month or longer. 

You may have at least one symptom of avoidance — where you refuse to discuss the traumatic event or avoid places or people that remind you of it. You may have one or more intrusion symptoms like nightmares or flashbacks. 

A PTSD diagnosis includes at least two mood and thinking symptoms, such as: 

• Depression
• Anxiety 
• Feelings of shame and guilt 
• Irritability 
• Extreme emotional reactions 
• Timidness 
• Insomnia or oversleeping 
• Emotional numbness 
• Issues being affectionate 
• Loss of memory
• Hypersensitivity to perceived danger

Adolescents may also engage in traumatic reenactment, where they incorporate aspects of the trauma into their daily lives.

If left untreated, PTSD can lead to substance abuse, headaches, and fatigue. 

What are treatments for PTSD? 

After a thorough psychiatric consultation, your Optimus Health and Wellness provider may recommend a combination of treatments. 

Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy (individual, group, or family), like trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), provides a safe space to talk about the traumatic event and helps you regain control of your symptoms. 

Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and activities can help you overcome your anxiety and fear, safely facing people and places you’ve been avoiding after the event.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses a moving light to trigger your brain to revisit the event. This helps you reprocess your memories of the trauma. 

Medications

Antidepressants like Zoloft®, Prozac®, Paxil®, and Effexor® can improve your mood and stress levels. 

If you have anxiety, benzodiazepines like Xanax® and Valium® may help, but you should use them sparingly as they can be addictive. 

Call Optimus Health and Wellness today or reach out online to learn more about PTSD treatments.