PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious illness that can devastate lives, but with the right help, you can recover. If you develop PTSD symptoms after a traumatic experience, talk to Ndubuisi Odegai, Princess Riley, DNP, and their team at The Healed Mind Psychiatry in Aubrey, Texas. They provide comprehensive, trauma-informed PTSD care delivered with compassion and respect. Call The Healed Mind Psychiatry or schedule a consultation online today to begin your recovery.

Am I likely to get PTSD?

PTSD can affect anyone who experiences something sufficiently horrific, such as:

• Severe car or rail crashes
• Sea and air disasters
• Fires
• Floods
• Hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes
• Sexual assault and rape
• Bombings
• Shootings, stabbings, and beatings
• Armed combat

Your chances of getting PTSD are higher if your lifestyle or career puts you at increased risk of such events: for example, you work in the military, report from war zones, or are a first responder.

Trauma can profoundly affect the people involved and those witnessing the event. However, as time passes, your mind processes what’s happened, and the shock fades. 

However, people who are affected by PTSD can’t move past trauma or think they’re OK, only to develop PTSD symptoms after many months or years.

What symptoms suggest I have PTSD?

PTSD causes many different symptoms, but having flashbacks is typically the clearest indicator. 

Flashbacks are trauma memories usually triggered by specific sounds, sights, or smells that transport you back to the event. You experience it over again in such vivid detail that you feel you’re reliving it, stirring up all of the same emotions and reactions.

Other PTSD symptoms that could affect you include:

• Survivor’s guilt
• Distrust of others
• Frequent nightmares
• Constantly thinking about the event
• Refusing to talk about your experience
• Negative self-talk
• Anger management issues
• Avoiding reminders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Startling easily
• Increased irritability
• Recklessness and impulsivity
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Problems sleeping
• Social isolation
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Substance use disorder

You may have all or some of these symptoms, affecting your ability to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy life. You may even contemplate suicide if you can’t get relief from your symptoms.

What might help me overcome PTSD?

The Healed Mind Psychiatry team provides complete care and support to patients who are battling PTSD.

Your provider begins by discussing the problems PTSD is causing and finding out about your lifestyle, including sources of stress, other medical conditions, and your work and home life. They won’t press you further than you feel comfortable when asking about the trauma.

Later sessions focus on using psychotherapy techniques to address the daily challenges that are causing you difficulty and, over time, processing trauma-related emotions and memories. You might also benefit from medication to help with symptoms like mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Call The Healed Mind Psychiatry or schedule a consultation online today for expert PTSD treatment.