Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. It can be triggered by a single traumatic event or by a series of traumatic events over time. Individuals with PTSD may experience a range of symptoms that can be debilitating, but effective treatment is available at the Serin Center.

• PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
• PTSD symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance, among others.
• Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, military combat, or accidents.
• Diagnosis of PTSD requires a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional, who will assess symptoms and rule out other conditions.
• Effective treatment for PTSD may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other trauma-focused therapies.
• Serin Center offers evidence-based treatment options for PTSD, including CBT, EMDR, and other trauma-focused therapies.
• Therapy at Serin Center is tailored to the individual's unique needs, goals, and experiences.
• The Serin Center team provides compassionate and supportive care to individuals with PTSD and their families.
• Recovery from PTSD is possible with the right treatment and support.

What Are the Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Traumatic situations may differ from person to person. But one thing is certain, there are many harmful or life-threatening events that might cause the development of PTSD in someone. Some of the most common of them are listed below:

• Being tortured
• war and conflict
• physical or sexual assault
• Experiencing serious accidents
• Death of someone close to you
• Childbirth experiences, such as losing a baby
• Abuse which include childhood or domestic abuse
• Exposure to traumatic events at work, including remote exposure
• Serious health problems, such as being admitted to intensive care

Recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It can be very difficult to come to terms with traumatic events, but recovering and getting better from this condition starts with confronting these feelings and emotions. By doing so, you can proceed onto the next step of getting professional help and becoming better. 

As challenging as it may be, PTSD can be treated successfully. In terms of treatments, psychotherapies and medications are proven to be effective in treating PTSD. Some of these treatments include:

Psychotherapy

• Cognitive therapy: This is a talk therapy that helps patients determine the cognitive patterns (a person’s way of thinking) that keeps them from getting stuck  — e.g. their self-doubts, the risk and chance of traumatic experience from taking place again. For PTSD, this therapy is often combined with exposure therapy.
• Exposure therapy: This is a type of behavioral therapy which helps patients to safely face or confront the situation that they deemed traumatic or distressing. Through this therapy, patients are given ways on how they could effectively cope with them. This method is particularly helpful in cases of recurring flashbacks and nightmares. 
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories and change how you react to them.

Medications

There are several types of medicines that can help patients cope with PTSD as well as improve the symptoms they are experiencing. Some of these medications include:

• Antidepressants - These help patients deal with their unhealthy sleeping patterns and improve their concentration in completing tasks. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for PTSD treatment.
• Anti-anxiety medications - These type of drugs are effective in relieving severe anxiety and other related symptoms. There are medications under this category that are prone for abuse, so they are only prescribed for a short period of time. 
• Prazosin - helps reduce or suppress nightmares in some people with PTSD.

Remember that these medications shall only be taken under the instruction and supervision of your physicians. Since most of these medicines may require a prescription, it is important to talk to your doctor about different treatment options as they are the best person to know which program you should take. 

At Serin Center, our experienced team of mental health professionals understands the complex nature of PTSD and the impact it can have on individuals and their families. We offer a variety of evidence-based treatment options that are tailored to the individual's unique needs and experiences. Our goal is to help our clients overcome the debilitating effects of PTSD and find a path towards healing and recovery.

Sources:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (2022) Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967. 

• Causes of PTSD (no date) Mind. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/causes/.