PTSD

If you’ve survived trauma and struggle with lingering anxiety, shame, or regret, you’re not alone: Around 5% of people in the United States experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At Cornerstone Psychiatry, Rebecca Harvey, DNP, offers support and comprehensive PTSD treatment in Lindon, Utah. To book a consultation, call the Cornerstone Psychiatry office or schedule online today.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from a traumatic life event like a serious accident, a natural disaster, injury, experiencing death in your family or social group, or surviving abuse. 

PTSD occurs when you still feel fear even after the event has passed. You may feel frequently anxious, frightened, or hopeless. Untreated, PTSD can persist for months or years. 

Although events triggering PTSD can occur to anyone, women are twice as likely to develop it. This may be because women are more likely to experience traumatic events, such as certain forms of abuse.

How do I know if I have PTSD?

You may have PTSD if you’ve been experiencing distressing symptoms for over a month.

These may include avoidance symptoms, such as being reluctant to talk about what happened or going out of your way to avoid the people or places that remind you of what occurred. You may experience these alone or with intrusion symptoms like recurring nightmares or flashbacks where you feel like you’re reliving the event. 

Rebecca may give you an official PTSD diagnosis if you experience multiple symptoms, such as: 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep loss or oversleeping
• Memory loss
• Timidity
• Irritability
• Feeling to blame for what occurred
• Hypersensitivity to anything you perceive as a threat
• Outbursts of anger

Untreated PTSD can leave you more vulnerable to substance abuse or chronic physical ailments like headaches and fatigue.

How is PTSD treated?

When you come in for PTSD treatment at Cornerstone Psychiatry, Rebecca evaluates your mental health before crafting your treatment plan. She may recommend:

Psychotherapy

You may find it helpful to process the event at your own pace with a compassionate and experienced provider. Talk therapies like cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure therapy (PE), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) allow you to explore what happened in a safe and supportive environment.

Medication

Your PTSD may respond to medication management. Antidepressant medications like Zoloft®, Paxil®, and Effexor® are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) treat PTSD by alleviating stress and improving your mood.

Lifestyle Changes

Protecting your physical and mental well-being can positively impact the symptoms of PTSD. Rebecca may recommend support groups, meditating, eating a balanced diet, or adapting your sleep routines.

Learn more about PTSD treatment by calling Cornerstone Psychiatry or booking an appointment online today.