Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
Many survivors of sexual and non-sexual assault,
combat, accident, natural disaster or other traumatic events suffer from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and continue to feel extreme
anxiety and helplessness long after the trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include
intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, extreme distress when
reminded of the trauma, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating,
hyper-alertness, and loss of interest in usual activities. Today we have
highly effective psychotherapy programs for individuals who continue to
suffer PTSD and other long-term trauma-related symptoms and problems.
Symptoms
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to a traumatic event. Current literature estimates that 8% of the U.S. population meets the criteria for PTSD and while PTSD cases commonly involve combat or assault experiences, there is a wide range of events capable of triggering PTSD symptoms. These events include car accidents, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and any other traumatic experience where an individual experienced or witnessed an event that involved death or the threat of physical harm. How one responds to an event is dependent on a variety of factors that lie outside the traumatic experience itself.
Common Symptoms
PTSD is characterized by 4 primary symptoms:
·
Intrusion:
Recurrent recollections of the event
o
Dreams, intrusive memories, and exaggerated emotional and physical
reactions to events that remind person of trauma
·
Numbing: Emotional distancing from surrounding people and
events
o
Depression, loss of interest in activities, reduced ability to feel
emotions (particularly emotions of intimacy, tenderness, or sexuality),
irritability, hopelessness
·
Avoidance:
Fear and avoidance behavior
o
Fear and avoidance of people, places, thoughts, or activities associated
with the trauma, development of anxiety disorders (GAD, panic, specific
and social phobias)
·
Arousal: Agitated state of constant wakefulness and alertness
o
Hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating
Associated
Symptoms
An individual’s PTSD might include additional symptoms, such as feelings of guilt or shame, difficulties trusting others, problems maintaining close relationships, or less commonly, compulsive or aggressive behaviors, or self-destructive behavior. These behaviors and experiences often interfere with an individual’s personal life and thus, they are also associated with certain social patterns. These patterns may include sexual dysfunction, marital conflicts, and job loss. There are also strong feelings of guilt and despair that lead to social withdrawal and substance abuse. In fact, approximately 60% of trauma survivors abuse alcohol or related substances to cope with symptoms following a traumatic event.
Recently, researchers have begun to distinguish PTSD from a more severe
form of the disorder, Complex PTSD. The new diagnosis is considered
necessary in describing cases that result from prolonged, repeated
trauma. Complex PTSD is recognized by the following indications:
· Severe behavioral difficulties (substance abuse, aggression, eating
disorders)
· Difficulty regulating intense emotions (anger outbursts, panic,
depression)
· Significant cognitive difficulties (amnesia, dissociative symptoms)
Treatment For PTSD
Prolonged exposure has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment strategies developed and tested by Dr. Edna Foa. Treatment typically involves 9-12 weekly sessions that last 90-120 minutes. Tampa Psychology Center offers a treatment program based upon prolonged exposure therapy. The Center’s program is focused upon discussing fears, recalling the traumatic event, relaxation training, and confronting safe situations that involve memories of the trauma.
We also offer group therapy to help individual recover from traumatic events and self medication (e.g. substance abuse) This model integrates elements of Seeking Safety & Cognitive Processing Therapy to help trauma survivors recover from horrific life events which often alter feelings of safety, trust, power and control, and intimacy in their relationships.