What is PTSD?

PTSD treatment options with mental health treatment Austin Texas

Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder caused by someone experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD involves serious emotional and physical reactions that severely impair a person’s normal functioning. A person can feel anxious, worried, scared or endangered even when there are not reasons to feel that way. These issues may last for a few weeks, which is known as acute stress disorder (ASD), or continue for months or years, which is then classified as PTSD.

There is no cure for post-traumatic stress disorder, but Oakvine Recovery Center can help you to manage and cope with it effectively in such a way to lead a happy, fulfilling life.

How Does Someone Get PTSD?

According to American Psychiatric Association, 3.5% of adults in the United states suffer from PTSD. Anyone can get post-traumatic stress disorder, which usually occurs when someone sees or experiences a dangerous, scary, or shocking event. Because of higher likelihoods of experiencing something dangerous or scary, PTSD is associated with war veterans and victims of abuse and sexual assault. However, anyone who experiences a disaster or accident—or loses a loved one—is at risk, and some people experience PTSD vicariously when a friend or family member has PTSD.

While anyone can get PTSD, we want you to understand that anyone can get better, too. Oakvine Recovery Center understands the many scenarios, feelings, and paths to recovery.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD is a very serious anxiety disorder with a wide range of behavioral, psychological, and mood symptoms. These frequently include:

  • Consistent nightmares, impaired sleep patterns, and insomnia
  • Extreme emotional detachment and social isolation
  • Disorienting flashbacks that can include elevated heart rate and perspiration
  • Unwanted memories of the traumatic event
  • In some cases, the person suffering from PTSD might have trouble remembering the traumatic event
  • Irritable, hostile, agitated, tense and distrustful moods
  • Depression and self-destructive behavior
  • Extreme anxiety and fear
  • Feeling emotionally numb
  • Hypervigilance in avoiding a situation or situations that involve memories of the traumatic event
  • Unwarranted feelings of guilt or worry
  • Frightening thoughts
  • Getting startled very easily
  • Losing interest in normal activities and hobbies
  • Trouble completing normal daily activities, such as eating or concentrating on responsibilities
  • Avoiding regular social circles or family members

To receive a PTSD diagnosis, a person must generally demonstrate all of the following symptoms for a minimum of one month:

  • A minimum of one “re-experiencing” symptom, such as nightmares or flashbacks
  • A minimum of three “avoidance” symptoms, such as guilt, worry, emotional numbness, and avoiding places associated with trauma
  • A minimum of two “hyper-arousal” symptoms, such as irritability, feeling tense, anxiety and insomnia
  • Any of the above symptoms impair the person’s regular daily activities and relationships

What PTSD Treatment Options Are Available At Our Austin TX Center?

Oakvine offers evidence-based PTSD treatment options at our Austin TX center. Fortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder does not have to control your life. There are a number of proven treatments to help the person suffering from PTSD. Of course, because each person is unique, and each has experienced a highly personal form of trauma, Oakvine approaches each case individually. Your custom recovery plan might include:

  • Exposure therapy. Our experienced therapists help PTSD patients face the traumatic event, through discussion, visualization, and simulation, so that you can learn how to cope with your memory.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy. One of the characteristics of PTSD is getting stuck in how someone thinks about and processes the trauma. We use this therapy to help the patient recognize what people, places, phrases, and feelings trigger a negative thought process.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Our medical and clinical experts can train your eye movements to respond to positive things while you focus on the memories of your trauma, which changes your response to those memories over time.
  • Anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications. Because many of the reactions to PTSD are similar to those of depression and other anxiety disorders, we know a number of medications that can help improve the patient’s mood to have a positive outlook.
  • Group therapy. PTSD affects millions of people, and sharing your trauma with others who understand it can help provide the emotional support that you need.

Oakvine Has Multiple PTSD Treatment Options in Austin Texas

If you think you need help recovering from PTSD, we encourage you to inquire now. The good news is our IOP drug rehab program has the knowledge and experience to effectively treat PTSD. Oakvine can help. We believe strongly in customized treatments so contact us today so we can discuss the best way to make you feel better.

Call (877) 255-6890 today.