Trauma and PTSD are serious mental health conditions that affect the daily lives of millions of Americans every day. People with trauma and PTSD share factors that influenced their development of this condition. At Emerge Healing Center’s Trauma and PTSD program in Atlanta, countless clients have found the help and support they need to overcome their symptoms in order to lead a more normal life.
What is PTSD?
While many people associate PTSD with veterans who have been in combat, the fact is that even normal, everyday citizens can end up with this condition. What ties all sufferers of PTSD together is that they have been through a serious traumatic event. This event could have been physical, mental, or emotional. PTSD causes people to have a range of symptoms that often interfere with their daily lives, making it difficult for them to hold down jobs, go to school, and maintain normal friendships and relationships. Seeking help with PTSD treatment in Atlanta is the best way to learn how this condition affects your daily life, and help you to work through your trauma in order to reduce or eliminate your symptoms.
Symptoms of PTSD
What often makes recognizing PTSD difficult is the range of symptoms it can cause. These symptoms can vary from situation to situation, and even from day to day. Many people with this condition suffer from these symptoms for years before getting diagnosed. PTSD symptoms are typically sorted into four distinct categories:
- Having Intrusive or Unwanted Thoughts
This most commonly involves having flashbacks that make you relieve a traumatic event, but can also include nightmares, night terrors, or negative thoughts that won’t go away. These symptoms can make it difficult for people with PTSD to maintain a normal sleep schedule, or concentrate on even basic daily tasks. - Avoiding Reminders Of Your Trauma
People with PTSD often go to great lengths to avoid anything that reminds them of their trauma. This can mean not going to certain planes, avoiding situations, or even cutting off contact with certain people. Those with PTSD often prefer to either refuse to talk about their trauma, or even try to pretend that it never happened. - Major Changes in Your Moods or Thoughts
Another common category of PTSD symptoms is major changes or shifts in your mood or thoughts. These changes often come on suddenly and are difficult or impossible to control. These shifts often lead people to feel as though they aren’t worthy of love, a sense that other people cannot be trusted, and often a feeling of shame or guilt about their trauma. - Inappropriate Outbursts
The last category of PTSD symptoms is having trouble controlling your behavior, especially when these shifts come in the form of inappropriate anger or outbursts. Additional issues can accompany this anger, including participating in self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse, heavy drinking, or other risky activities.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is the emotional response to a horrible event. After a traumatic event, PTSD is often a side effect. As research has evolved, knowledge of trauma also has. In the past, traumatic events have often been held to car accidents, rape, or natural disasters. Now, while those are definitely traumatic, we separate trauma into three categories. Acute, chronic, and complex. These categories allow most anything that undermines a person’s sense of safety.
Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma can affect people in many distressing ways. From developing PTSD, to evoking other mental health disorders such as addiction, trauma leaves a mark. Common symptoms of trauma include:
- Withdrawing from others
- Feelings of guilt or shame
- Confusion
- Feeling hopeless
- Disconnected
- Shock
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Feeling physically sick
Trauma and the Family
A traumatic event often affects more than just the individual. In a family unit, trauma can cause stress responses in other members of the family. If not resolved, this can lead to living in ongoing traumatic circumstances that lead individuals farther away from stability and healing. It’s important to remember that each person in the family unit may experience trauma differently. Immediate family members may experience mild to severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, while extended family members may be a good resource for support.
At Emerge Healing Center, we know how important treating trauma and addressing the family is. Patience, listening, and seeking professional help such as family therapy is the best course of action.
How is Trauma + PTSD Treated?
Scientists and doctors alike have spent years trying to better understand PTSD, which means that, today, we have many effective treatment options available to help you cope with your symptoms. There are a few different types of medications that have been shown to be effective in managing PTSD symptoms, including anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants. By reducing the most serious of your symptoms with these medications, you are able to better function in your normal daily life and focus on the second part of treatment: behavioral therapy.
While many people with PTSD have spent months or years avoiding talking about their trauma, the fact is that finding a way to move past it is key to long-term recovery. Sessions with a therapist give you a safe and secure place to talk about your symptoms and experiences and identify the things that trigger your PTSD. Your therapist will also help you learn healthy ways to cope with triggers, and can even utilize certain therapies that help replace negative memory associations with positive ones. While it can take time, PTSD treatment in Atlanta can help you to overcome your condition so that it no longer controls your daily life.
What to Expect in Trauma + PTSD Treatment
At Emerge Healing Center’s Trauma and PTSD treatment in Atlanta, you can expect more than just a one-size-fits-all treatment program. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will work with you to design the right treatment program to address your symptoms, as well as identify any co-occurring disorders you may have, such as depression, anxiety, or a substance abuse disorder. Once the best course of action is decided, you’ll be able to take treatment one day at a time, celebrate milestones as you hit them, and get continued support for long-term recovery success.
PTSD Treatment in Atlanta
While it takes many people years to seek treatment for their PTSD symptoms, this doesn’t mean that there is no hope of recovery. No matter how long ago your trauma was, Emerge Healing Center can help you by providing a range of treatment options to best meet your needs. You don’t have to continue letting your PTSD impact your health and happiness. Contact us today to learn more about our PTSD Treatment in Atlanta, and regain a sense of peace and normalcy on your path to mental wellness.
