Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often affects people who served in the military, but it can occur in anyone following a traumatic event. At Calm Psychiatry, PC, Nneka Okoh Godwin, PMHNP, has helped many people overcome PTSD with customized treatments combining psychotherapy and medication. Calm Psychiatry is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but you can receive all the PTSD care you need from the comfort of home through telehealth visits. To schedule an appointment, call or use the online booking feature today.

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What causes PTSD?

PTSD occurs after you experience or witness a traumatic event, or live with stress or abuse for an extended time. You may develop PTSD after traumas, such as:

  • Military duty
  • Gun violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Robberies
  • Accidents (car, plane, boat, etc.)
  • Assault or abuse (physical or sexual)
  • Emotional abuse
  • Death of a loved one
  • Natural disasters

Some people develop PTSD after learning that a friend or loved one experienced a trauma.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

It’s natural to feel anxious after a traumatic event, but your feelings should gradually improve. You may have PTSD if you still have anxiety a month after the event.

Along with ongoing anxiety, you may experience other symptoms, such as:

  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Guilt or shame
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Social isolation
  • Distraction
  • Avoidance

Avoidance refers to staying away from people, places, activities, or events that bring back memories of the traumatic event.

Why do PTSD symptoms suddenly flare up?

When you experience trauma, your brain automatically records details like the sounds, sights, and smells surrounding the event. Afterward, you may not recall the details because your brain protects you by tucking them away in your subconscious.

In the future, you may encounter one of those details, which connects with your subconscious and suddenly revives vivid memories. This surge of unpleasant memories triggers intense emotions and behaviors that can be hard to control.

How is PTSD treated?

Your provider at Calm Psychiatry, PC, completes a psychiatric evaluation and creates a personalized treatment plan based on your PTSD symptoms. Your care also includes other issues that often arise due to PTSD, such as depression and insomnia.

The medication management specialists at Calm Psychiatry, PC, may recommend antidepressants. These medications improve PTSD symptoms like worry and anger even if you’re not depressed. You may also need medications to target other symptoms, such as anxiety or insomnia.

Many people overcome PTSD with psychotherapy. Several therapeutic techniques are proven to help you safely process unpleasant memories and understand how they affect your emotional and behavioral health. Then you learn ways to cope with your feelings and manage the things triggering the memories.

You can overcome PTSD with caring treatment at Calm Psychiatry, PC. Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online today.