PTSD

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, symptoms of PTSD typically begin within three months after a traumatic event, but they can emerge years later. Traumatic events — such as military combat, assault, an accident, or a natural disaster — can have long-lasting negative effects. Sometimes, our biological responses and instincts, which can be life-saving during a crisis, leave people with ongoing psychological symptoms because they are not integrated into consciousness.

This resulting damage to the brain’s response system is called posttraumatic stress response or disorder (PTSD).

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

People with PTSD may experience other conditions, such as anxiety disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Treatment for PTSD at the Center of Excellence in Co-Occurring Medicine includes a thorough evaluation and routine follow-up care to ensure that PTSD and any co-occurring conditions are properly diagnosed and treated.

The treatment team at the Center of Excellence encourages patients diagnosed with PTSD to engage in therapy consistently. Therapy helps patients with PTSD make important changes in thinking and behavior, develop effective coping skills, and build resilience.

Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Institute of Mental Health.