PTSD is a mental health condition that occurs in those who have been part of a traumatic experience. Terrorist acts, natural disasters, combat, violence, and severe accidents are all examples of traumatic events. PTSD can present in those who previously were threatened with serious injury, death, or violence. Posttraumatic stress disorder can happen to anyone. Dr. Alkesh Patel provides treatment options for those struggling with symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD And How It Can Be Diagnosed
Commonly misconstrued to be restricted to combat veterans, PTSD can occur in anyone. All cultures, nationalities, ethnicities, and ages can experience severely traumatic events and develop this disorder. PTSD must be diagnosed using a specific set of criteria, with each criteria focusing on the types of traumatic events and the thoughts and reactions associated with those events. Among this set of criteria and common PTSD symptoms include:
- Identify Traumatic Events where if the person was exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, it often occurs through direct exposure, witnessing the trauma, indirect exposure, and learning of trauma from a relative or friend.
- Identify Intrusive Symptoms, where the traumatic event is consistently re-experienced through unwanted upsetting memories, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional distress, and physical reactivity
- Identify Avoidance Symptoms of the trauma stimulus; persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event
- Identify Negative Alterations of Mood and Cognition, causing negative thoughts or feelings that worsen through poor memory of the trauma, negative thoughts about oneself and the world, exaggerated blame on oneself or others, feelings of isolation, and decreased interest in activities.
- Identify Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity, where trauma-related arousal worsens through irritability, aggression, heightened startled reactions, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping, and risky or destructive behaviors
- Identify Functional Significance, where the symptoms create distress and/or functional impairment throughout life
These symptoms must be seen to persist for longer than a month and be the source of significant concerns and distress in day-to-day living to constitute a diagnosis of PTSD for the individual. The symptoms may develop within a few months of the traumatic event but can recur for months or years.
Treatment Options for PTSD
PTSD symptoms can be effectively treated with various types of therapy and/or medication.
Dr. Patel can provide individualized treatment based on your psychiatric and medical history.
In many cases, a combination approach using therapy + medication may be more helpful to address the full extent of PTSD symptoms. We will work with you to manage your medications, work through your trauma, and help provide you with the best treatment options for a better quality of life.
Call today to arrange an assessment with Dr. Alkesh Patel and start on the journey to finding relief from PTSD symptoms.
