PTSD

Anyone experiencing trauma might struggle to cope initially, but over time and with proper self-care, most improve. The team at KAVN Health, based in Columbia, Maryland, can help if you have difficulty adjusting and develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If your symptoms significantly affect everyday functioning and persist for months or years, call KAVN Health or schedule an in-person or telehealth consultation using the online booking feature today. Telemedicine appointments are available for patients living in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, DC. 

What is PTSD?

PTSD can occur in people who experience or witness something traumatic. These triggering events are typically life-threatening or significantly threaten well-being. PTSD can affect people from any walk of life at any age.

Anything that causes intense fear, horror, and helplessness could result in PTSD. Events that often trigger it include:

• Military combat
• Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods
• Severe auto accidents
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Serious injuries
• Rape and other personal assaults
• Threats to your life or others’ lives

It’s not clear why some people develop PTSD when others don’t. However, your risk increases if you receive insufficient support after the event or have a history of mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. Genetics and brain chemistry are also significant factors.

What symptoms are typical of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms often emerge soon after a traumatic event, but sometimes they don’t surface until years later. Symptoms vary between patients and can change over time, but typically include:

Intrusive thoughts

You suffer from distressing, unwanted memories of the trauma that recur frequently. Nightmares are also common with PTSD.

Flashbacks

During a flashback, you relive the trauma as though it were happening again.

Avoidance

You avoid locations, people, and activities that remind you of the trauma.

Negative thoughts and mood

You experience distorted feelings of guilt or blame, lose interest in activities you usually enjoy, feel detached from others, or rarely feel positive emotions.

Physical and emotional reactivity

You might startle easily, feel tense or on edge, have difficulty sleeping, become increasingly irritable, and/or have angry outbursts. You’ll likely experience severe emotional distress and even physical reactions to reminders of the trauma.

How do I recover from PTSD?

KAVN Health combines effective, research-supported treatments to help you recover from PTSD. Specialized veterans services are available for former armed forces personnel.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and cognitive restructuring are highly effective for patients with PTSD. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helps you process trauma and reduces its effects. Sharing your experiences with fellow PTSD patients in group therapy can be highly beneficial and rewarding.

Antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help you manage your symptoms. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and employing stress-reduction techniques also assist with symptom management.

To discover how KAVN Health can support you on your path to recovery from PTSD, call the office or book an appointment online today.