Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is essential for those who have faced traumatic experiences and struggle with lasting, disruptive symptoms. With effective treatment, you can learn to manage your symptoms, regain control over your life, and rebuild your mental well-being.
For people in Chattanooga, TN and surrounding areas, Summit at Harmony Oaks is a trusted resource, providing evidence-based treatment of PTSD in a supportive and understanding environment.
About PTSD and How it Affects Mental Health
PTSD is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing a traumatic event. It can cause intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings. These might come as flashbacks, nightmares, or severe anxiety.
PTSD can lead to other mental health issues and increased stress. Many experience depression, anxiety, or substance use issues. Living with the symptoms of PTSD can affect your relationships, work, and overall health.
Find hope and healing at Summit at Harmony Oaks. Our compassionate mental health care professionals and proven therapies can help you overcome your trauma and its effects.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD occurs after a traumatic experience, which could include:
- War or combat situations
- Sexual assault or physical abuse
- Serious accidents
- Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods
- Sudden loss of a loved one
Not everyone who goes through these events develops PTSD. However, those who do may struggle with re-experiencing their trauma, even in safe situations.
Who Is at Risk of PTSD?
PTSD doesn’t only affect adults. Adolescents and young children can also experience it.
Risk factors for developing PTSD include:
- Severity of trauma: The more severe and prolonged the trauma, the higher the risk of developing PTSD.
- Lack of social support: Having a strong support system can help buffer the impact of trauma and reduce the risk of PTSD.
- History of trauma: Previous exposure to trauma, especially in childhood, can increase vulnerability.
- Family history: A family history of mental health disorders, including PTSD, may increase the risk.
- Substance abuse: Substance abuse can worsen symptoms and make recovery more difficult.
- Other mental health conditions: Pre-existing conditions like anxiety or depression can increase the risk of developing PTSD.
PTSD is common among service members, especially those who have been in combat. Military sexual trauma (MST), which can happen to both men and women, can also lead to PTSD.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Center for PTSD are two organizations that continually work to prevent and treat PTSD among veterans and civilians.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Signs and symptoms vary by person. They can appear days or even years after the traumatic event and may change over time. Common symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:
- Re-experiencing the trauma: People may have flashbacks or nightmares where they relive their trauma.
- Avoidance: Avoiding places, people, or activities that bring back traumatic memories.
- Negative thoughts and feelings: These can include intense guilt, shame, or sadness.
- Increased arousal and reactivity: This includes being easily startled, having trouble sleeping, or feeling constantly tense.
PTSD may also affect your physical health. Physical symptoms of PTSD include:
- Chronic pain: Persistent muscle tension, headaches, and body aches are common in people with PTSD.
- Sleep problems: Insomnia, frequent nightmares, and difficulty staying asleep are frequent symptoms that can worsen fatigue and mental health.
- Rapid heartbeat: People with PTSD often experience a heightened “fight-or-flight” response, leading to a racing heart and high blood pressure.
- Gastrointestinal issues: Upset stomach, nausea, and even irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can develop due to chronic stress.
- Weakened immune system: Long-term stress from PTSD can weaken immunity, making individuals more prone to illnesses.
- Sweating and trembling: These are common responses to flashbacks or anxiety spikes, often related to triggers.
Physical and mental health issues often go hand-in-hand for those living with PTSD. To feel better, you need treatment that addresses both.
Types of PTSD Treated at Harmony Oaks
Different types of PTSD have different symptoms. Each type needs its own special treatment. Here’s a look at the different kinds of PTSD addressed at Summit at Harmony Oaks:
- Acute stress disorder (ASD): This is often a short-term response to a traumatic event, where symptoms appear quickly but dissipate. Symptoms include flashbacks, anxiety, sweating, or a racing heart. If left untreated, ASD can develop into PTSD.
- Complex PTSD: This happens after long-term or repeated trauma, like abuse or neglect. Those with complex PTSD often feel distressed, struggle with relationships, and have low self-esteem. You may also feel shame or helplessness.
- Uncomplicated PTSD: This usually follows a single traumatic event, like an accident or disaster. You may have flashbacks or nightmares, and avoid things that remind you of the trauma.
- Dissociative PTSD: Some PTSD can make you feel disconnected from reality, have memory gaps, or feel numb. This can be tough because it affects how you experience the present. Special therapies help you reconnect and process your trauma safely.
- Comorbid PTSD: PTSD often goes along with other mental health issues, like substance abuse, depression, or anxiety. Treatment needs to address both PTSD and any co-occurring conditions for the best outcome.
Summit at Harmony Oaks offers personalized treatment plans to help you recover and find relief, no matter the type of PTSD you’re facing.
Most Insurance Accepted
As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.
Verify InsuranceSide Effects & Complications of PTSD
If PTSD isn’t treated, it can cause a lot of problems. Here are some common side effects:
- Mental health issues: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or OCD
- Substance abuse: likelihood of turning to drugs or alcohol to cope, which can lead to addiction
- Physical health problems: high blood pressure, heart problems, chronic pain, and a weaker immune system
- Relationship problems: difficulty keeping relationships with family and friends
- Trouble at work or school: inability to focus, which can affect performance
- Emotional problems: mood swings, anger, or feeling numb
- Sleep problems: trouble sleeping, like insomnia or nightmares
- Self-harm: In serious cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide
That’s why it’s so important to get treatment for PTSD. Treatment can help reduce these risks and improve your quality of life.
Medication is also used as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, though it can cause additional side effects. A healthcare provider or psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressants as one component of PTSD treatment.
Specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline and paroxetine, are medications approved by the FDA for PTSD symptom management. Venlafaxine may also be used. Prazosin is sometimes prescribed for PTSD-related sleep disturbances like nightmares.
PTSD Treatment in Chattanooga, TN
Summit at Harmony Oaks in Chattanooga, TN helps people heal from PTSD. We use several forms of treatment to help you manage and recover from PTSD.
For people with severe PTSD symptoms, inpatient treatment may be necessary. Inpatient treatment offers a structured, supportive environment where patients receive intensive therapy and 24-hour care. Inpatient mental health treatment is best for those who need extra help managing their PTSD symptoms daily.
Outpatient programs offer flexible options for those who don’t need constant care.
Patients in mental health outpatient programs visit Summit at Harmony Oaks for therapy sessions and other treatments, allowing them to continue working or going to school while receiving mental health support.
PTSD often comes with other mental health conditions, such as substance use or anxiety disorders. Summit at Harmony Oaks provides dual diagnosis programs that treat both PTSD and substance abuse simultaneously. This comprehensive approach helps address the complexities of living with multiple mental health issues.
Therapies for PTSD at Summit at Harmony Oaks
Therapies at Harmony Oaks are designed to treat the specific needs of PTSD patients. These evidence-based methods help clients work through their traumatic experiences and reduce PTSD symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a widely used, evidence-based therapy that helps patients recognize and change negative thought patterns. It’s effective for managing symptoms of PTSD, as it teaches clients to reframe their traumatic memories in healthier ways.
In group therapy, clients work alongside others who have faced similar experiences. Group talk therapy offers a safe space to share and receive support. Summit at Harmony Oaks also offers 12-step programs, helping clients build a recovery network that can provide long-term support.
PTSD affects family relationships, so family therapy is often part of the treatment plan. The support of a family member can be crucial to the healing process for someone with PTSD.
Individual therapy provides one-on-one sessions with a clinician, where clients can explore personal experiences and gain coping skills.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused therapy that helps people process traumatic memories. This evidence-based therapy uses guided eye movements to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.
EMDR is known for its effectiveness in treating symptoms of PTSD and helping clients recover from painful memories.
Summit at Harmony Oaks believes in holistic treatment, including alternative therapies like adventure therapy, yoga, and music therapy. These therapies allow clients to explore different ways to manage their PTSD symptoms and regain control over their lives.
Adventure therapy encourages self-discovery in nature, while yoga promotes mindfulness and relaxation. Music therapy uses creative expression as a pathway to healing.
Start Personality Disorder Recovery at Summit at Harmony Oaks
Contact UsStarting PTSD treatment can be scary, but Summit at Harmony Oaks is here to help. Our team of mental health professionals will support you as you start your healing journey.
Through a combination of therapy, support groups, and holistic treatments, Summit has tools to manage PTSD symptoms and work toward long-term recovery.
Here, we help people feel better and live a more fulfilling life. Contact us today today to discuss personalized treatment options with a caring team ready to support you on your journey to recovery.
PTSD Treatment Program FAQs
The most effective treatments for PTSD are generally considered to be trauma-focused psychotherapies. Here are some of the most effective:
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): This cognitive therapy helps individuals challenge and change negative thoughts and beliefs related to the trauma.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy involves focusing on traumatic memories while following a therapist’s eye movements or other bilateral stimulation.
- Group and individual therapies: These therapies are effective at helping you get past your trauma and feel better.
The best treatment for PTSD will vary from person to person and will likely include a combination of therapies, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Inpatient treatment may be necessary when PTSD symptoms interfere with daily life, making it hard to function at work or home. It’s also recommended for those experiencing severe symptoms, such as suicidal thoughts or intense flashbacks, that may require 24-hour care.
While PTSD may not be fully cured, treatments can lead to significant symptom reduction. With effective treatment, many people learn to manage their symptoms, lead fulfilling lives, and no longer feel controlled by their traumatic memories.
Sources
- EMDR Institute. “What is EMDR Therapy?”. Retrieved from https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/. Accessed on October 31, 2024.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”. Retrieved from https://www.research.va.gov/topics/ptsd.cfm. Accessed on October 31, 2024.
- American Psychiatric Association. “Frequently Asked Questions”. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/frequently-asked-questions. Accessed on October 31, 2024.National Library of Medicine.
- “Using Prazosin to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Associations: A Systematic Review”. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8169333/. Accessed on October 31, 2024.