What is PTSD?

Are you unsure if what you are experiencing is PTSD?

PTSD typically develops in response to trauma and includes witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event in which you experienced actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation. Having this experience can create very common reactions including :

• intrusive recollections of the trauma

• trauma-related nightmares

• emotional and physiological

• reactivity to reminders of the trauma

• sleep issues

• loss of interest and pleasure

• increased startle response

• difficulty concentrating

• irritability and anger

• hypervigilance

One of the main elements many experience with PTSD is avoidance. Avoidance can come in many forms including actual avoidance of people, places or things that remind of the event or avoidance of thoughts related to the event. Avoidance creates a cycle of reinforcement by creating patterns and behaviors that help you avoid what is distressing.

The good news is that PTSD can be treated. Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy(PE) or EMDR therapy you can reduce or eliminate symptoms and return to your life.