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Dr. Barbara Kreedman is able to assess in one session what the real problem is, where it comes from and how to resolve it.

To make an appointment call: 1-760-340-1114

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is in many ways a normal response to an abnormal situation.  After a tragic event, it is likely that you will experience a variety of symptoms and emotions.  Sometimes, however, these symptoms surface several weeks or months after the tragedy.  This is called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recognizing these symptoms in yourself or others is the first step toward recovery and finding appropriate treatment. 

Causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Virtually any event that is life-threatening or that severely compromises the emotional well-being of an individual may cause PTSD. Such events often include either experiencing or witnessing a severe accident or physical injury, receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis, being the victim of kidnapping or torture, exposure to combat or to a natural disaster, other disaster (for example, plane crash) or terrorist attack, being the victim of rape, mugging, robbery or assault; enduring physical, sexual, emotional or other forms of abuse, as well as involvement in civil conflict. It is common for veterans to return home with PTSD after experiencing combat situations. This can be a struggle for both the soldier and their family.

10 Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  1. Re-experiencing the event through vivid memories or flash backs.
  2. Feeling emotionally numb
  3. Feeling overwhelmed by what would normally be considered everyday situations and diminished interest in performing normal tasks or pursuing usual interests.
  4. Crying uncontrollably.
  5. Isolating oneself from family and friends and avoiding social situations.
  6. Relying increasingly on alcohol or drugs to get through the day.
  7. Feeling extremely moody, irritable, angry, suspicious or frightened.
  8. Having difficulty falling or staying asleep, sleeping too much and experiencing nightmares.
  9. Feeling guilty about surviving the event or being unable to solve the problem, change the event or prevent the disaster.
  10. Feeling fears and sense of doom about the future.

Treatment Options for Overcoming
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Many people with post traumatic stress disorder can be helped with treatment. Therapy for anxiety disorders often involves medication or specific forms of psychotherapy.

Medications, although not cures, can be very effective at relieving anxiety symptoms. Today, thanks to research by scientists at NIMH and other research institutions, there are more medications available than ever before to treat anxiety disorders. So if one drug is not successful, there are usually others to try. In addition, new medications to treat anxiety symptoms are under development.

For most of the medications that are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, the doctor usually starts the patient on a low dose and gradually increases it to the full dose. Every medication has side effects, but they usually become tolerated or diminish with time. If side effects become a problem, the doctor may advise the patient to stop taking the medication and to wait a week—or longer for certain drugs—before trying another one. When treatment is near an end, the doctor will taper the dosage gradually.

When you have PTSD dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But talking with a therapist can help you get better. Research has shown that behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective for treating PTSD.

In cognitive therapy, your therapist helps you understand and change how you think about your trauma and its aftermath. Your goal is to understand how certain thoughts about your trauma cause you stress and make your symptoms worse.

You will learn to identify thoughts about the world and yourself that are making you feel afraid or upset. With the help of your therapist, you will learn to replace these thoughts with more accurate and less distressing thoughts. You also learn ways to cope with feelings such as anger, guilt, and fear.

After a traumatic event, you might blame yourself for things you couldn't have changed. For example, a soldier may feel guilty about decisions he or she had to make during war. Cognitive therapy, a type of CBT, helps you understand that the traumatic event you lived through was not your fault.

When you begin therapy, you and your therapist should decide together what goals you hope to reach in therapy. Not every person with PTSD will have the same treatment goals. For instance, not all people with PTSD are focused on reducing their symptoms.

For some people, treatment for PTSD can last 3 to 6 months. If you have other mental health problems as well as PTSD, treatment for PTSD may last for 1 to 2 years or longer.

If you are experiencing PTSD there is help. To learn more, call the office of Dr. Barbara Kreedman at (760) 340-1114.