Nightmares and flashbacks after an accident or traumatic event can shake you to your very core. No one should have to deal with these symptoms alone. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very real, especially if you’ve lived through it. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about this disorder out there, so it’s important you understand just the facts.
At Boston MindCare, our skilled staff is well versed in PTSD and its treatment. Our two amazing doctors, Dr. Jason Yee and Dr. Isabele Lagarda, are trained in many different treatments for PTSD, including ketamine therapy. When you’re ready to conquer this disorder, our practice can help you get back on your feet.
Causes of PTSD
Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that’s brought on by a frightening or high-stress event. It can be something you yourself endured, or something that you saw or experienced. Some of the events that may trigger this disorder include:
Domestic violence Severe car crash War or conflict Sexual abuse Childhood trauma Loss of a family member
Just because you go through a terrifying event doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up with PTSD. You may get over the trauma with time and self-care. However, if you continue on a downward spiral, there’s a good chance you may have PTSD. Symptoms that you may experience include:
Flashbacks of the event Night terrors Trouble sleeping Inability to concentrate
You may also experience severe mood swings and feel angry a lot. Irritability is another potential symptom. Knowing not only the symptoms, but your treatment options, can give you hope to overcome this disorder.
Fact versus fiction
PTSD is often misunderstood, which can be frustrating for you and your loved ones. This is especially true if you’re newly diagnosed, and you’re learning as you go. Understanding the facts about this disorder is the key to getting your symptoms under control. Here are some myths about PTSD to be aware of, and the facts that prove them wrong:
Myth: People who have PTSD are weak
Post traumatic stress isn’t a sign of mental weakness at all. You may be genetically predisposed to disorders like anxiety, which may make it more likely you’ll end up with PTSD after an especially disturbing event. This disorder has nothing to do with your character, but, rather, it comes down to physiology. Certainly asking for help with PTSD is the opposite of weak — it’s absolutely essential to overcoming the disorder.
Myth: Only soldiers get PTSD
While you may associate PTSD with war veterans, they’re not the only people who suffer from this debilitating disorder. There’s definitely a high incidence of PTSD in soldiers — anywhere from 11 to 30% may develop the condition. However, anyone who’s suffered a traumatic event is vulnerable, and women are more likely than men to get it. Other occupations that also have high rates of PTSD include police officers, medical personnel, and firefighters.
Myth: There’s no treatment for PTSD
This is simply not true at all. There have been many clinically proven treatments that work very well in the treatment of PTSD. If you’re suffering from this debilitating disorder, some of the treatment options available to you include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy Prolonged exposure therapy Eye movement desensitisation therapy Psychiatric medications
Dr. Yee and Dr. Lagarda also offer ketamine treatment as a therapy for this disorder. With the proper care and treatment, you’re able to live a normal life after PTSD.
Myth: Trauma always leads to PTSD
Horrific and terrifying events affect every person differently. Something that you find especially disturbing may not affect the next person quite the same way. Sometimes after a disturbing event, you may heal after a few days or a few weeks. You may use coping skills and get back to normal, or the event may shake you so badly you end up with PTSD. Each person copes with stress and trauma differently, and that has a lot to do with the incidence of PTSD.
At Boston MindCare, we specialize in ketamine infusion therapy for a variety of conditions, including PTSD. Ketamine is a drug that works directly on your brain to help heal the effects of the trauma you’ve experienced. Normally used for anesthetic purposes, our doctors have found other therapeutic uses for ketamine that go beyond the operating room.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of ketamine therapy and how it can help your PTSD symptoms, call our office at 781-207-9841, or schedule a consultation online today.