PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health condition that’s triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While most people who live through a traumatic event will experience fear and anxiety, for some, these problems will persist long after the event has ended, becoming severe enough to interfere with their daily life. PTSD affects about 5-10% of the Australian population at some point in their lives.Common triggers for PTSD include:

• War or combat
• Domestic abuse
• Natural disasters
• Physical assault
• Sexual assault
• Serious accidents
• Bullying

Many people associate PTSD with combat veterans, but it’s important to know that PTSD can affect anyone of any age or background who has survived any kind of trauma. If you think you may have PTSD, help is available. The first step is getting a clinical diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist. There are many treatment options available to you that can make a significant difference in your life and symptoms.

Recognising PTSD: More Than Just Memories

PTSD symptoms can vary widely but generally fall into these categories:

• Intrusive Memories: Recurrent, unwanted memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, or nightmares.
• Avoidance: Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
• Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: Feelings of hopelessness, memory problems, difficulty maintaining close relationships, and feeling detached from family and friends.
• Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: Being easily startled or frightened, always being on guard, self-destructive behaviour, trouble sleeping, and irritability.

Types of PTSD

PTSD can manifest in various forms. Common types include:

• Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): Symptoms occur within the first month after the trauma.
• Chronic PTSD: Symptoms last for more than three months.
• Complex PTSD (cPTSD): Arises from prolonged or repeated trauma, such as childhood abuse.

What’s the Difference Between PTSD and Complex PTSD (cPTSD)?

PTSD and Complex PTSD (cPTSD) share many symptoms, but they are different conditions.

• PTSD: Typically results from a single traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, accident, or assault. It involves symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance, and heightened arousal. PTSD can develop immediately after the trauma or be delayed for months or even years.

• cPTSD: Often results from prolonged or repeated trauma, such as ongoing childhood abuse, domestic violence, or captivity. In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, cPTSD includes difficulties with emotional regulation, consciousness, self-perception, and interpersonal relationships. People with cPTSD may struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, and a distorted sense of self.

What Causes PTSD?

PTSD can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase the risk:

• Trauma Exposure: Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as combat, natural disasters, accidents, or violence.
• Genetics: A family history of mental health conditions can increase the likelihood.
• Brain Structure: Differences in brain structure and function may play a role.
• Environment: Stressful or traumatic environments can trigger PTSD.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

For many, the symptoms of PTSD start within a month of the traumatic event, but sometimes they don’t appear until much later. These symptoms can vary over time and are generally divided into four categories: re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance, alterations in cognition and mood, and arousal and reactivity symptoms.

Re-experiencing symptoms, also known as intrusion symptoms, include:

• Flashbacks that may cause you to feel like you’re experiencing the trauma again. This may include physical symptoms like sweating or shaking.
• Nightmares
• Frightening thoughts

Avoidance symptoms include:

• Staying away from places, people, activities, or objects that remind you of the traumatic event.
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the event, like trying to stay busy to keep from thinking about it.

Alterations in cognition and mood symptoms include:

• Trouble remembering key details about the traumatic event
• Feeling hopelessness about the future
• Negative thoughts about yourself or the world
• Feeling detached from family and friends or difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Feeling numb
• Having trouble trusting others

Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:

• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on edge”
• Angry outbursts
• Behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way
• Inability to concentrate
• Sleep problems, including restlessness, difficulty staying asleep, and difficulty falling asleep

If you have PTSD, you may not experience every one of these symptoms, but you will experience symptoms from all four categories. Symptoms can come and go, but they typically remain disruptive enough to affect your everyday life and usually persist for over a month. It’s rare, but some people develop PTSD without living through a traumatic event themselves; for some, learning about a traumatic event happening to a family member or close friend is enough to cause PTSD.

People with PTSD often have other mental health conditions, including depression, substance use disorders, or anxiety disorders.

How Does Wellvue Treat PTSD: Treatment Approaches to PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be overwhelming, but effective treatment can significantly improve your symptoms. At Wellvue, we manage PTSD with a combination of medication, psychology, and lifestyle adjustments. The first step in treating PTSD is getting a clinical diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. With Wellvue, you can see a specialist from the comfort of your home and begin your journey to wellness quickly.

Here’s What to Expect at Your First Visit

Assessment: During your first visit with a Wellvue mental health professional, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your current symptoms, personal history, medical history, and mental health goals.

Diagnosis: Based on the information you’ve shared, your specialist will be able to provide a diagnosis of your condition. Getting a diagnosis can be a relief, as it helps to put a name to what you’ve been experiencing. Your specialist will help you navigate any emotions that come up and work with you to develop a path forward.

Treatment Plan: You’ll collaborate with your specialist on the best way to manage your symptoms. If medication is appropriate, you’ll discuss your options, including the benefits and potential side effects of each medication. Your specialist will provide supportive therapy during your sessions and may also recommend working with one of our psychologists. Our psychologists partner with our psychiatrists to provide collaborative care.

Medication Management

The most common medications used to treat PTSD are:

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): These medications help regulate neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood and anxiety. They can take several weeks to show full effects.
• SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): These medications also regulate neurotransmitters and can be effective for PTSD.
• Mood Stabilisers: These can help manage mood swings and reduce irritability.
• Prazosin: Often used to treat nightmares and sleep disturbances associated with PTSD.
• Other Medications: Depending on your specific symptoms and history, other medications may be prescribed. It’s important to work closely with your specialist to find the right medication and dosage for you. Ongoing treatment and taking your medication consistently, even when you feel well, is key to managing your condition and keeping your symptoms under control.

Psychology

Psychology is a crucial tool in managing PTSD. Wellvue offers various psychological approaches to help you:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT helps you process and make sense of the trauma, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and develop coping strategies.
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR involves processing traumatic memories while engaging in guided eye movements, which can reduce the emotional impact of the memories.
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): PE involves repeatedly recounting the traumatic experience in a safe environment to reduce its emotional impact.
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): CPT focuses on changing negative beliefs related to the trauma.

At Wellvue, we schedule 60 minutes for your initial visit and typically 30 minutes for follow-up visits, which allows us to incorporate supportive therapy into your appointments. If you and your specialist feel you’d benefit from additional psychology, you can work with one of Wellvue’s psychologists, or our specialist can provide a referral.

Lifestyle Changes

In addition to medication and psychology, certain lifestyle changes can help manage PTSD:

• Exercise: Regular physical activity can reduce anxiety and improve mood.
• Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet can help maintain overall well-being.
• Sleep: Ensuring adequate, restful sleep is crucial for managing anxiety and mood.
• Stress Management: Techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help manage stress and anxiety.
• Avoiding Caffeine, Alcohol, and Drugs: Reducing or eliminating caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs can help decrease anxiety levels and improve overall mental health.

How to Get Started

If you think you might have PTSD, Wellvue can help. Here’s how to get started:

1. Book an Appointment: Schedule an initial consultation with one of our mental health professionals.
2. Complete Your First Visit: During your first visit, you’ll share your experiences and symptoms. Our specialist will assess your condition and discuss the best treatment options for you.
3. Receive Your Personalised Treatment Plan: Based on your assessment, you’ll receive a tailored treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, or a combination of both.
4. Ongoing Care: We’ll provide continuous care and support, adjusting your treatment plan as needed to ensure the best outcomes.

About Wellvue

Wellvue is dedicated to providing high-quality mental health care tailored to your needs. Our experienced team of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists offers comprehensive, compassionate care to help you manage PTSD and improve your quality of life. Get started with Wellvue today and take the first step towards feeling better.

Disclaimer:

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should never be substituted for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know may be in danger, call 000 right away.