Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD statistics according to The National Center for PTSD show, "about 6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma in their lives. In other words, PTSD is not unique to those enlisted in the military. Even an intense life experience, such as a debilitating addiction to drugs or alcohol (or during the detoxification process) can result in stress and anxiety that is severe enough to be treated as post-traumatic stress.

Often, patients that enter rehab may discover they have a dual diagnosis or a co-occurring mental illness that must be treated along with the symptoms of addiction. Continue reading to learn more about PTSD causes and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, to determine if treatment for negative life experience should be a part of your or your loved one's treatment in Utah.

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What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that occurs after a person has experienced a traumatic event or life experience. In the past, PTSD has been referred to as "combat fatigue", but we know today that this issue is not exclusive to the military. Anyone can develop this condition while recovering from the shock of something seen, heard, or experienced. Some situations that can result in PTSD are:

  • The unexpected death of a child or loved one
  • Persons involved in a severe car accident or fire
  • Victims of a violent crime such as sexual or physical assault
  • Childhood abuse, usually physical and/or sexual
  • Witnessing death, especially in combat

These post-traumatic stress disorder causes can result in extreme emotions and physical reactions such as re-living the incident through nightmares or flashbacks; bouts of extreme fear, anger, or sadness; and strong negative reactions to ordinary situations that may bring a rush of memories - such as a loud noise, a child crying, or crowds of people.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Types

Stress is the common response to upsetting circumstances. Stress affects people both physically and mentally. When a person is experiencing stress, the body releases stress hormones, like adrenaline, for example. This causes changes in the body that help the individual cope with the situation. PTSD is a mental health disorder caused by stressful events. It can lead to numerous emotional and psychological effects that require different types of treatment.

The types of PTSD responses that people may have include these common kinds:

  • Normal Stress Response

    This is the common stress reaction that happens before PTSD occurs. It does not lead to PTSD in all cases. But, in about six percent of the U.S. population, it does become a disorder requiring treatment. Traumatic occurrences such as surgery, a serious accident or illness, the death of a spouse, or another source of extreme stress can cause PTSD.

    In cases of normal stress response, people can usually manage the effects with support from family, friends, peers, group and/or individual therapy, and other resources for help with coping. People experiencing normal stress responses can typically expect to recover within several weeks.

  • Acute Stress Disorder

    This stress response is not PTSD. It is common in individuals who have experienced a life-threatening situation or an event that seemed life-threatening to them. For example, surviving a natural disaster or an extreme accident. A job loss or death of a close family member and similarly extreme circumstances can also cause acute stress disorder.

    Without effective treatment, acute stress disorder can become PTSD. For acute stress disorder, group and perhaps individual therapy are usually recommended. For more severe cases, anxiety medication and intensive individual psychotherapy (talk therapy) with a psychiatrist may be suggested.

  • Uncomplicated PTSD

    Uncomplicated PTSD is caused by a single extremely traumatic event. It’s not due to the collective traumas of multiple events. It’s the most straightforward kind of PTSD for therapists to treat. Some common uncomplicated PTSD symptoms are avoidance of reminders of the trauma, flashbacks to the event, nightmares, mood changes, irritability, and impacts on relationships.

    Treatment for uncomplicated PTSD can include talk therapy, medication, or both.

  • Complex PTSD

    Complex PTSD is linked to more than one traumatic event. It is common in cases of domestic abuse and domestic violence. Prolonged exposure to war, violence in a community, or multiple sudden losses. Complex PTSD symptoms are the same as uncomplicated PTSD but can be somewhat more severe. Treatment for complex PTSD can include CBT and other talk therapy programs and medication in some cases.

    People suffering from complex PTSD may display extreme emotional problems like depression, panic episodes, rage, and others. They may also demonstrate behavioral abnormalities, like aggression, impulsive actions, substance abuse, sexual impulsiveness, and others. These signs may seem to indicate antisocial or borderline personality disorder or other mental disorders and can lead to misdiagnosis.

  • Comorbid PTSD

    Comorbid PTSD refers to dual disorders. People with co-occurring mental health conditions often have substance abuse problems as well. There are as many occurrences of Comorbid PTSD (combined disorders) as the totals of PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD) cases added together.

    Comorbid PTSD symptoms can include avoidance, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, trouble focusing, changed sleep patterns, anger, irritability, destructive behavior, and others. The most effective treatment for comorbid PTSD is to combine therapies for both conditions, PTSD and SUD, together.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

  1. Physical reactions - sweating, tremors, fast heart rate
  2. Being 'on edge' or easily startled
  3. Nightmares and frightening thoughts
  4. Strong feelings of guilt, fear, or depression
  5. Loss of interest in people and activities
  6. Inability to remember details of an event

Photo of woman suffering from PTSD - Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment in Sandy, Utah

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that occurs after a person has experienced a traumatic event or life experience. In the past, PTSD has been referred to as "combat fatigue", but we know today that this issue is not exclusive to the military. Anyone can develop this condition while recovering from the shock of something seen, heard, or experienced. Some situations that can result in PTSD are:

  • The unexpected death of a child or loved one
  • Persons involved in a severe car accident or fire
  • Victims of a violent crime such as sexual or physical assault
  • Childhood abuse, usually physical and/or sexual
  • Witnessing death, especially in combat

Additionally, once the patient has been properly diagnosed with PTSD, there are a variety of medications to reduce symptoms and enable persons with PTSD to live productive lives. These medications may help improve sleep, treat depression, and reduce anxiety.

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Medications for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

People suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are afflicted with a profound dread of and a sense of compulsion to react to insignificant triggers by activating the fight or flight response normally engaged in response to threats. They may also have nightmares and even flashbacks associated with the causal experience. This condition is due in part to an imbalance of neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain.

Medications may be used to help PTSD patients avoid dwelling on the experience that afflicted them with PTSD and stop reacting to it and help them feel happier and back to normal.

Various drug types impact the brain chemistry that reacts to triggers of anxiety and fear. Often, physicians treating PTSD patients begin by prescribing medications that engage norepinephrine or serotonin neurotransmitters. Such medications may include:

  • Sertraline (in Zoloft)
  • Paroxetine (in Paxil)
  • Fluoxetine (in Prozac)
  • Venlafaxine (in Effexor)

NOTE: Paroxetine and sertraline are FDA approved for post traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Other kinds of medications used for treating some PTSD patients may include:

  • Antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
  • Benzodiazepines

Additional medications might be recommended for particular symptoms, such as insomnia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance use disorder (SUD), or other co-occurring disorders.

Medications are not likely to eliminate PTSD symptoms entirely, but they may lessen those effects and help make them much easier for the patient to manage.

Therapy for PTSD

Therapeutic objectives in post traumatic stress disorder treatments include decreasing symptoms and helping the patient develop skills for coping with PTSD more calmly and uneventfully. They also include restoring the individual’s self-esteem which can be severely damaged by the experience that afflicted them with PTSD. Options in either or both individual and family sessions are considered by therapists and patients in determining the best course of treatment.

Therapeutic objectives in post traumatic stress disorder treatments include decreasing symptoms and helping the patient develop skills for coping with PTSD more calmly and uneventfully. They also include restoring the individual’s self-esteem which can be severely damaged by the experience that afflicted them with PTSD. Options in either or both individual and family sessions are considered by therapists and patients in determining the best course of treatment.

Cognitive Processing Therapy

The majority of PTSD therapies are versions of cognitive behavioral therapy. These therapies are focused on helping patients adjust thought patterns that are disrupting their lives. The sessions can take the form of talking to work through traumas or exploring where the inordinate fears are originating and how they are impacting the patient’s life.

Ultimately the treatment is directed at helping the patient find ways to live with the knowledge of the traumatic experience without reacting to the triggers that repeatedly cause them to be mentally disrupted.

Other possible options for additional therapies may include these, among others: Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Stress Inoculation Training, therapies for co-occurring disorders.

Beyond PTSD

If you are struggling with PTSD, it may seem as if you will never be able to regain control of your life. But the good news is that the condition is treatable. With appropriate psychotherapy and/or medications, patients tend to get very good results at post traumatic stress disorder treatment centers here in Utah and throughout the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Pathways Offers PTSD Treatment Services in Utah

Consider a therapist in Utah at Pathways for PTSD treatment as part of your medical team to help you or your loved one recover from post-traumatic stress disorder by learning to detach from the trauma and live each moment and each day free from the past.