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PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a severe mental health disorder that occurs after you’ve witnessed an accident, assault, crime, natural disaster, or other traumatic event. Nicola Hall, PhD, LPC, CSAC, and the Paragon Concierge Counseling team in Newport News, Virginia, offer solutions to help you quiet the intrusive thoughts and memories. Evidence-based CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is adopted to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. To reclaim your life, call for help or use the online scheduling option to set up an office or telehealth appointment.
PTSD Q&A
What is PTSD?
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition triggered when you experience or witness a traumatic event, such as a car accident, assault, war, or violence. If you suffer from PTSD, you may get haunted by uncontrollable and intrusive thoughts and memories of the trauma, leading to intense emotions long after the event is over. These afterthoughts can hamper your relationships, productivity, and daily rhythms.
PTSD can strike anyone, but not everyone who witnesses a traumatic event will have PTSD. While you may share the terrible experience with others, your response is unique and personal.
Do I have symptoms of PTSD?
The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories: intrusion, avoidance, negative thoughts, and heightened arousal.
Intrusion
Are you struggling with recurring flashbacks or nightmares of the traumatic event? These thoughts are so vivid that it may make you feel that you’re reliving the trauma all over again.
Avoidance
As a means of self-protection, you might avoid places, people, or situations that remind you of the traumatic event.
Negative thoughts
PTSD can cause you to develop overwhelming feelings of shame, guilt, anger, and fear. These intense feelings can make you lose interest in hobbies, activities, and relationships that once brought you joy.
Heightened arousal
As your mind dwells on the trauma, you may become irritable, self-destructive, angry, easily startled, or have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Is there a treatment for PTSD?
At Paragon Concierge Counseling, the team tailors PTSD treatment to meet your needs. After a thorough assessment, a personalized plan that may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is crafted to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
EMDR is a specialized form of psychotherapy that may be used to assist you as you process your traumatic memories more effectively. It works by helping you get more control over how and when the bad memories come up so you can recover faster.
The treatment may also include care coordination to connect you with a psychiatrist who can provide medication that can help you regain function and reclaim your quality of life.
For individualized therapy that helps you overcome your traumatic thoughts, call to schedule an appointment, or you can book online at your convenience.