Trauma & Abuse

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also referred to by the acronym PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone experiences a traumatic event that caused intense fear, helplessness, or horror. It can be the outcome of events such as rape, war, natural disasters, abuse, serious accidents, or from observing or hearing of a violent or catastrophic incident. Victims of crime, especially violent crime as well as those who have participated in war are often sufferers of this disease.

People with PTSD persistently re-experience the traumatic event, they isolate themselves from people and thoughts or circumstances related to the traumatic event and have symptoms of extreme emotions.

PTSD symptoms commonly appear within 3 months of the experience, but can sometimes manifest themselves months or even years later. Symptoms include having nightmares, flashbacks of traumatic events, surge in heart rate, sweating, difficulty sleeping, irritability, outbursts of anger, avoiding thoughts and feelings, and loss of interest in important or positive things. 

Substance abuse is not uncommon for patients with PTSD.

Having this disorder can possibly increase craving for drugs. Self-medicating is a frequent way of reducing distress connected to specific PTSD symptoms. In fact, 27.9 percent of women with PTSD ended up using drugs and alcohol and five out of ten women will experience a traumatic event in their life. The most common cause of PTSD in women is sexual assault or sexual abuse in childhood. Trauma rehab is the best way to fight this disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder treatment for those individuals that have experienced a traumatic event comes in various different forms. Individual people react differently to traumatic events and therefore no two courses of treatment will be the same.

PTSD can be treated with psychotherapy or prescribed medication or in some cases both. When PTSD is accompanied by substance abuse or addiction to drugs, the sufferer should enter a trauma rehab as soon as possible. This trauma rehab center should specialize in post traumatic stress disorder treatment and dual-diagnosis, as it is called. Dual diagnosis requires special care so it is important that the sufferer and their family spend time evaluating their options and finding the center that is right for them.

Some good ideas to help with PTSD are to find therapists that specialize in PTSD and substance abuse, like those at Destination Hope, join a trauma support group and find a peer mentor. All of these options help to put the traumatic event to rest and allow the sufferer to regain some normalcy in their life. Sharing your fears, feelings and experiences can help lessen the burden and the first step is a phone call. Our trained admissions specialists are ready to talk to you about your PTSD and co-occurring substance abuse and we look forward to starting you on the journey to a life free from the weight of post traumatic stress disorder.

Call us today and learn how Destination Hope can help you fight your PTSD and accompanying substance abuse.