How do I know if I have PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a car accident, or a violent crime.

Some common symptoms of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks: Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive memories of the traumatic event
• Nightmares: Recurrent dreams that are disturbing and often involve the traumatic event
• Avoidance: Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations related to the traumatic event
• Negative changes in mood or thought: Persistent negative feelings, such as fear, guilt, or shame, or a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
• Changes in arousal and reactivity: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, irritability or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, and being easily startled

What do I do if I have been diagnosed with PTSD?

If you have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are a number of treatment options that can help you manage your symptoms and improve your well-being. Some common treatment options include:

• Psychotherapy: Talking with a trained mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor, can be helpful in managing the symptoms of PTSD. There are several types of therapy that are effective for treating PTSD, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
• Medications: Certain medications can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of PTSD, such as antidepressants, beta blockers, and antipsychotic medications. It’s important to work with a mental health professional to determine the best medication and dosage for you.
• Support groups: Joining a support group for people with PTSD can be a helpful way to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
• Lifestyle changes: Making changes to your lifestyle, such as getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet, can help manage the symptoms of PTSD.

Adelaide Hills Psychotherapy Services offers EMDR trauma therapy to treat individuals with PTSD. This therapy has been recognised by Australian Psychological Society as an evidence-based intervention. Success rate for this therapy in the treatment of PTSD is above 80% within 3 sessions.