Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment in Frisco

The 4 Types of PTSD Symptoms

Symptoms of PTSD most often appear in the first few months after a traumatic event, though it is also possible for these effects to remain dormant until years later. PTSD is the result of unexpected and overwhelming events that are not worked through so that our nervous system can make sense of the event. Because our nervous system has no sense of time, you feel as though you are back in your trauma when you are triggered. There is no telling what exactly will trigger a person’s symptoms, as each individual with PTSD is uniquely different.

There are four primary categories that symptoms of PTSD can fall into. These include:

• Intrusive thoughts: Involuntary memories of the traumatic event that forces the person to relive their experience. These may occur as conscious flashbacks, or during an unconscious state such as in dreams.
• Avoidance: Individuals with PTSD often try to avoid situations that they believe will trigger a distressing memory of their past trauma. For example, a person who was involved in a bad car accident may try to avoid driving or riding in a car.
• Negative thoughts and feelings: These often pertain to the individuals themselves, as many believe they are bad or broken in some way. It is common to feel responsible for your trauma or even damaged as a result of it. 
• Changes in physical or emotional reactions: People with PTSD are often hyper-alert, fearful, and irritable which can lead to disproportionate reactions.

A diagnosis of PTSD requires symptoms as mentioned above lasting longer than one month. Many individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder will also develop secondary mental health struggles, such as acute stress disorder, anxiety disorders, reactive attachment disorder, adjustment disorder, or disinhibited social engagement disorder.

Risk Factors to Consider

There is no way to know who may develop PTSD at some point in their life. However, there are a few known factors that can increase an individual’s risk of developing this disorder, including:

• Experiencing a traumatic event and getting stuck in the emotional overwhelm in your nervous system
• Having difficulty making sense of a traumatic event
• Not feeling comfortable, understanding the importance of, or having a safe person to express your thoughts and emotions to
• Added stress after a traumatic event
• Witnessing a traumatic event
• Feelings of helplessness or intense fear
• A history of mental illness or substance abuse
• Attempts to avoid the memory or deny it’s significance
• Not having enough support from friends and/or loved ones after a traumatic event

The best way to minimize these risk factors and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder is to seek help from those around you as soon as possible. Establishing healthy coping mechanisms can be done both before or after a dangerous event, and leaning on safe, supportive others for much-needed support is vital to overcoming symptoms of PTSD.

Treatment for PTSD in Frisco

For those who experience more intense symptoms of PTSD than they can manage and control on their own, PS Counseling Frisco is here to help. “Fake it until you make it” is never effective in long-term treatment of PTSD.

The focus for healing is not the traumatic event, it is what we told ourselves about it. Such as: 

• I did something wrong
• I’m not lovable
• I’m broken
• It’s not OK to show my emotions
• I’m not safe

Types of Psychotherapy Used for PTSD

When treating PTSD, the you we are working to comfort and heal is not the version of you sitting in my office. It is the younger version of you who still is living in the shadow of their trauma. The person sitting in my office tries to tell themself that their fears are mostly unrealistic. However, their younger self knows it is dangerous to belief they aren’t true. 

The most important factor in successfully treating PTSD is working with a therapist who specializes in PTSD, who offers a safe and comforting presence, and who has specialized training in the treatment of trauma. Renee Cagle, LPC is trained in EMDR which is short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a research-based trauma and PTSD approach with proven effectiveness. For more information, please see my EMDR website page or contact me using the secure contact link below. 

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is another effective treatment approach that helps identify and heal our internal negative self-talk. Both treatment options help us challenge what we believe to be true and examine our trauma not from the point of view of our earlier self, but from our older, wiser self today. Transforming “I should have done something” into “I was a child and I was not responsible for the abuse I endured”.