PTSD

Approximately 6 out of every 100 people in America will have PTSD at some point in their lives and many cases of PTSD go undiagnosed. Caroline Bjorkman, DO, at Mind Space Wellness, LLC, provides expert PTSD treatments for patients aged 12 and older at locations in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and the Upper West Side area of Manhattan in New York City. If you’ve experienced a traumatic life event and experience feelings of blame, regret, fear, or have nightmares or flashbacks, call or book an appointment online to schedule a PTSD appointment today. 

What is PTSD?

You may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if you’ve been through a traumatic life event and still feel anxiety or fear even after the event has passed. 

Car accidents, war, injury, disasters, death of a loved one, or any type of abuse can lead to PTSD. The disorder can leave you feeling timid, consistently afraid, and hopeless. 

Although PTSD can occur at any age, approximately 8% of women and 4% of men will experience PTSD. This statistic is partially due to the fact that women are more likely to experience trauma (like sexual abuse) than men.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

For an official PTSD diagnosis, you must experience symptoms for more than one month. You may have one or more avoidance symptoms, like avoiding people or situations that remind you of the event or refusing to discuss it. 

You may have one or more intrusion symptoms, like flashbacks to the event or nightmares about it. A PTSD diagnosis includes two or more thinking and mood symptoms like: 

• Depression
• Anxiety 
• Irritability 
• Lack of sleep or oversleeping 
• Feelings of numbness 
• Loss of memory 
• Feelings of shame and guilt 
• Hypersensitivity to perceived threats or danger 

Teenagers with PTSD may be disruptive, disrespectful, or aggressive towards others. 

If left untreated, PTSD can lead to alcohol and drug abuse and chronic physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue. 

What are my PTSD treatment options? 

After a thorough psychiatric assessment, your Mind Space Wellness, LLC, provider may recommend a combination of treatments. 

Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are antidepressants that alter the chemicals in your brain and improve mood and stress levels. 

Zoloft®, Prozac®, Paxil®, and Effexor® are common medications for PTSD. 

Psychotherapy 
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) are forms of talk therapy that create a safe space to discuss your disorder and help you feel safe and empowered. 

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses a moving light to trigger your brain to revisit the traumatic event. This can help you release feelings of guilt and fear and restore joy. 

Support groups, mindfulness, and establishing healthy eating and sleeping routines are also helpful aids in treating PTSD. 

Call the Mind Space Wellness, LLC, offices or reach out online if you’re interested in hearing more about PTSD treatments today.