What is PTSD?

PTSD is a highly distressing psychiatric condition that sometimes affects people after they experience or witness a traumatic event. Anything that causes overwhelming fear, terror, and horror can lead to PTSD, such as:

• Military combat
• Living or working in a war zone
• Hurricanes and tornadoes
• Fires and floods
• Being trapped in a tunnel, cave, or collapsed building
• Violent assault and rape
• Mass shootings
• Terrorist attacks
• Air, road, rail, and sea transport disasters
• Severe auto accidents
• Life-changing injuries or illnesses

The events that provoke PTSD are usually short-lived, lasting days, hours, or sometimes minutes. However, people who endure long-term trauma (like those in abusive relationships) can develop complex PTSD, a chronic form of the condition.

PTSD may develop soon after a trauma, or it could be months or years before you notice any symptoms.

What symptoms suggest I have PTSD?

PTSD symptoms typically fit into one of four categories — intrusive memories, avoidance, negative thoughts, and reactivity. Common ways for these symptoms to present include:

• Nightmares
• Not talking about the event
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma
• Depression and anxiety
• Hopelessness
• Guilt
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Startling easily
• Difficulty sleeping
• Problems concentrating
• Irritability and anger
• Intense guilt or shame
• Panic attacks
• Flashbacks

Flashbacks are one of PTSD’s defining symptoms. They occur when a smell, sound, or other stimulus triggers a detailed recall of the trauma that’s so realistic you feel you’re back in the moment.

It’s natural to feel shaken and disturbed by traumatic events but provided you take care of yourself, you should recover in a few days or weeks. If PTSD symptoms interfere with daily life for a month or more, contact Accessible Psychiatry PLLC for an expert diagnosis and effective treatment.

 

How do I recover from PTSD?

Recovery from PTSD typically requires medications like antidepressants and/or anti-anxiety drugs combined with psychotherapy. Suppressing the memories doesn’t help you get over PTSD; in fact, it’s likely to make it worse. Your provider enables you to open up about the experience so your mind can process the trauma properly.

-Substance Use Disorder

Substances like drugs and alcohol might give you pleasure early on, but continued use leads to the misery of addiction. If you develop a dependence on opioids like heroin, prescription medications, or other addictive substances, call Accessible Psychiatry to get the expert care you deserve, using medication and therapy to help achieve sobriety. 

 

What are substance use disorders?

Substance use disorders develop when someone can’t control their usage of a drug or other addictive substance, regardless of how it’s harming their health.

Substance misuse starts when you take something that gives you physical and/or psychological pleasure and become dependent on it. Substances that can lead to addiction include:

• Alcohol
• Hallucinogens like LSD
• Inhalants such as glue
• Benzodiazepines and other sedatives
• Stimulants like amphetamines
• Cannabis (marijuana)
• Cocaine
• Opioids

 

How are substance use disorders treated?

The Accessible Psychiatry team tailors each patient’s substance use disorder treatment to their individual needs. One of the most successful approaches is medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines therapeutic drugs with psychotherapy.

Medicines like buprenorphine for an opioid addiction or naltrexone for alcohol misuse help ease your withdrawal symptoms. Counseling and behavior therapies help you overcome the issues making you vulnerable to addiction and teach you coping strategies for everyday life.