STRESS DISORDERS

THE DIFFERENCE IS TIME.

These disturbances cause significant distress and impairment in our lives, and we get stuck. Treatment for PTSD will help your symptoms reduce, but more importantly, treatment can help you get back into your life. We don’t have to be stuck forever.If you’ve been experiencing the above symptoms, reach out to one of our skilled clinicians for support.

A TRAUMA RESPONSE THAT LINGERS...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Acute Stress Disorder Both Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are constellations of symptoms that arise following an encounter with this traumatic event. They both include:

The presence of one or more intrusion symptoms:

Recurrent, involuntary, & intrusive memories associated with the traumatic event
Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the trauma event
Dissociative reactions (like flashbacks) in which we feel or act as if the traumatic event is happening again
Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external reminders of the event
Marked physiological reactions to internal or external reminders of the event

Persistent avoidance of reminders of the event as evidenced by one or both:

Negative changes in cognitions or mood associated with the event, evidenced by at least two of the following:

Trouble remembering important aspects of the event
Persistent and exaggerated beliefs about self, others, or the world (e.g. “I am bad” “No one can be trusted,” “the world is unsafe” etc.)
Persistent distorted beliefs about the cause or consequences of the trauma event
Persistent negative emotional state (fear, shame, guilt, horror)
Markedly diminished interest or participation in previously enjoyed activities
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
Persistent inability to experience positive emotions

Marked changes in arousal or reactivity associated with the event, evidenced by two or more of the following:

Irritable behavior & angry outbursts
Reckless or self-destructive behavior
Hypervigilance
Exaggerated startle response
Problems concentrating
Sleep disturbances (e.g. difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, restlessness, etc.)

The DSM-5’s defines a traumatic event as one where one is exposed to actual or the threat of death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one of the following ways:

Directly experiencing
Witnessing in-person as it occurs to another
Learning about an event that happened to a close family or friend - this event must be violent in nature
Experience repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of a traumatic event (as is the case with many first responders).