PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a complex disorder that affects a person’s thinking, feeling and behavior.

Exposure to one traumatic event or chronic combat stressors can have a profound neurobehavioral effect.

A traumatic event is one where you feel your life is in danger or you may be hurt significantly.   This can be from domestic abuse, child abuse, combat, natural disasters, etc.  You may also witness a death or someone being hurt.  

      Traumatic images, experiences, sights and smells are typically “burned into” the brain and re-experienced as flashbacks and nightmares.

      In response to traumatic experiences, people may grow numb with symptoms that appear very much like depression.

Additionally, their nervous system tends to be over-reactive, resulting in greater startle responses, sleeping problems, memory and concentration problems.

You might notice the symptoms in your body:  

      Trouble sleeping

      Feeling agitated, constantly on the lookout for danger

      Getting very startled by loud noises or someone coming up on you from behind when you don’t expect it

      Feeling shaky and sweaty

      Having your heart pound or having trouble breathing

      Finally, people tend to avoid anything that triggers a memory or may trigger a memory that they want to avoid.  Often people will drink alcohol or use drugs to try to forget. This pattern of avoidance leads to problems in relationships and at work.

      They withdraw from their spouses and families.

      Become distrusting of anyone unusual.

      Used to watching out for anyone to be the “enemy”, can’t stop it.

BUT, THERE IS HOPE! 

At Santa Margarita Solutions Center, we have many ways to deal with PTSD.  You can join a group.  If you are a veteran of the war in Iraq or Aghanistan, there is free counseling.  If you have had health issues with pain, there is a free pain support group.  You can have individual counseling.  And you can heal the relationships with family or couples counseling.   

These symptoms can take over your life.  Don't let them.  Get help as soon as possible to reduce the time the brain can practice these memories.  Let them go.  We can help.