PTSD Treatment Buffalo NY

We live in a fast-paced world. We are exposed to horrible events via newspaper, TV, radio, and social media every day. We are bombarded with sad and catastrophic events that can trigger bad memories or make a PTSD-afflicted person relive a terrifying experience. When we do not work through our own trauma, these things we are exposed to can cause symptoms in people who have PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical or psychological harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD is a lasting consequence of distressing ordeals such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, unresolved abuse as a child, an accident, war, or natural disaster.

Most people who experience a traumatic event will have reactions that may include shock, anger, nervousness, fear, and even guilt. When recurring and intense, these feelings can keep the person from living a normal life. People with PTSD have symptoms for longer than one month and cannot function as well as before the event occurred.

Most often, symptoms of PTSD most often begin within three months of the event. In some cases, however, they do not begin until years later. The severity and duration of the symptoms vary. Some people recover within six months, while others suffer much longer.

Symptoms of PTSD often are grouped into three main categories, including:

Re-experiencing symptoms

• Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating
• Bad dreams
• Frightening thoughts.

2. Avoidance symptoms

• Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry
• Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past
• Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.

3. Hyperarousal symptoms

• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on edge”
• Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts.

Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but their symptoms may not be the same as adults. Young children with PTSD may suffer from delayed development in areas such as toilet training, motor skills, and language. Young children are often not able to verbalize symptoms of trauma, however, their behaviors can be indicators of stress to the child.

In children—especially those who are very young—the symptoms of PTSD can include:

• Bedwetting, when they have already learned how to use the toilet
• Forgetting how or being unable to talk
• Acting out the scary event during playtime
• Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult
• Fear of being separated from parent
• Losing previously-acquired skills (such as toilet training)
• Sleep problems and nightmares without recognizable content
• Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
• New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as a fear of monsters)
• Acting out the trauma through play, stories, or drawings
• Aches and pains with no apparent cause
• Irritability and aggression

Older children and teens usually show symptoms more like those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge.

If you think you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD, there is hope. Treatment can relieve symptoms by helping you deal with the trauma you’ve experienced. Rather than avoiding the trauma and any reminder of it, treatment will encourage you to recall and process the emotions and sensations you felt during the original event. In addition to offering an outlet for emotions you’ve been bottling up, treatment for PTSD will also help restore your sense of control and reduce the powerful hold the memory of the trauma has on your life.

In treatment for PTSD, you will:

• Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma
• Work through feelings of guilt, self-blame, and mistrust
• Learn how to cope with and control intrusive memories
• Address problems PTSD has caused in your life and relationships

Finding a therapist you trust is important. A good therapist will listen to your concerns and help you make changes in your life.

When looking for a therapist for PTSD, seek out mental health professionals who specialize in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. Jennifer Nahrebeski is a trained and certified mental health counselor who specializes in trauma and PTSD. She makes you feel comfortable and safe, so there is no additional fear or anxiety about the treatment itself. For therapy to work, you need to feel respected and understood, and Jennifer can offer that, too. There’s no need to suffer any longer, give Jennifer a call (716) 432-3656 so you can start your treatment and start living your life again.