PTSD Treatment

Not every scar is visible. The girl who was assaulted as a child acts out and turns to substances, trying to erase the past she did not create. The man who is mourning his estranged father, longing for one last talk no matter if it turned violent. These experiences leave permanent marks, but they go unnoticed and buried beneath the surface.

These situations result in devastating outcomes, including the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, 6% of the United States population is currently living with PTSD.

Reflections Lifestyle Center recognizes the need for treatment options for PTSD and offers options for teens and adults. Let’s explore what causes PTSD and what care strategies are available.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can severely impact everyday life. It stems from witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, leading to nightmares, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and panic attacks. Unlike other mental health conditions, there is no age of onset for PTSD – it can happen within months to years after the trauma occurred. Without treatment, PTSD can lead to poor sleep and mood, resulting in declining work or school performance and possible relationship conflicts.

Reflections Lifestyle Center addresses and treats all aspects of PTSD in both adults and adolescents.

Not everyone experiences PTSD in the same way, meaning treatment will not be one size fits all. Seeking mental health care does not mean your life has to stop or be put on hold. Flexible care options are available through Reflections Lifestyle Center.

Our program offers partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient treatment. All programs are available to adults ages 18-65 as well as teens ages 10-17. Our philosophy is to provide quality, evidence-based treatment without disrupting your life. PHP takes place during the day for adults and teens, with a 2-hour highly recommended study hall to remain up-to-date with schooling for adolescents. IOP takes place during the day or evening, with virtual options available for adults. The goal is to keep you active in your life while receiving the care you need to manage your PTSD.

We incorporate therapies and sometimes medications for each client. Some will find benefits from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, while others find their strength through therapy alone. Regardless of your treatment plan, your care team at Reflections Lifestyle Center will be there every step of the way.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and anxiety, PTSD is debilitating when left untreated. Though PTSD is commonly associated with combat veterans, it can happen to anyone – teens and adults included.

PTSD symptoms may emerge within a few months of the trauma or take several years before they present. They are divided into four categories: intrusive thoughts and memories, avoidance behaviors, negative shifts in thinking and mood, and alterations in physical and emotional responses. The person may experience symptoms in only one of these areas or a mixture across many. Each category has the following symptoms:

• Intrusive thoughts and memories: These symptoms occur involuntarily and include emotional or physical reactions to a stressor that reminds you of the traumatic event, nightmares, flashbacks, and repeated memories of the event despite not thinking about it at that moment.
• Avoidance behaviors: These include not talking about or acknowledging the event ever happened and avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the event.
• Negative shifts in mood and thinking: Symptoms involving negative thoughts and mood typically come from trauma that has specifically been committed against you, such as abuse. Feelings of persistent guilt, fear, and shame are common. Other symptoms include having negative thoughts about yourself or those around you, detaching yourself from friends and family, losing interest in activities, finding it difficult to feel any positive emotions, and feelings of persistent emptiness.
• Alterations in physical and emotional responses: These are also referred to as arousal symptoms as they invoke a reaction. Alterations include being easily startled or always on edge, engaging in risky behaviors such as drinking and driving, becoming angry or aggressive when not warranted, and experiencing anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Symptoms can range in severity and often coincide with how you are feeling. For example, if you are already feeling immense stress, PTSD symptoms are likely to appear and cause interference in your daily life.

Teenagers experience symptoms similar to those of adults and are in the same categories. However, they may be harder to recognize as teens. When adolescents experience trauma – especially interpersonal trauma – feelings of guilt and shame develop. These feelings have been linked to depression, which results in the teen withholding communication about the event(s). They don’t mention nightmares or anxiety, however, they may allude to other symptoms. These include headaches, stomach pains, changes in appetite, and substance use. Teens may not be comfortable opening up about trauma to their parents, which is where seeking professional help is beneficial.

It is important to note that PTSD can happen at any age, including during childhood. Children under 6 may present with re-enacting the trauma through play, having nightmares, or reverting back to infant/toddler behaviors.

Because adolescents have different presentations of PTSD than adults, Reflections Lifestyle Center offers a specific program for those ages 10-17.

Only a medical or mental health professional can diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder. This is done through various tests and evaluations. First, your care team at Reflections will do a physical evaluation to rule out any underlying conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. Next, our team will conduct different assessments including cognitive function, mental health status, and overall emotional well-being. The results will give us the information needed to provide an accurate diagnosis.

PTSD treatment will vary from person to person, but there are common modalities utilized. Therapy is a key component, and includes talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral as well as specialized trauma therapy such as exposure therapy. These therapies work to address the trauma and your emotions about it as well as work to reduce PTSD symptoms when facing a trigger.

Medications are also sometimes a part of the treatment process. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can help reduce symptoms of PTSD. However, these are best implemented with a therapy regime so that triggers are identified and managed properly.

At Reflections Lifestyle Center, our team of experts will guide you on your path to healing every step of the way.

Treating PTSD in teens is very similar to that in adults, often following the same assessments and physical evaluations. They will also receive therapies as adults would. However, teens face unique circumstances that their parents or other adults cannot relate to. This is where group therapy comes in, and at Reflections, teens are free to express themselves among peers of similar ages and situations. Our group therapy helps teens open up and also gives insight into each other.

The PTSD program at Reflections Lifestyle Center is specific to teen needs and goals, promoting a healthy and healing atmosphere.