Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common mental health condition that is chronically undiagnosed. Studies estimate around 9% of Americans will experience post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives and only half will receive treatment for it. Popular conceptions exist that PTSD is something only combat veterans or disaster survivors suffer. Individuals downplay the impact of their personal experiences, not realizing the impact the difficult childhood experiences can have. The people suffer in silence, not knowing the why of how they feel. And many of them turn to drugs and alcohol. The dual diagnosis treatment program at Creative Care treats co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use issues simultaneously, viewing them as two manifestations of one problem. Our team gently unearths the roots of our clients’ unhealed trauma and guides them towards new lives of wellness and peace. To learn more about our residential dual diagnosis program, call us today.
Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition in which individuals who have experienced a traumatic event continue to suffer from its effects. These effects are severe enough to disrupt a person’s life, either through the symptoms the disorder causes or the behavior that results from them. It’s worth noting that the traumatic event does not have to be experienced first-hand. After September 11th, primary care physicians saw a drastic uptick of PTSD symptoms in their patients.
Symptoms of co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder include physical and emotional responses to triggers or events that cause an individual to recall the original trauma. These include:
- Flashbacks, hallucinations, or nightmares of the event
- Isolation, as a result from avoiding people and places that remind an individual of the event
- Difficulties concentrating
- Mood swings and irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Exaggerated startle response
Substance use issues are so common in individuals suffering from PTSD that they’re also considered a symptom.
Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder is the result of a traumatic experience. Adverse childhood experiences like abuse, neglect, growing up in a home with a family member struggling from a substance use disorder or other mental health condition, or the death of a family member by violence or suicide drastically increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. Co-occurring substance use disorders often develop after attempts to self-medicate.
Individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder respond well to evidence-based treatment like psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Somatic therapies like EMDR are also effective at realigning the body’s response to trauma with the rational mind. Group therapies in which survivors can share their experiences are also very powerful.
- Psychotherapy
- Professional observation
- Nutrition therapy
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy
- Yoga
- Expressive art therapy
Because Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects everyone differently, we individualize your treatment plan to meet your specific needs. We want to help you reach your therapeutic goals. For compassionate care for your PTSD, call Creative Care today.