Conditions & Treatments
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
After a traumatic or life-threatening event, some people develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is unknown why one person will develop this disorder and others do not. PTSD can be caused by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events such as:
- Military combat
- Sexual, emotional, or physical abuse
- Life-threatening accidents, such as car accidents or transportation crashes
- Natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, or hurricanes
- Terrorist activities or violent crimes
After the initial trauma, an everyday event such as hearing a backfiring car or watching a rape scene on TV could trigger you to re-live your traumatic event.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms of PTSD include:
- Intrusive thoughts
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Withdrawing from activities or hobbies
- Depression or a numb feeling
- Startling easily
- Emotional numbness
- Extreme distress when reminded of the trauma
- Sleep disturbances
- Struggling to maintain close relationships
- Hyper-alertness
- Difficulty concentrating
Diagnosis
We utilize the PTSD Symptom Scale (Interview Version) - a brief, 17-question interview - to identify your symptoms, confirm a diagnosis of PTSD, and determine your eligibility for treatment programs with prolonged exposure therapy (PE).
Treatment
Examples of PTSD treatment offered by Einstein include:
- Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) to help you process the traumatic event and improve your coping will be utilized if our staff determines you are eligible.
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Individual and Group Therapies: We offer mental health counseling programs that provide a comfortable and confidential environment for patients to discuss their disorders. Our experienced facilitators help participants reach resolutions on issues they've experienced.
- Medication: If necessary, psychotropic medications may be used in conjunction with PTSD treatment options.