PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and may cause ongoing emotional distress, anxiety, flashbacks, or other symptoms that interfere with daily life. At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi Bancroft, FNP-C, provides compassionate, personalized care to help individuals manage PTSD and move toward healing. Tammi offers in-person and virtual care from the practice's main location in Colorado and also provides virtual appointments for patients throughout Arizona. Call the office or request an appointment online today to schedule a visit.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can affect people if they’re involved in or witness a traumatic event.

Although it’s still thought of as something that affects soldiers and other combat veterans, PTSD isn’t limited to service personnel. Anyone can develop PTSD, and it can happen because of any event that is particularly traumatic for that individual.

Common examples of triggers for PTSD other than being in combat include:

• Natural disasters
• Serious accidents
• Terrorist acts
• Rape
• Violent personal assault

It’s also possible to develop chronic PTSD following extended trauma, such as childhood or spousal abuse.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

There are four categories of symptoms that define PTSD:

Intrusive thoughts

It’s common for people with PTSD to find it difficult to put the memories of the event out of their minds. Instead, they relive them over and over. You might also experience vivid nightmares and have flashbacks to the event. Flashbacks are more than memories –– they make you feel like you’re experiencing the event again for real.

Avoidance

To help prevent flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories, you might start avoiding anything that could be a reminder, including:

• People
• Places
• Activities
• Objects
• Situations

You might cut yourself off from anyone who was there with you at the time of the event, for example. You probably want to avoid talking about your experience as well.

Negative thoughts and feelings

You might feel depressed or anxious, and have overwhelming feelings of guilt, anger, shame, or fear. You might find it hard to trust anyone and feel distanced from people, and activities you love.

Arousal and reactive symptoms

You might become increasingly irritable and start feeling very angry or lose your temper more often. You might also feel like you’re living on your nerves, jumping at the slightest sound and having trouble sleeping.

How is PTSD treated?

Treating PTSD typically involves taking medications to reduce anxiety and depression, along with expert psychotherapy. You might feel reluctant to talk about the event and your feelings, but this is an essential step in overcoming the trauma.

At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi can help you recover from PTSD with her expertise and compassionate support.

A key advantage of utilizing the care available at Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry is that everything takes place over the internet, so you don’t have to leave your home. We use secure videoconferencing technology to talk to patients via their laptops or tablets.

The experience is exactly like going to a traditional office-based psychiatrist, but is far more convenient and significantly less stressful.

You can get over the trauma and the distressing symptoms of PTSD with expert help. To see available appointments and schedule, book an appointment online today.