6 Common Symptoms of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common following traumatic events such as active combat service in the military, a serious accident, abuse, a natural disaster, and even a worldwide pandemic. Like any serious medical condition, PTSD can affect every part of your life in a negative way when left untreated. If you have questions surrounding a trauma that you or a loved one are dealing with, then contact San Antonio Recovery Center to learn more about how to deal with symptoms of PTSD and enroll in the PTSD treatment program that is best for you.

What Does PTSD Look Like?

Defined, PTSD is a mental health condition that affects individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. Coping with the trauma becomes all-consuming and hinders daily life and the ability to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, and at home. To effectively manage PTSD and the associated symptoms, professional treatment is the best course of action to heal properly.

Those suffering from PTSD can experience disturbing thoughts and feelings that cause them to feel like they are re-experiencing the trauma. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD is the first step to treating the disorder and getting the help needed to manage the disorder and get back to living a healthy and productive life.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

Getting the right treatment—and right away—after recognizing PTSD symptoms is critical to managing symptoms and getting your life back. Symptoms can include nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and negative thoughts associated with the event.

Here are signs that you or a loved one could be suffering from PTSD:

1. Recurring nightmares about the traumatic event
2. Extreme emotional or physical reactions to triggers that serve as reminders of the traumas
3. Proactively avoiding people, places, and things that bring up a memory of the traumatic event
4. Not wanting to talk about the traumatic event at all
5. Doing anything to avoid any thoughts about or references to the traumatic event
6. Flashbacks of the trauma

PTSD can cause the affected person to also exhibit:

• Agitation
• Hostility
• Irritability
• Isolation
• Anxiety
• Insomnia

If you recognize any of these signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one following a traumatic event, then you should seek help as soon as possible. Getting help can be hard when you’re suffering, but with the right support, recovery is possible. For those with a co-occurring substance use disorder, a dual diagnosis treatment program at most professional treatment centers is also available. A combination of evidence-based and experiential therapies can help those suffering from PTSD build a solid foundation for recovery.

Causes of PTSD

Not every person develops PTSD after a trauma. For those that do develop the disorder, there are a number of reasons that can cause them to react the way they do following the traumatic event. Contributing factors include:

• A history of past traumas in their life
• A family history of hereditary mental health disorders
• A pre-existing mental health condition
• A lack of support from family and friends
• A hormonal condition that causes negative responses to stress

Contact San Antonio Recovery Center About PTSD Treatment

In addition to a variety of addiction treatment programs, SARC offers PTSD treatment at our treatment centers in San Antonio, Texas. Receiving treatment for mental health and substance use disorders from a professional and supportive team who can customize a treatment plan just for you will set you up for your greatest chance of a successful recovery.

PTSD treatment can include:

• Family therapy
• Trauma therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dual diagnosis treatment

The team at San Antonio Recovery Center is here to answer any questions you have about the holistic and evidence-based therapies used as part of our PTSD treatment program. Contact us today at 866.957.7885.