Symptoms, Signs, & PTSD Treatment in West Palm Beach, FL

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop in some people after being exposed to a traumatic event or series of events, including actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, either experienced directly, witnessed, or happened to a loved one.[1] PTSD is characterized by a group of symptoms that continue for an extended period of time and significantly affect a person’s daily functioning, relationships, and sense of safety and self.

Approximately 7-8% of the US population will develop PTSD at some point in their lives, with higher rates observed in certain groups such as sexual abuse survivors, domestic violence survivors, combat veterans, first responders, and people who have survived natural disasters or serious injuries.[2] PTSD is also highly prevalent in people who have co-occurring mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

An important distinction to make is that PTSD is more than a stress response to a traumatic event. It is a unique clinical disorder that occurs as a result of neurobiological changes in the way the brain processes threat, memory, and emotional regulation.[3] It also will not resolve itself without appropriate treatment.

Types of PTSD

PTSD can present in various ways, depending on the nature, duration, timing, and type of traumatic event that was experienced. Below are some of the most common:

• Acute PTSD — Symptoms that develop within one month of experiencing a traumatic event and typically have a favorable prognosis if treated early.
• Chronic PTSD — Symptoms that develop more than three months post-exposure and typically occur as a result of multiple or repeated traumatic events over an extended period of time.
• Complex PTSD (CPTSD) — Associated with traumatic experiences that occurred over long periods of time, such as a history of child abuse, ongoing child neglect, or ongoing domestic violence. C-PTSD is increasingly recognized as distinct from single-incident PTSD in its clinical presentation and treatment needs. [4]
• Delayed onset PTSD — Symptoms that occur six months or more after experiencing a traumatic event, sometimes following a period of apparently normal functioning.
• PTSD with co-occurring conditions  — PTSD frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, or other mental health problems.[5]

What Causes PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. There are several contributing factors to its development:

• The severity and duration of the traumatic event— Long-term or repeated traumatic events, particularly if experienced during childhood, are associated with the risk of developing PTSD.[6]
• Biological vulnerability — Genetic factors, prior mental health history, and neurobiological differences in stress response systems influence who develops PTSD following trauma exposure.[7]
• Lack of social support — Social support is a key component in a person’s ability to recover from the effects of trauma. Lower levels of social support are associated with a higher likelihood of developing PTSD.[8]
• Prior history of trauma — Exposure to earlier traumatic events, particularly in childhood, puts someone at greater risk for developing PTSD following another traumatic episode.[9]
• Peritraumatic dissociation — Dissociative responses during or shortly following the traumatic event are associated with an increased risk for PTSD.[10]

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms can be classified into four main categories:

Re-experiencing — Instances of intrusively re-experiencing a traumatic event:

• Flashbacks — an experience that causes a person to vividly and distressingly re-experience a traumatic event
• Disrupted sleep due to recurring distressing dreams
• Uninvited, intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience
• Intense negative psychological or physical reactions when reminded of the traumatic event

Avoidance — Efforts to avoid stimuli related to trauma:

• Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or memories related to the trauma
• Avoidance of people, places, situations, or activities that remind the person of the traumatic event

Negative changes in mood and thinking:

• Consistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world
• Distorted blame of self or others for the traumatic event
• Persistent negative emotions — fear, horror, guilt, shame
• Less interest in pleasurable or enjoyable activities
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached

Hyperarousal and hyper-reactivity:

• Hypervigilance, or always being on the lookout for danger
• Being easily startled
• Difficulty sleeping
• Frequent fits of anger or recklessness
• Difficulty concentrating

 

Coping Strategies for PTSD

It is important to note that while professional treatment is required to address PTSD, it is also essential to develop coping skills to help you manage your symptoms and recover from them. 

Effective coping strategies include:

• Grounding techniques to interrupt flashbacks and dissociation
• Breathing techniques to help you control your body’s activation
• Mindfulness activities to develop present-moment awareness
• A structured daily routine to provide stability and predictability

At Helios West Palm Beach, the development of coping skills is an important part of our treatment program, so patients will leave with a comprehensive toolkit to apply to their daily lives.

When to Seek Professional Help

PTSD treatment is needed when symptoms remain for longer than 30 days and cause significant distress and impairment. 

Factors that may require inpatient treatment include:

• Severe PTSD symptoms that have not responded to therapy or outpatient treatment
• Co-occurring disorders, such as substance use disorder, mood disorder, or anxiety disorder, that require integrated treatment
• Hyperarousal or avoidance is severe to the point that daily life can no longer be managed
• Diagnosis of complex PTSD or persistent PTSD due to multiple instances of trauma and a need for long-term, continued care
• A safe and structured environment is required to begin dealing with past trauma

Patients commonly inquire as to whether they will ever stop having PTSD symptoms. The answer is yes. With the proper, targeted therapy, patients can experience symptom remission, especially with evidence-based approaches like trauma-focused CBT. 

PTSD Treatment in West Palm Beach, Florida

PTSD treatment requires a clinical approach that is specifically designed for trauma. Helios West Palm has developed a residential program in Palm Beach County that provides evidence-based trauma-focused treatment in a fully trauma-informed environment, with 24/7 clinical support and individualized treatment plans for everyone.

PTSD treatment requires clinical approaches specifically designed for trauma, not general mental health therapy applied to a trauma presentation. At Helios West Palm, our program in Palm Beach County delivers evidence-based trauma-focused treatment within a fully trauma-informed environment, with 24/7 clinical support and an individualized treatment plan for every patient.

Benefits of PTSD Treatment

When treatment is delivered at the right level of care, recovery is possible. The following are some of the benefits of getting professional treatment:

• Reduction in frequency and intensity of flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and traumatic memories
• The ability to manage hypervigilance and physiological arousal
• Improved ability to manage emotions without mood swings
• Improved physical health and quality of sleep
• The ability to live, work, play, and have relationships in a more meaningful way
• Being capable of a more stable and compassionate relationship with themselves and their past
• Greater resilience in managing trauma-related triggers independently