PTSD

Traumatic events may have a long-lasting impact on your emotional well-being, resulting in ongoing anxiety, sudden flashbacks, and other symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms won’t improve without mental health care provided by an experienced specialist like Tyisha Fletcher, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, at Legacy Advanced Nursing Practice in Anaheim, California. If you’re struggling with PTSD, you only need to reach out and schedule a virtual visit through telemedicine or request an in-person appointment. Call the office today or connect using the online scheduling system.

What is PTSD?

PTSD begins after you experience or witness a frightening, life-threatening, or emotionally intense event. The traumatic events that frequently lead to PTSD include:

• Combat duty
• Physical assault or abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual violence
• Gun violence
• Robberies or home invasions
• Accidents (car, plane, boat, etc.)
• Death of a loved one
• Natural disasters (hurricanes, tornados, and others)

The symptoms often begin after one major trauma. However, you can also develop PTSD if you live through a series of events, such as months on active combat duty or ongoing emotional or physical abuse.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Everyone deals with emotions like fear and anxiety in the weeks after a traumatic event, but they should gradually improve. You may have PTSD if you struggle with symptoms for a month or longer, which may include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Flashbacks
• Vivid nightmares
• Isolation from family and friends
• Irritability and anger
• Easily startled or frightened
• Uncharacteristic aggression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Memory loss
• Avoidance

If you experience avoidance, you display behavior like staying away from people, places, and situations that may trigger memories of your traumatic event.

Why do PTSD symptoms suddenly flare up?

People with PTSD can be having a great day, and then suddenly have a flashback to the trauma, causing them to relive the event.

Flashbacks occur because memories about the event stay hidden in your subconscious. You don’t remember them until something in your daily life, like a sound, smell, or event, mimics the trauma, pulling it out of your memory and giving you a flashback.

Reliving the trauma causes sudden, overwhelming anxiety and uncharacteristic behaviors like anger and aggression.

You can overcome these flare-ups with support from Tyisha at Legacy Advanced Nursing Practice.

How is PTSD treated?

Tyisha evaluates your symptoms, determines if PTSD causes them, and creates a personalized treatment plan based on your specific symptoms.

She may recommend medication management to ease your symptoms. With or without medication, your PTSD can improve with talk therapy.

Several therapeutic techniques have a proven history of helping people overcome PTSD. Therapy may help you face and break the hold of the traumatic event. You can also learn ways to manage intense feelings and behaviors.

Connect with Legacy Advanced Nursing Practice for skilled, compassionate help with PTSD. Book online or call the office today to begin your journey toward better mental health and freedom from PTSD.