June is National posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) month. Evolve Behavioral Health therapists Tisha Jenkins, LCSW; Trisha Willis, LCSW; Tracy Kennedy, LPC AADC; and Julie Oglesby, LPC LMFT, are specially trained in trauma treatment.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.
It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months.
If it’s been longer than a few months and you’re still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.
If thoughts and feelings from a life-threatening event are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD.
Here’s the good news: you can get treatment for PTSD — and it works.
For some people, treatment can get rid of PTSD altogether. For others, it can make
symptoms less intense. Treatment also gives you the tools to manage symptoms so they don’t keep you from living your life. PTSD treatment can turn your life around — even if you’ve been struggling for years.
What can cause PTSD?
Any experience that threatens your life or someone else’s can cause PTSD. These types of events are sometimes called trauma. Types of traumatic events that can cause PTSD include:
- Combat and other military experiences
- Sexual or physical assault
- Learning about the violent or accidental death or injury of a loved one
- Child sexual or physical abuse
- Serious accidents, like a car wreck
- Natural disasters, like a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake
- Terrorist attacks
During this kind of event, you may not have any control over what’s happening, and you may feel very afraid. Anyone who has gone through something like this can develop PTSD.
You’re not alone.
Going through a traumatic event is not rare. At least half of Americans have had a traumatic event in their lives. Of people who have had trauma, about 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women will develop PTSD.
Call Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication management at (800) 409-6250. Locations include LIttle Rock, Hot Springs, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, and Mena. Visit www.evolvebhs.com for more information.
Get help if you’re in crisis
Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management has trained therapists and nurses to help you with your trauma. Call 800-409-6250 for appointments.
If you feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else:
- Call 1-800-273-8255 anytime to talk to a crisis counselor. Press “1” if you are a veteran. The call is confidential (private) and free.
- Chat online with a crisis counselor anytime at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
- You can also call 911 or go to your local emergency room.
did you know?
Trauma is one of the conditions that can qualify patients for an Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card. Healthy Connections is doing these certifications in Hot Springs and Little Rock. Visit www.healthy-connections.org/mmj for more information.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.