PTSD Treatment Center in California
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD affects nearly 3.5% of the U.S population every year. This disorder is triggered by an agonizing event like war or even sexual assault. PTSD can be treated using prescription medication or a variety of psychotherapies that have been proven to help patients with this disorder. Our PTSD Treatment Center in California can help you or a loved one get the help that they need.
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What To Understand About PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a condition that affects individuals who have recently lived through a traumatic experience or have otherwise traumatic memories. Someone who suffers from PTSD may also be deeply affected by news that a loved one has been injured or killed, such as in an accident or natural disaster.
The National Center For PTSD confirms that many people desire to treat their PTSD symptoms because of the various emotional and psychological challenges that are created and often experienced years after the event had even taken place.
While it is expected, when individuals experience emotional hardships after the traumatic event, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms will decrease over time. However, people who struggle with this psychiatric disorder typically experience symptoms and side effects that have continuously caused significant distress and additional challenges without formal therapeutic interventions or residential treatment.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 70 percent of adults across the United States have encountered an event during their lifetime that had caused some amount of trauma. Even though that statistic seems alarming, it is good to note that the majority of people who live through a traumatic event do not develop PTSD.
Contributing Factors
standard components that contribute to mental health disorders Include:
- The individual’s emotional response during the trauma
- If there were any additional traumatic experiences that further escalated the condition
- Marital status
- The type of trauma that was experienced
- Any pre-existing physical or mental health conditions
- The age of the individual
- Type of emotional support system the individual was surrounded with
Our staff of mental health professionals at SoCal MH strive every day to provide the best options for trauma-focused treatment. We work to give our patients the best chance at a healthy long-term behavioral health improvement.
When people with PTSD decide to trust our team of experts with their mental health condition, only the best evidence-based processes and procedures are implemented. We use the best techniques to help alleviate accompanying thoughts and feelings along with the side effects and symptoms of PTSD.
Treatment Options For PTSD
There have been many different psychological treatments and types of psychotherapy that have proven to be effective in helping patients find ways to cope with and manage the effects of PTSD and its accompanying symptoms.
A couple of treatment options that are regularly seen being used to treat individuals struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT primarily focuses on identifying the different ways that someone may process or respond to certain situations. The variety of thoughts and feelings are evaluated and changed when necessary so that no harmful or unhealthy behaviors occur as a result of those thoughts and feelings.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Mental health specialists consider EMDR as another highly effective therapeutic option available today to treat individuals struggling with PTSD. During these sessions, the therapist invites the patient to think about and reflect back on the traumatic experience while paying close attention to a finger moving back and forth, the flickering of a light or other outside stimulus. Doing this is unique because it helps the patient develop new connections that link more positive trains of thought to the traumatic memory.
Exposure Therapy
Another behavioral therapy treatment option that is frequently used to treat the symptoms of PTSD. This form of therapy is primarily geared towards reducing anxiety and fear. Doing this helps the patient stay away from negative thoughts and feelings that can potentially cause the individual to exhibit unstable behaviors that may harm themselves or others.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
This form of behavioral therapy is relatively new and is basically based on the idea that an individual’s feelings of pain and suffering come not from the specific traumatic experience but by the actions done to avoid those painful emotions. The ultimate goal during the acceptance and commitment therapy process is growing to be able to manage the traumatic thoughts and feelings instead of just continually trying to avoid or escape that pain. Successfully doing this results in the ability to live a healthy and meaningful life.
How To Help a Loved one
One of the most essential things you can do when helping a loved one with PTSD is to learn about the disorder. It’s important to educate yourself on the triggers, causes, and treatment.
It’s also important to learn about your loved ones’ medical history. This includes their traumatic events, past substance abuse, and any other struggles. Learning more about their situation can reduce the risk of them hurting themselves or those around them.
You can also help your loved one by doing research about the different options they have for treatment. You can help them search mental health facilities or rehab centers that offer dual diagnosis treatment.
The important thing is to be there for them. So long as your loved one is okay with it, be a part of their journey to getting better.
Remember that therapy has is a long process and don’t expect that your loved one will be cured instantly. You need to be patient, give it time, and be willing to put in the effort. Don’t lose hope and be there for them when they need you the most.
Call Us For PTSD Treatment in Orange County
The safety of our patients is our top priority. We want to create a space where you dont have to be ashamed to get treatment for any mental health condition. Don’t let you or your loved one be affected by their horrible experiences any longer. Our PTSD Treatment at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center offers top-of-the-line treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
No matter your situation, the skilled staff at our PTSD Treatment Center in California is here to work with you to find a treatment plan. Call us today and our admission specialist will answer any of your questions you may have regarding our process!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most common form of psychotherapy for an individual with PTSD. It can be found to be the most effective treatment of PTSD both in the short term and long term.
Along with most mental illnesses, there is no one cure for PTSD. The symptoms can only be managed to restore the affected individual to normal functioning. The best opportunity to treat PTSD is a combination of medication and therapy.
PTSD is triggered by terrifying events either from experience or witnessing it. Symptoms of a PTSD attack may include flashbacks. nightmare, and severe anxiety as well as uncontrollable thoughts from the event.
As people age their PTSD symptoms could become more apparent or worsen. One reason this might happen is retirement. When a person retires they are less distracted by their busy work schedule and have more time to think about what they have been through.
Clinically Reviewed By:
Dawn Masick, LMFT
Dawn has experience dealing with various relational, emotional, and psychological struggles. Dawn’s training has prepared her to work with children, teens, young adults, adults, couples, and families. She has undergone training in DBT, TF-CBT, and Family Therapy. Other competencies include dealing with ADHD, mood/anxiety disorders, parenting challenges, addiction, PTSD, co- dependency, and relationship issues. I have experience in residential, school-based mental health, children’s community mental health, victims of crime (VOC), and private practice settings.
Dawn has been committed to guiding clients through their trauma, coming alongside them in their healing, and supporting them as they navigate life changes. Dawn’s passion is working with clients struggling with trauma in substance abuse and mental health.
