Understanding PTSD: Symptoms and Challenges in the Los Angeles Context
After experiencing a traumatic event, most people will need some time to adjust and cope, but when symptoms continue over months or even years and interfere with your daily life, it may be a sign of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder vary between individuals and can change over time, as each person handles stress differently. While all of the symptoms listed below are natural feelings everybody experiences from time to time, when a person has PTSD, the symptoms last a long time and cause troubles in social and work environments, and with their relationships.
Mental Health Treatment That Works
Call 949-625-0564There are four types of symptoms to look for:
Negative changes in thinking and mood: A person with PTSD might feel hopeless, depressed, hollow, emotionally numb, experience negative thoughts about themselves and the world, and may not be able to picture a better future. They may feel detached from their loved ones and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. They may also have memory trouble, especially when they try to think about the traumatic incident.
Avoidance: Avoidance can mean staying away from places and people that remind the person of the traumatic event, and it can also include trying not to think or talk about it. Sometimes people with PTSD will turn to substance abuse to help suppress the thoughts and feelings related to the incident, which may result in a co-occurring substance use disorder.
Changes in physical and emotional reactions: When a person develops PTSD, they may start to exhibit what are called “arousal” symptoms. This means their nervous system is on high alert. They may have difficulty sleeping, or feel jumpy and easily startled. Some people are on guard for danger, and they may feel irritable, angry, aggressive, have difficulty concentrating, or feel guilt and shame surrounding the event.
Intrusive memories are also sometimes called flashbacks. They include recurring, distressing, and unwanted memories of the event or even reliving it as though it was happening again. People with PTSD may also have upsetting dreams about the event, or react with extremely strong emotions when reminded of the event, as though they were reliving it. These thoughts and reactions are uncontrollable and can be very distressing.
Common triggers of PTSD include:
- Seeing people, places, or objects that remind the person of the traumatic event
- Having similar thoughts or emotions to the day, or even seeing a similar event in a movie or in a news report
- Hearing sounds or smelling something that reminds them of the event
- Anniversaries can bring back traumatic memories
Living in Los Angeles means living amongst millions of people, which can come with typical big-city problems like loud noises, violence, denser residential areas, fewer quiet green spaces, exposure to illicit substance use, and unpredictable encounters with strangers. Keeping this in mind, it’s no surprise that PTSD symptoms seem to be more prevalent in urban environments than in rural areas. Even though individuals living in cities have more access to healthcare infrastructure, there are also more stressful social conditions to contend with.
When seeking somewhere to help with PTSD recovery, Los Angeles residents can count on Moment of Clarity. A trained therapist can help you identify your specific triggers, so you can better understand yourself and find ways to cope.
Why PTSD Treatment is Crucial for Mental Health in Los Angeles
After a car accident, an assault, or being deployed into combat, it’s normal to need some time to decompress and come to terms with what you’ve experienced. Experiencing traumatic and frightening events doesn’t always lead a person to develop PTSD. When it does happen, it is a serious mental health condition that requires proper treatment, as it will not go away on its own.
Mental Health Treatment That Works
Call 949-625-0564Having to live with disturbing thoughts, strong emotional reactions, depression, and fear can destroy your quality of life and isolate you from your friends, family, and other support networks. Stress can affect both mental and physical health, and people who live with PTSD for longer than a few months may start to notice they’re developing other problems like:
- Declining physical wellness
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain
- Substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Autoimmunity issues
- Decreased work or school performance
- Developing new phobias
- Antisocial or self-punishing behaviors
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Suicidal thoughts
Getting help is crucial, especially if you notice you’re often fearful, angry, depressed, or experiencing life negatively. The good news is that PTSD recovery is strongly supported. There are localized support systems like group therapy, one-on-one talk therapy, and inpatient treatment centers like Moment of Clarity to explore. Professional treatment can help you gain insight into the issue and provide healthy coping mechanisms while friends, family, and other community members can provide loving support as you heal.
Moment of Clarity’s Approach to PTSD Recovery
PTSD recovery requires personalized care. Everybody responds to different therapies and treatments differently, so customizing your treatment plan will give you the right help for your unique needs. At Moment of Clarity, we’ll get to know more about you and the severity of the PTSD you’re dealing with, as well as any other problems you may be experiencing in your life that are related to this mental health disorder. For example, you may have found that your self-confidence has been damaged, you need help rebuilding personal relationships, or you need to figure out how to deal with specific triggers in your life.
We can provide targeted therapy options, with or without prescription medications, to help lessen painful and problematic symptoms as you work on coping skills and feeling more like yourself.
Your unique treatment plan may include:
Our staff members and therapists are all highly trained and experienced in working with people who have PTSD, and we use trauma-informed care to ensure you aren’t re-traumatized by the healing process. Your health and wellness are always our primary concern as we provide recovery skills, caring support, and compassion, every step of the way.
Specialized Therapies Offered by Moment of Clarity
Some of the specialized treatments we offer for PTSD recovery in Los Angeles include:
- CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a popular means of addressing the connection between thoughts, actions, and the way we feel, and it can help patients to reframe negative thoughts and behavioral patterns.
- DBT – Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a modified version of CBT that focuses on mindfulness, acceptance, communication, and distress tolerance. Learning to reduce stress and communicate better can help people make meaningful connections and live a healthier life.
- EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a type of therapy that uses the body’s sensory experiences and eye movements to change how the brain processes difficult memories.
How to Start Your PTSD Recovery Journey in Los Angeles with Moment of Clarity
If you’re ready to get started with PTSD recovery in Los Angeles, the first step is admission. We aim to get you the care you need as quickly as possible. To get started, all you have to do is call us at (949) 997-1730, and we’ll schedule you in. We accept most PPO insurance policies, so your treatment costs may be partially or completely covered, depending on your plan. You can expect your first session to be more like a consultation, where we get to know you and understand what you need. This way, our therapists can create a personalized plan that best suits your needs.
Resources and Support for PTSD Recovery in Los Angeles
There are a variety of local support groups available for those with PTSD, some of which include guided meditation and yoga workshops, childhood trauma processing groups, women’s empowerment groups, seeking safety groups for those with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and more.
Ongoing care is essential for anybody dealing with their mental health. At Moment of Clarity, we offer partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient treatment plans, along with other outpatient options that will keep you connected with the support you need, for as long as you need it. Maintenance is a part of living with a mental health disorder. Outpatient programs provide continued access to medical and psychological assistance for as long as you need, including services like counseling, therapy, psychoeducation, relapse prevention, and medication management.
If you’re ready to get treatment for PTSD symptoms, or if you’re looking for help for a loved one, please give us a call today at 949-625-0564. At Moment of Clarity, we are proud to offer a wide range of comprehensive, personalized treatments, and we have experts available now.
