You’ve likely heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can cause someone to experience anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms after living through a traumatic event. But did you know that the mental health community commonly divides PTSD into five stages? They are:

1. Impact – This stage occurs immediately after someone experiences a traumatic event. The person may feel shocked, overwhelmed, powerless, guilty, anxious, or afraid.
2. Denial – Because the brain naturally blocks out traumatic experiences to protect itself, some people may go through a stage where they deny that the traumatic event occurred in the first place.
3. Rescue – During the rescue stage, someone begins coming to terms with the traumatic event, possibly returning to the site where it occurred or ruminating about what happened. Many people experience confusion, despair, hopelessness, and anger during this phase.
4. Acceptance – Once someone regains their sense of safety and begins to look at the traumatic event in a new light, they may recognize the impact that the experience had on their life and accept that they need help to move on from what happened. Anxiety and insomnia are common at this stage.
5. Recovery – During this final stage, someone takes affirmative steps (such as seeking professional help) to heal from their traumatic experience and implement coping mechanisms.

Your Top Choice for PTSD Treatment

No matter what stage of PTSD you’re in right now, we can help. Our therapists regularly work with individuals who are living with PTSD, and we understand that each patient requires a unique approach to care. After learning about your background and how PTSD affects you, we’ll work with you to overcome your symptoms and achieve an improved quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about our practice and schedule your first therapy session.

When someone lives through a traumatic event, they may begin experiencing symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares. If these symptoms worsen, interfere with the person’s daily routine, or persist for an extended period of time (months or years), it’s referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental health condition is quite common—in fact, according to statistics published by the National Center for PTSD, approximately 6% of the U.S. population will develop PTSD at some point during their lives.

Despite the prevalence of PTSD in today’s society, many people still don’t understand what it truly means to have this condition. Below are three common myths about PTSD that aren’t actually true.

1. Only Soldiers Can Develop PTSD

Although PTSD is relatively common among members of the military, it can affect anyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. For example, someone may develop PTSD after being abused, surviving a violent crime, living through a natural disaster, or working as a first responder.

2. PTSD Occurs Right Away

While some people begin experiencing PTSD symptoms immediately after a traumatic event, others can go months or even years before they develop symptoms. And once symptoms do appear, they can come and go over time.

3. PTSD Can’t Be Treated

There are numerous treatments available that can help relieve the symptoms of PTSD. For example, someone with this condition may benefit from attending therapy, participating in support groups, and taking medication.

Want to Know More About PTSD?

If you’ve been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder—or if you have a loved one who’s displaying the signs of this condition—it can be incredibly helpful to speak to a therapist who specializes in treating PTSD. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of the knowledgeable therapists on our team. We’ll be happy to tell you more about our practice and answer any questions you might have about our approach to PTSD treatment.