PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects around 8% of women and 4% of men in their lifetimes. The compassionate, licensed professionals at Hudson River Care and Counseling provide progressive and spiritual counseling and support services for PTSD at their offices in Hoboken and Teaneck, New Jersey. To find out if you have PTSD and how counseling services can help, call Hudson River Care and Counseling or book an appointment online today. They offer both in-office visits and telehealth services. 

How does PTSD start?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that arises as the result of witnessing or experiencing major distress in your life. While PTSD symptoms tend to first appear within three months of the traumatic experience, they can sometimes emerge later and last for years.

There is a wide range of experiences that can lead to PTSD and other lasting emotional effects. You might develop PTSD after:

• Car accidents
• Combat
• Domestic violence
• Physical or sexual assault
• Witnessing violence (even on television or the internet)
• The death of a loved one

You’re more likely to develop PTSD if you lack social support or if you deal with other real-life consequences of your trauma, like losing a job or your home. 

What are the most common signs and symptoms of PTSD?

While individual experiences vary and PTSD can present in many different ways, there are four main categories of PTSD symptoms:

Re-experiencing symptoms

Re-experiencing symptoms can feel like reliving the traumatic event in real-time, even if it occurred years ago. These symptoms can present as nightmares, vivid flashback memories, or even physical stress symptoms like muscle tension or headaches. 

Reactivity symptoms

Reactivity symptoms affect the way you react to stimuli in your environment. You might feel on edge, be easily startled, or have regular angry outbursts. 

Avoidance symptoms

You may take measures to avoid reminders of your trauma, like changing your route to avoid a specific area or attempting to drown out or override memories of an event. 

Mood and cognition symptoms

PTSD can impact your emotions and thought patterns, causing emotions like fear or shame and making it difficult to concentrate. 

How can I cope with PTSD?

Fortunately, modern mental health care can treat PTSD to reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. The licensed counselors at Hudson River Care and Counseling provide a variety of services to help you manage PTSD. 

Individual therapy focuses on your own specific needs during one-on-one sessions with your counselor. Couples therapy can help you address the impact of your trauma and PTSD symptoms on your relationship. 

As for support groups, many people find solace in talking to other people who have had similar experiences in the past. Spiritual counseling services and support groups are available if you prefer to have counseling or support within the framework of your belief system. 

To explore services to help you cope with PTSD, call Hudson River Care and Counseling or use the online booking feature to schedule a visit today.