PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress disorder is common in the United States with about 8 percent of Americans having PTSD at some point during their lifetime. We know that this disorder affects veterans with some estimates showing 11 to 20 percent of service members potentially having PTSD after having deployed. It is also not unusual for individuals to develop late onset of PTSD due to early childhood traumas, sexual abuse, sudden loss, difficulties with adjustments due to life changes, domestic violence, stressful and unsatisfying work place and more.

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Although there are several effective treatment options for PTSD, many individuals including service members choose not to come forward to get help due to the stigma regarding psychological health care. Many of the beliefs people hold about PTSD and mental health in general are actually false, and these myths perpetuate the stigma and keep people who really need help from reaching out. It’s critical that individuals and service members understand the facts about PTSD and seek care.

The following are basic symptoms pf PTSD:

• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Feeling slowed down
• Recurrent thoughts that will not leave the mind
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering new information
• Losing interest in things that used to be pleasurable
• Mild to severe headaches
• Feeling tired, having no energy in spite of eating a balanced meal and taking vitamins
• Sensitivity to noise, light or repeating phrases / patterns
• Depression, sadness
• Recurrent nightmares
• Anger, feeling violent, wanting to smash something
• Nervousness / anxiety
• Avoidance of crowded areas, people or things that remind you of the event
• Insomnia / trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
• Flashbacks
• Easily startled or feeling keyed up
• Feeling to check and recheck things

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Kuadra uses a variety of healing modalities that promote both personality transformation and spiritual transformation. We recognize that healing from PTSD requires approaches that address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body.