Trauma

TRAUMA SERVICES OFFERED IN FAIRFAX, VIENNA, AND STERLING, VA

 The Inspire Behavioral Health Team in Vienna, Fairfax and Sterling, Virginia provide specialized trauma-led therapy to help people overcome conditions caused by trauma. If you can’t move on with your life because of a traumatic experience, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) results from direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic event. These events pose a risk to your life or the lives of others. Examples include:

• Air and rail crashes
• Floods and fires
• Terrorist attacks
• Mass killings
• Rape and personal assault
• Severe injuries

PTSD often affects combat personnel and civilians in war zones.

What symptoms does PTSD cause?

PTSD symptoms fit into four categories:

Negative thoughts and mood

Depression and anxiety commonly affect people with PTSD. You might persistently feel hopeless, guilty, ashamed, worthless, and unhappy. Anxiety makes you constantly feel on edge, with physical symptoms like sweating, fast breathing, trembling, and palpitations. You might also experience panic attacks, where fear and distress overwhelm you.

Intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are ones you can’t get out of your head. They’re often images of the event that repeatedly go through your mind. Flashbacks, where you feel like you’re experiencing the event again, are a primary PTSD symptom. Disturbing nightmares are also common for people with PTSD.

Avoidance

You might avoid talking about your experience and anything that reminds you of it, including people, places, and activities that trigger memories of your trauma. If you experience flashbacks and panic attacks, you might go to extreme lengths to avoid them.

Physical and emotional reactions

PTSD often interferes with your ability to sleep. You might struggle to fall asleep and frequently wake up, leaving you frustrated and overtired. It’s common to jump or start at sudden noises and react angrily to surprises when you have PTSD. Self-destructive behaviors, like taking illegal drugs and drinking excessive quantities of alcohol, are also common.

PTSD symptoms often develop soon after the traumatic event. However, they can sometimes take years to surface.

How is PTSD treated?

The Inspire Behavioral Health team offers compassionate care for people with PTSD. After diagnosing your condition, they guide you towards recovery with a personalized plan that’s likely to combine therapy and medication.

Psychotherapy, where you meet with a skilled therapist to discuss your condition, can help you process your trauma. Expressing how you felt at the time is vital in moving forward. The Inspire Behavioral Health team uses a trauma-informed approach to make this process easier.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps with depression and anxiety, enabling you to cope with daily life. You could also benefit from medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

For expert support working through PTSD, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an appointment online.

At Inspire Behavioral Health we offer services such as MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, PSYCHOTHERAPY, ADHD TESTING, TMS, SPRAVATO, PRIMARY CARE, MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS, PSYCHIATRIC GENETIC TESTING plus treatments for ADHD, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PTSD, BIPOLAR and PANIC DISORDER.