Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many veterans, but it’s not limited to those with military experience. Anyone at any age can end up with the condition after experiencing a traumatic event. At Advent Family Psychology, Mindy Pearson, PhD, specializes in unique therapies that help you work through the trauma and emotions caused by PTSD. With Dr. Pearson’s compassionate support, you can overcome PTSD and find relief from your anxiety and flashbacks. To get the help you need, call the office in Lehi, Utah, or book an appointment online today.
PTSD is a mental health condition you develop after going through a dangerous or stressful event or a prolonged traumatic experience. You may be directly involved in the trauma or witness it.
Traumatic events that cause PTSD include:
These events naturally cause anxiety and distress, but those feelings should improve over a few weeks. You may have PTSD when your symptoms persist longer than a month.
PTSD causes many different recurring symptoms. In addition to ongoing anxiety, you may:
You may have such a strong urge to avoid PTSD triggers that you change your daily routine and stay away from important activities or responsibilities.
When you experience a traumatic event, your brain automatically records all of the details, such as the sights, smells, and sounds. Then those details go into your subconscious, so you’re not aware of them.
As you go about your day, you may suddenly encounter one of those details in your current environment. That detail connects with your subconscious and triggers a surge of intense emotions and memories from your trauma.
PTSD treatment primarily involves evidence-based psychotherapies that help you safely process the trauma. As Dr. Pearson helps you remember and deal with the event, your PTSD improves.
She uses several therapies for PTSD trauma, with a few of the most successful being eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems, and emotion- or trauma-focused therapies.
Dr. Pearson always customizes your therapy based on your emotional and behavioral needs. To that end, you may need other therapeutic approaches to improve anxiety, change negative emotions, and overcome depression or guilt.
There currently aren’t medications for PTSD, but Dr. Pearson may recommend them for specific problems like depression or anger. If you need psychopharmaceuticals, she can refer you to an experienced physician.
You can overcome PTSD symptoms with compassionate care at Advent Family Psychology. Call or book an appointment online today.