When to Seek a Psychiatrist for Treatment of PTSD

Trauma is not an uncommon experience. More than half the population will experience some type of trauma in their lifetime. For 6% of people, trauma will trigger Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms at some point. 

PTSD is a condition caused by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events like:

• Life Threatening Violence
• Combat Exposure
• Sexual Violence or Abuse
• Childhood Abuse
• Grave Accident or Injury

It’s important that people who are exposed to traumatic events understand and identify when they may be experiencing symptoms of PTSD, and are able to recognize when it might be time to seek treatment. Our objective at Hudson Psychiatric Associates is to help you make educated decisions about your mental health.

Understanding PTSD symptoms 

Trauma doesn’t always trigger symptoms of PTSD, but when it does, it affects people in a variety of ways. PTSD presents in people of all ages and is influenced by a variety of factors like intensity or duration of the trauma and other traumatic events in your life, genetics. brain chemicals, and natural resilience and coping mechanisms.

PTSD symptoms are generally categorized in 4 ways and include:

• Intrusive Memories
• Avoidance
• Negative changes in thinking and mood
• Changes in physical and emotional reactions

When is it time to seek professional help for PTSD?

When symptoms begin to interfere with your daily life or get worse over time and you are having difficulty coping, it may be time to seek psychiatric services to get treatment. The earlier a patient receives treatment for their symptoms, the easier those symptoms are to treat and get under control. 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for additional help through your mental health professional as well as support systems like your loved ones, spiritual leaders, and/or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). 

What a Psychiatric Professional Can Offer To Treat PTSD

Those who suffer from trauma and PTSD may benefit from different treatment approaches. Hudson Psychiatric can integrate psychotherapy with medical assessment and treatment including ordering medical tests and prescribing medication if necessary. We support alternative medicine therapies and take time to evaluate the whole patient while making clinical and therapeutic treatment decisions 

Psychotherapy and medical intervention should be included with coping techniques you use independently. That can look like support groups,  education and empowerment, self-care, and following the treatment plan your psychiatric professional provides.

There are a variety of ways to treat the symptoms of PTSD. Reaching out to a mental health professional who you can trust is the first step. Our team of psychiatric service providers in Hoboken and Paramus offers a variety of resources and services to fit your needs including convenient virtual appointments.  Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options.