PTSD Treatment
An estimated 13 million Americans were living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2020. If you or someone you love is living with this condition, you know just how debilitating it can be. Some days are easier than others, but symptoms can strike at any time.
At Oceans Healthcare, we understand the need for personalized, patient-centered PTSD treatment here in the southern United States. Let’s look at the treatment options that are available.
The Oceans Experience
Oceans is committed to providing quality behavioral health in a safe environment. With our telehealth capabilities we can conduct therapy, education and diagnosis via phone or video. We accept Medicare, TRICARE and most private insurance.
What We Treat: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic experience, leading to ongoing stress, anxiety, and flashbacks. The condition can leave you reliving some of the hardest moments of your life regularly. While PTSD is commonly associated with military combat veterans, it can be caused by any kind of trauma.
Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. It is estimated to occur in about 5-10% of people who experience trauma. If you’re one of those people, you know PTSD can really complicate your life. The condition can make it difficult to work and connect with the people you love. Luckily, treatment can greatly improve your quality of life. Learning to understand your trauma will help reduce the intensity of your symptoms. You can also work with a therapist to find ways to manage your symptoms. With the right support, recovery from PTSD is possible.
How We Treat: Multiple Levels of Care
PTSD affects people differently. Whether you need a lot of help managing PTSD or just more support than traditional therapy can provide, your symptoms are never something to be ashamed of. We have options that can help you. Regardless of which program you choose, you’ll find yourself in a collaborative environment with a whole team of clinicians brainstorming how to best help you reach your recovery goals.
STAR Military Program
We understand that if you’re an active-duty military member, you have a unique experience with PTSD related to combat. That’s why we have our STAR military program at certain Ocean’s Healthcare locations, which is tailored specifically to military personnel. In this program, you can access a military liaison to ensure a seamless transition. You’ll work with clinicians who have undergone military culture training, and your schedule will adhere to military time.
Together, you and your therapist will use therapeutic techniques to cope with your symptoms and get you ready to return to service. Veterans and the families of military members can also receive treatment through this program.
Residential or Inpatient Treatment
At one of our residential treatment facilities, you’ll receive world-class, structured care all hours of the day and night. When you’re experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD, inpatient treatment provides you with a safe space away from triggers. Here, you can focus on recovery in a calm environment. During your stay, our clinical staff will manage your daily schedule, allowing you to keep your full attention on the daily recovery activities you’ll be participating in.
Partial Hospitalization Program
If you choose our partial hospitalization program (PHP), you’ll participate in four to five hours of rigorous therapy and treatment every day. After your daily treatment, you’ll go home for the evening. PHP is designed for clients who need on-location treatment but want or need to be home afterward.
In PHP, you’ll work with professionals to break down the traumatic experiences that caused your PTSD to develop. You’ll develop skills to manage your symptoms and reduce their frequency.
Intensive Outpatient Program Services
The intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers more support than traditional outpatient therapy while enabling you to maintain your usual daily schedule. Our IOP will provide you with approximately 3 hours of treatment in the evening up to four days a week while you develop work on developing coping mechanisms for PTSD. You’ll also meet with a physician monthly to ensure your physical health needs are met.
What Are the Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD occurs when you experience a trauma that threatens your existence or sense of safety. Sometimes, this is a singular event, like a car crash or a home invasion. In other cases, PTSD is caused by a series of events, like continuous physical, emotional, or psychological abuse.
The reason that some people develop PTSD while others do not is not well understood. But the condition isn’t something to be ashamed of. Your response to trauma is deeply personal. At Oceans Healthcare, we validate your experiences, help you understand them, and empower you to move forward.
Here are 5 examples of traumatic events that can cause PTSD:
- Military combat.
- An unexpected injury or illness.
- The sudden death of a loved one.
- A natural disaster, like an earthquake, fire, or flood.
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including bullying, abuse, neglect, or a parent’s divorce.
Just because your experience isn’t listed here doesn’t mean it’s not valid. Your experiences are unique to you, and it’s important to remember that you deserve to recover, no matter what you’ve gone through.
What Are the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD symptoms are broken down into four categories: intrusion, avoidance, changes in thinking and mood, and changes in reactivity. Let’s look at examples of each category.
Examples of intrusion symptoms include:
- Flashbacks to the event that make you feel like you’re back in the moment.
- Nightmares related to your trauma.
- Repetitive memories about the event that you can’t stop thinking about.
Examples of avoidance symptoms include:
- Constantly distracting yourself when you start to remember or think about your trauma.
- Refusing to talk about what happened or how it made you feel.
- Avoiding people, places, activities, and situations that remind you of your trauma.
Examples of changes in thinking and mood:
- Not being able to remember certain things about your traumatic experiences.
- No longer enjoying things you used to love.
- Feeling detached from the people you love.
- Distorted thoughts about cause and effect that lead you to unfairly blame yourself or those in your life.
- Ongoing feelings of fear, shame, and guilt surrounding your traumatic experiences.
Examples of changes in reactivity:
- Being easily startled.
- Engaging in self-destructive behaviors
- Intense outbursts due to anger or irritability.
- Hypervigilance, or being overly aware of your surroundings.
To be diagnosed with PTSD, these symptoms must last for one month or more. They must also cause significant distress or prevent you from completing daily tasks at home, work, or school.
If you haven’t received a PTSD diagnosis, you could still be living with its effects. When you give your condition a name, you take power over it. With the right support, you can and will recover.
What Treatments Are Available for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Evidence-based therapies are the best treatment for PTSD. In some cases, medication is used in combination with therapy to help you manage symptoms of panic, anxiety, and depression. At Ocean’s Healthcare, you’ll participate in individual and group therapies. There are a few different types of therapy you and your therapist could use to improve your PTSD.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET)
Your therapist will gradually expose you to the fears related to your trauma in a calm, safe space. This is done at a pace that will ensure you’re comfortable and won’t retraumatize you. Through PET, you’ll learn that you are safe, even when you have thoughts or feelings that remind you of traumatic events.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
During CBT, you’ll examine the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, you and your therapist will work to identify the ways you think about your trauma. Then, the two of you will reframe your thoughts and find better coping strategies, reducing potentially self-destructive behaviors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
In ACT, you’ll learn to stop avoiding, denying, or fighting difficult emotions. You’ll learn to examine situations and feelings to decide whether to take action or simply accept them for what they are. Through this therapy, you’ll develop more psychological flexibility and change the way you react to distressing thoughts and feelings.
Getting Treatment for PTSD in the Southland
You are more than your PTSD. At Oceans Healthcare, we will empower you with patient-focused care. Each program is overseen by a board-certified psychiatrist, meaning you’ll receive the highest quality of care, no matter your needs. Get started with treatment today and reclaim your life from PTSD.
Oceans Healthcare will empower you to recover from PTSD. Because of our roots in geriatric care, we understand the importance of treating patients holistically. We ensure that clients’ physical and psychological needs are met. We have more than 30 locations throughout Dixieland and treat over 34 thousand clients annually, so we have the experience to provide world-class care. Call us now at 888-293-6899.
Oceans Healthcare: Your Path, Our Purpose.