How to Overcome PTSD

We all experience ups and downs in life that can challenge our mental health.

There can be certain traumatic events that cause the initial spark for post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health disorder known as PTSD, and the symptoms can last a very long time after the stressful life event. You may feel that you can never get over this experience; however, there are productive ways to overcome PTSD. In order to move forward and treat this disease, you have to face your fears and talk about your emotions. Banyan Mental Health provides PTSD treatment for those who suffer, and our mental health facility in Boca Raton understands the many hardships associated with this disease.

What Is PTSD?

People who deal with PTSD on a daily basis most likely went through an extremely distressing event that caused fear and even pain.

Common causes for PTSD include:

• Military combat
• Learning about the sudden death of a loved one
• Physical or sexual abuse during one’s childhood
• Car accidents and other collisions
• Terrorist attacks
• Other violent attacks, like burglary, assault, or sexual assault
• Natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes

Bearing witness to almost any traumatic event can lead to an eventual PTSD diagnosis. Someone can experience intense flashbacks and memories that take them right back to that moment, and this can make it hard to function on a daily basis. Someone dealing with PTSD will be overwhelmed with intense emotions, with common symptoms including nightmares that bring you back to the traumatic event, anxiety, and frequent panic attacks. It is also possible for someone to be triggered by external stimuli, a common example being veterans that have a negative reaction to the sound of fireworks being set off.

What many people may not realize is that this disorder is very common, and so many individuals suffer from the debilitating symptoms. That being said, the experience of the disorder will ultimately vary from person to person. Even a person’s gender can play a role in whether or not they obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment for their condition.

Gender Differences in PTSD

Before you learn how to recover from PTSD, it is important to understand the complexities of this disorder and how it can affect different people in unique ways. Essentially, gender can play a part in how the disorder manifests and affects the person suffering from it. Although the way PTSD affects someone can be influenced by a variety of factors, there are certain things that can be informative when kept in mind.

PTSD Symptoms in Men

When a man experiences some form of trauma, it is not uncommon that he would not recognize the effect that it has had. Only in recent years has more acceptance been shown toward males in the expression of feelings and emotions. Many men continue to internalize their symptoms for fear of judgment or criticism. This sadly acts as a barrier for countless people. They fail to reach out for help, which makes it that much less likely that they will overcome PTSD on their own.

Some tell-tale symptoms include:

• Appearing hypervigilant and constantly feeling the need to prepare for further trauma
• Experiencing feelings of isolation and a desire to withdraw from social settings
• Struggling with the regulation of intense emotions
• Feeling ashamed of their symptoms
• Dissociating

Because men are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than women, this also means they are more susceptible to developing some kind of substance use disorder that only further complicates their condition.1 In the case of such a dual diagnosis, Banyan offers mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders that will effectively treat the symptoms of their mental disorder while simultaneously addressing the addictive habits that have been developed along the way.

PTSD in Women

While PTSD can happen to anyone, studies have found that nearly half of all women will experience at least one traumatic event throughout their life.2 That being said, women are far more likely to obtain trauma from either childhood sexual abuse or other forms of sexual assault in their lifetime, and while men may go through more traumatic events as a whole, women are more likely to develop PTSD.3

Remember to consider that not everyone that experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. There are certain factors that could play a bigger role in that development for women, including:

• Not having sufficient social or familial support
• Living through a particularly severe instance of trauma
• Obtaining some kind of injury during a traumatic event
• Having a past or current mental illness, like anxiety or depression
• Being sexually assaulted

While men may find it difficult to identify the difficult emotions they are experiencing, women are more likely to feel complete numbness. Additionally, male PTSD patients are more likely to experience instances of extreme anger, while women will display feelings of anxiety and depression. Women are also not as likely to develop substance addiction.

How to Treat PTSD

Overcoming PTSD is possible, and a medical diagnosis will allow individuals to monitor their own symptoms and truly recover from the disorder. With a medical diagnosis from Banyan’s facility for mental health care in Boca Raton, you will receive a customized treatment plan that may include a combination of medication and trauma-focused therapy methods. By utilizing the techniques in many of these types of therapy, you will be able to effectively process past events and learn how to change unhealthy thought patterns. Working with a therapist one-on-one will allow you to open up about your daily struggles and find ways to reframe negative thoughts in future situations.

It’s important to realize that you are not alone when it comes to battling PTSD, and you can end the cycle of constant panic and fear. Overcoming this mental illness with a supportive group of family and friends will help you with your progress, and it’s possible to live a positive, engaging life despite past traumatic events. Our residential mental health program provides an excellent setting to begin taking those steps toward the positive life experience that you deserve. You are more than your trauma. You are more than a mental illness diagnosis, and we hope that you allow us to be a part of your own journey to recovery.

Contact Banyan Mental Health to learn more about our mental illness treatment in Boca by calling 888-280-4763.

1. NIDA - Sex and Gender Differences in Substance Use 
2. US Dept of Veterans Affairs - How Common is PTSD in Women? 
3. NAMI - PTSD is More Likely in Women Than Men