PTSD

Experiencing severe trauma can have devastating consequences, including causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Board-certified psychiatrist Ahmar M Butt, MD, at Balance TMS, Esketamine, and Psychiatry, PLLC, in Ankeny, Iowa, offers expert PTSD diagnosis and treatment delivered with compassion and respect. He uses carefully selected medications, talk therapies, and other treatments to reduce the effects of PTSD. Call Balance TMS, Esketamine, and Psychiatry, PLLC, today or schedule a consultation online to benefit from expert PTSD care.

What is PTSD?

PTSD develops after a terrifying, life-threatening event. It doesn’t happen to everyone who experiences trauma, but it can devastate those affected. Experiences that can lead to PTSD include:

• Severe auto accidents
• Terrorist acts
• Personal assault
• Tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters
• Air, rail, and sea transportation disasters
• Fires and floods
• Being held against your will
• Living or working in a war zone
• Military combat
• Life-changing injuries

PTSD isn’t limited to sudden, short-lived events. People who live for years with emotional, sexual, or physical abuse can develop complex (long-term) PTSD.

What symptoms can PTSD cause?

PTSD symptoms fit into one of four categories:

Intrusive thoughts

Nightmares and flashbacks are the most widespread PTSD symptoms. Flashbacks are memories so vivid you feel like you’re reliving the event. They usually happen when you see, hear, or smell something that reminds you of the trauma.

Negative emotions

PTSD triggers many negative emotions. Anger at whoever you hold responsible, fear of the event happening again, horror and disgust at what you witnessed, and feeling distrustful are typical.

You might develop distorted beliefs about yourself, feeling you’re responsible in some way or could have done more. Survivor’s guilt — believing you should have died — is also a typical PTSD symptom.

Reactivity

People with PTSD startle easily, jumping at any sudden noise or unexpected touch. You might become irritable, impatient, and prone to angry outbursts. Problems concentrating and sleeping and reckless behavior can affect people with PTSD.

Avoidance

The fear of experiencing distressing memories and flashbacks causes people with PTSD to avoid places, experiences, and people that could remind them of their trauma.

What treatments help with PTSD?

Balance TMS, Esketamine, and Psychiatry, PLLC offers personalized care to patients with PTSD. Your psychiatrist completes a thorough evaluation before recommending a suitable treatment program.

During psychotherapy (talk therapy or counseling) sessions, your psychiatrist encourages you to talk about your experience and feelings. This can be especially difficult for PTSD patients, who often try to suppress their memories. But opening up in a safe environment is the best way to overcome trauma.

Medications like anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants reduce PTSD symptoms, increasing psychotherapy’s effectiveness. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) helps PTSD patients when other treatments aren’t working. This safe, noninvasive treatment sends magnetic energy into underactive areas of your brain.

Call Balance TMS, Esketamine, and Psychiatry, PLLC, today, or book an appointment online for expert help with PTSD.