Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment in Florida

PTSD and trauma may result from a variety of experiences, including:

• Single unexpected events: an accident, injury, or violent attack, particularly during childhood
• Sustained events: natural disasters, fighting a life-threatening illness, or experiencing repeated bullying, domestic violence, or neglect
• Overlooked events: moments you might not automatically think of as traumatic (e.g., the loss of a prized possession, the death of a relative, or the loss of a close friend after a move). Hospitalization or surgical procedures may often be overlooked as a source of trauma.

Traumatic experiences can affect anyone. Military personnel, first responders, doctors, and nurses are more likely to experience PTSD more often.

Unfortunately, some individuals choose not to confront work-related traumas because they are concerned about how their colleagues or supervisors might perceive them.

Feeling stigmatized for their mental health needs could lead them to cope alone or even turn to alcohol or drugs to manage PTSD symptoms.

How you respond to typical stress or reminders of past trauma can be signs of PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can appear in many ways, affecting thoughts, mood, and daily functioning. Common symptoms include:

• Recurrent episodes of unwanted, intrusive thoughts
• Nightmares, distressing dreams, or flashbacks
• Withdrawal from social circles and loved ones
• Continuous hypervigilance for cues indicating an additional danger
• Unwarranted anger
• Negative changes in feelings and beliefs
• Fluctuating moods
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dissociative mental experiences
• Inability to function with daily tasks
• Exaggerated reaction to events
• Episodes of panic
• Inability to concentrate
• Insomnia

Trauma often involves a threat to your safety or life, but any overwhelming or isolating situation can cause a traumatic impact, regardless of direct physical harm.

What matters most is your personal emotional response. When fear and helplessness persist after a traumatic event, these reactions can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder.

Recognizing this link between trauma and PTSD is the first step toward seeking professional treatment and beginning recovery.                          

Common trauma symptoms include:

• Anxiety or persistent fear
• Insomnia or changes in sleep patterns
• Disordered eating
• Social withdrawal or difficulty connecting with others
• Relationship problems
• Compulsive or self-destructive behaviors
• Shock or emotional numbness
• Irritability or frequent anger
• Panic attacks
• Memory loss or confusion
• Episodes of extreme stress
• Nightmares or disturbing dreams

Our PTSD treatment in Florida offers several evidence-based trauma therapies and individualized treatment plans to address the unique traumatic experiences or causes of PTSD you may have encountered.

We also offer residential inpatient treatment for PTSD at our Residential Mental Health Program. For those with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, we offer treatment at our Center for Men’s Recovery, Center for Women’s Recovery, and Center for Older Adult Recovery programs with specialized tracks for pregnant women and veterans and first responders.

• Individual and group therapy
  PTSD counseling helps patients feel heard and supported while learning new coping skills.
• Meditation training
  Mindfulness introduces patients to becoming intensely aware of what they’re sensing in their bodies and encourages them not to interpret or judge those sensations.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  EMDR uses eye movement to disrupt patterns of trauma-related memories.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  CBT reframes traumatic memories, teaches relaxation techniques, and uses role-play to process past experiences.
• Biofeedback
  Biofeedback teaches patients how to control basic body functions, such as heart rate, to relax when reminded of a traumatic memory.
• Neurofeedback
  Neurofeedback encourages the brain to develop healthier patterns of activity.

These therapies help patients process painful memories and PTSD causes in a safe and supportive setting. They also introduce new ways to help them cope with the feelings associated with the traumatic experience or the person who caused the trauma.