After going through something traumatic, it’s normal to have difficulty coping. Maybe you lost a loved one, or maybe you witnessed a terrible accident. Whatever the cause, these feelings of post-traumatic stress are normal. If these feelings remain, even after weeks or months, you may instead be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How to tell if you have PTSD

The individual symptoms do tend to vary from person to person with PTSD, depending on factors like the nervous system or a person’s tolerance for stress. Usually, the symptoms appear within the days following the traumatic event you went through but sometimes can take much longer periods, even years.

In some cases, the symptoms are triggered by very specific things that remind you of the event, but in other cases, symptoms appear seemingly out of nowhere.

PTSD symptoms can generally be split into four subtypes:

Intrusive memories and flashbacks to the traumatic event, as well as intense reactions to anything that reminds you of the trauma.
Avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma, difficulty remembering parts of the trauma, a loss of interest in things, and a feeling of emotional numbness
Hyperarousal, which includes anything from irritability, trouble sleeping, hypervigilance (being on alert all the time), being easily started, angry outbursts, and self-destructive behavior.
Negative changes in thoughts and actions such as feeling alienated and alone, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and feelings of depression, hopelessness, mistrust, guilt, or self-blame.

What causes PTSD?

Factors that can contribute to the development of PTSD include the following:

Stressful experiences
Previous traumatic events
Family history of PTSD
History of abuse
Substance abuse
Personal history of depression or other mental health condition
Overall temperament and the way your brain responds to stress

How can I treat PTSD?

Despite the way, your PTSD may make you feel, know that there is always hope for relief from your symptoms thanks to treatments and lifestyle changes. Though traditional treatments, like antidepressant medications, or psychotherapy sessions may bring relief, there is also hope for a new era of PTSD treatment thanks to innovative new techniques like ketamine infusion therapy.

Ketamine for PTSD

Ketamine was first approved by the FDA for use as an anesthetic, but in recent years is a powerful, rapid-acting treatment for mood disorders like PTSD. Research speculates that ketamine plays a role in the treatment of mood disorders through its interaction with the neurotransmitter known as glutamate. Glutamate is a powerful neurotransmitter that mediates the body’s response to stress and traumatic memories.

To learn more about ketamine and its use as PTSD treatment, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.