Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that sometimes develops in patients who have experienced physical trauma. We consider trauma to be anything that causes a person to feel unsafe, either emotionally or physically. However, PTSD relates specifically to physical trauma. At the core, patients with PTSD have lost the ability to FEEL safe, even when they ARE safe, because their brain has begun to perceive danger even where there is none. PTSD presents differently in each person depending on genetic factors, upbringing, as well as the type, severity, and frequency of trauma. PTSD is considered chronic when it lasts at least three months, though for treatment purposes when we talk about chronic PTSD we are generally referring to those who have struggled with at for at least one year.
PTSD is diagnosed based on the occurrence of trauma-related symptoms lasting for greater than 30 days following the occurrence of a traumatic event. Symptoms may include:
Re-experiencing of the traumatic event, such as flashbacks
Personality changes
Startling easily
Always being on the lookout for danger
Symptoms may occur consistently or episodically over long periods of time.
Long-Term Therapy
Chronic PTSD treatment often involves medication and therapy. Most treatments emphasize symptom management and coping strategies, though the ideal treatment will also facilitate processing of the trauma and establish a renewed sense of safety, both physical and emotional.
Medications can help patients manage the symptoms of their PTSD, including depression, anxiety, nightmares, irritability, and startling too easily. Additionally, some newer treatments can actually assist in the process of re-establishing the sense of emotional and physical safety.
Therapy is tailored to the patient’s specific age and situation. Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapies can help reteach the fear center of the brain that you are safe now, while dialectic behavioral therapy and others help patients develop improved coping strategies to deal with their overwhelming emotions.
Our Approach to Treating Chronic PTSD
At Chrysalis, we treat chronic PTSD with empathy, compassion, and understanding. We place an emphasis on treating the whole person and not just symptoms. We work with patients of all ages to determine their unique needs and develop a treatment plan with the goal of achieving deep healing and lasting recovery. Our treatment plans may consist of a wide range of services, from talk therapy to medication to transcranial magnetic therapy for PTSD. We believe that the human mind is capable of tremendous healing and that our most important role is creating a safe place for that healing to occur. Call Chrysalis Psychiatry at 505-503-6300 to make an appointment for PTSD treatment in Albuquerque, or fill out our contact form, and we will reach out as soon as possible.
