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PTSD

Ketaminology -  - Ketamine Infusion Specialist

Ketaminology

Ketamine Infusion Specialists & Depression Specialists located in New Hampshire Seacoast, Newington, NH & Nashua, NH

When you’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, it’s normal to suffer some short-term symptoms such as nightmares or avoidance behaviors. However, if those symptoms persist and disrupt your life long after the event, you may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At Ketaminology, Anh Ngo, MD, MBA; James Mirazita, MD; and PK Suchdev, MD, offer expert care and treatments for PTSD to patients in Newington, Nashua, and throughout the state of New Hampshire. If you’re struggling with PTSD, call the office or make an appointment online today.

PTSD Q & A

What is PTSD?

Originally diagnosed during World War I, PTSD was known as shell shock. The nomenclature evolved to combat fatigue during World War II. 

While the trauma of war may have led to the original names of the condition and brought the diagnosis to the forefront of medical care, PTSD isn’t limited to those in combat.

PTSD is a specific type of anxiety that develops after you witness or experience a traumatic event, such as a mass shooting or other terrorist attack, a severe automobile accident, or personal violence. 

PTSD usually develops a few weeks or months after the event, and the symptoms can last for months or even years.

 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD causes four types of symptoms: intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, negative thoughts and feelings, and reactions.

Intrusive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are persistent frequent thoughts or memories of the traumatic event. You might have nightmares or daytime flashbacks that are so realistic you feel like you’re reliving the event.

Avoidance behaviors

Avoidance behaviors lead you to reduce your exposure to people, places, or objects that remind you of your trauma. However, avoidance can also severely disrupt your life and prevent you from engaging.

Negative thoughts

It’s also common to experience negative feelings about yourself or others. Survivors’ guilt, for example, is a common negative thought if you’ve been through a traumatic event. You might also harbor anger at other people in relation to the trauma.

Heightened reactions

Many people with PTSD have persistently heightened states of arousal or anxiety that make them jumpy, irritable, or act out in dangerous or self-destructive ways.

 

How is PTSD treated?

The team at ketaminology begins treatment with a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms, overall health, and medical history. After they confirm your PTSD diagnosis, they create a customized treatment plan that usually includes psychotherapy and medication, such as oral antidepressants, or ketamine infusion therapy.

Medication can regulate your brain chemistry and give you the mental clarity needed to explore and process your memories, thoughts, and emotions surrounding your trauma.

However, if other treatments haven't helped, ketamine infusion therapy can provide relief from many PTSD symptoms in a matter of hours and without the side effects of many antidepressants. 

Call ketaminology today or make an appointment online for a comprehensive assessment and customized treatment for PTSD.