Are You Suffering from PTSD in Ohio? Not Sure?

Find Out What PTSD is and How You Can Get Treatment

If you think you might be suffering from PTSD in Ohio, it is important to understand exactly what PTSD is and how it affects your everyday life.

PTSD is an emotional and psychological anxiety and stress disorder developing from a negative response to life-threatening or traumatic events.

This disorder manifests itself in three key areas that are “clustered” in people with PTSD.

Do you exhibit these three symptoms?

  • Hyper-attentiveness or hyper-alertness, leading to irritability, anger, and the tendency to be easily startled.
  • Replaying or recreating a traumatizing event through flashbacks or nightmares that seemingly come out of nowhere.
  • Avoiding activities, people, or places that trigger these flashbacks.
Do I Have PTSD?I Need Help
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Warning Signs of PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder profoundly affects the emotional state of those who suffer from it. Some emotional symptoms include:

  • Misplaced guilt or feeling numb
  • Depression
  • Inability to concentrate; feeling jittery
  • Panic disorders

As you can imagine, sufferers of PTSD in Ohio may also suffer from many other difficulties such as:

  • Feeling disconnected from loved ones and everyday life
  • Decreased sexual drive
  • Substance abuse
  • Risky sexual behaviors
  • Divorce; domestic abuse; unemployment

In addition, if you are exhibiting some of these physical symptoms, talk to your doctor about the possibility of PTSD:

  • Unexplained chronic pain
  • Racing heart
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Digestion issues
  • Breathing issues
  • Headaches

Who is at Risk for PTSD?

Women are at the highest risk for PTSD (2x higher risk than men) because they are more susceptible to violence than men. Rape puts people at nearly a 50% risk for PTSD, and physical assault carries nearly a 40% rate of PTSD.

Enlisted military service personnel, especially those in the Army and Marines, who see active combat are at a higher risk for PTSD (30%).

Other risk factors for PTSD include natural disasters, witnessing someone else being killed, experiencing your child going through a severe illness, unexpected death of family or friend, serious injuries or accidents, and sexual assault.

How Do I Get Help for PTSD in Ohio?

If you are unsure where to start getting help, please talk to your family doctor or a professional at a mental health clinic in Ohio.

In addition, PTSD Alliance members are here to help you find local, personal, compassionate care for sufferers of PTSD.

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: 24 Hour Hotline for people suffering from abuse or domestic violence.
  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America: PTSD mobile coaching app, directory of mental health professionals in your area, and PTSD support groups in your area.
  • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Clinician Directory to find for a mental health professional in your area.
  • Sidran Institute: Help Desk to find compassionate, personal supportive services.

What Can I Expect During PTSD Treatment?

When you are diagnosed with PTSD from a mental health professional in Ohio, here are some of the treatments and therapies you may experience on your road to recovery:

Medication

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medication. These antidepressants will alter how your brain’s chemical structure deals with anxiety and stress. Your doctor may prescribe either Sertraline (Zoloft) or Paroxetine (Paxil).

Therapy

Any successful treatment of PTSD will require intensive psychotherapy. You may go through any of these types of therapy:

  • Group therapy, in which you will meet with others who also suffer from PTSD, to share experiences in a safe, healing environment.
  • Exposure therapy, in which the therapist uses various methods to expose you to elements that remind you of your trauma, then talking through the fears and pain.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in which the therapist walks you through conversations designed to alter the negative beliefs you have about your trauma.

There are many other forms of therapy that your mental health provider may encourage you to pursue in your journey to a healthy mind and life.