Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic

Can a car accident cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Facts About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects thousands of people every year. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinics have cropped up all over the country, proving the upsurge in the number of patients with this problem. The following information is designed to help individuals learn more about PTSD.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is an anxiety disorder resulting after exposure to an extremely stressful event. It is often associated with events where great bodily harm or even death is possible or threatened. Since what is perceived as stressful can vary from person to person, PTSD can result from a multitude of events. It is a condition that is commonly seen in war veterans, who frequently are patients of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic.

What Causes PTSD?

The causes of PTSD vary greatly. This is largely due to the fact that an experience that may be stressful to one person may pose minor discomfort to another. Events such as physical attacks, attempted rape, natural disasters, war, and ongoing sexual abuse are associated with PTSD. However, something as ordinary as a car accident could trigger an episode of PTSD in some people, especially if the accident involved bodily injury. An event that sends one person seeking help at a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic Los Angeles may be much easier forgotten by another individual. Experiences vary based on the level of trauma experienced as well as the person’s psychological makeup.

Recognizing Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Individuals with PTSD often have reoccurring thoughts of the event, perhaps even nightmares that cause them to not want to sleep. They may also feel emotionally numb and may remove themselves from social situations, even if they were quite outgoing before the trauma occurred. They may not want to be around loved ones and may exhibit problems sleeping, eating, and performing the simplest of tasks related to daily living. Another common symptom of PTSD is called survivor guilt. This occurs when the individual experiences excessive guilt about having lived through the traumatic event, especially if others who were present did not survive. A Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic can assist a person in dealing with these symptoms.

Treating PTSD

PTSD is often treated with a combination of drug therapy and counseling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinics specialize in helping those affected with this disorder to recover as quickly as possible. At a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic Los Angeles, patients can get the treatment they need to get on with their life, leaving their traumatic experience in the past.