Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health challenge that impacts millions of people across the globe. Those who are struggling with PTSD are continuing to be impacted by a past trauma and experience a variety of symptoms that might affect everyday life. Luckily, however, PTSD is a mental health challenge with a variety of treatments that can help those struggling to live a healthy and happy life. One of these treatments is called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS Therapy. Read on to learn more about PTSD and how options like TMS Therapy can support the recovery of those experiencing it.
What is PTSD?
Many people experience difficult, frightening, or dangerous events in their lives. Oftentimes, people will go through these experiences, and they will impact them at the moment and shortly afterward. Sometimes, however, the impacts of these events are felt long after the events have finished and evolve into what we call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s important to remember that PTSD doesn’t mean that someone isn’t strong enough or can’t get over the past. When individuals experience trauma, it actually impacts the structure of their brain, and areas that analyze danger like your fight or flight response are often overactive, while areas that promote relaxation and happiness are underactive. PTSD is a highly researched condition that takes time, therapy, and often medication to work through.
Symptoms of PTSD
There are a number of different symptoms that someone who is experiencing PTSD might exhibit. Those include both physical and psychological symptoms, and often display similar characteristics to other mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety. For example, someone experiencing PTSD might have an elevated heart rate, shakiness, clammy hands, nausea, or shortness of breath. Internally, they might be experiencing intense feelings of distress, hopelessness, or other cyclical and intrusive thoughts.
PTSD Treatments
If someone is experiencing PTSD, one of the most important things they can do is to get help. Shoving emotional responses down will only mean that they continue to build over time, so it’s always healthier to deal with mental health challenges head-on. Therapy is one of the best ways to explore your triggers and learn more about different coping mechanisms. Common therapeutic techniques for those struggling with PTSD include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Intervention through prescription medication is also commonly used through anti-depressants and anxiety medication.
Finally, many recent progressions have also been made in using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, also known as TMS Therapy, for individuals struggling with PTSD. TMS is a form of neuromodulation that uses an electromagnetic pulse to activate dormant areas of the brain and help shift brain chemistry toward healthier patterns.
Lighthouse Psychiatry Can Help
If you’re looking to learn more about TMS Therapy, or other PTSD treatment options, get in touch with us today at Lighthouse Psychiatry. Our expert mental health professionals will work with you to ensure you have a personalized treatment plan for your unique mental health needs.
Give us a call to book a consultation today and let us support you on this journey toward recovery.
