Story from ADAMH: ADAMH, Syntero bring awareness to PTSD and where to find help
June is PTSD Awareness Month. Learn how to identify the disorder and where to find help. June is the month leading up to the start of PTSD Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the disorder's impact on individuals, families, and communities. Approximately five out of every 100 adults in the United States (5%) have PTSD in any given year, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The disorder can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The most common treatment for PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which helps alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. ADAMH-funded Syntero provides a range of treatment options for individuals ages 5 and up diagnosed with PTSD.
Publicerad : 10 månader sedan förbi ADAMH i Health Environment
June marks PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on individuals, families and communities.
PTSD is a mental health disorder that can develop in people who have experienced a shocking, frightening or dangerous event. About five out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the United States has PTSD in any given year, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The disorder can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, said Dr. Delaney Smith, system chief clinical officer for the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH).
“Anyone can develop PTSD either from a single traumatic event or multiple traumatic events that occur over time,” she said. “A person can also develop PTSD if they’ve been exposed to aspects of someone else’s trauma.”
Trauma in everyday life can occur from events like getting into a car accident, natural disasters, the death of a loved one and learning that a friend or family member experienced trauma.
Common symptoms of PTSD, according to Dr. Smith:
• Intrusive memories such as nightmares and flashbacks
• Feeling like the world is a generally unsafe place
• Avoiding things that remind a person of their trauma, such as people or places
• Alterations in mood, such as feelings of guilt, irritability and increased anxiety
“A lot of symptoms can have an impact on people’s daily functioning, and because of that, there’s a lot of overlap at times with other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and social anxiety,” Dr. Smith said.
When it comes to treating PTSD, certain providers in ADAMH’s network specialize in trauma-informed care, offering a range of therapeutic approaches and support services tailored to help individuals heal and recover.
ADAMH-funded Syntero offers a variety of treatment options for individuals ages 5 and up diagnosed with PTSD. Syntero is a nonprofit organization that supports the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities by providing professional counseling and community-based services.
“All of our clinicians are trauma-informed, are able to identify and diagnose PTSD, and, at the very least, are able to give beginning-level treatment for it,” said Maggie Dangler, clinical site manager at Syntero’s Mill Run location.
Syntero works with clients on skill-building to manage PTSD symptoms, how to reprocess a client’s trauma and will even link them to other supportive services.
“We really can’t resolve trauma if somebody is not safe in their home, so if they’re facing homelessness or actively being abused, I can’t convince their brain that they’re safe,” Dangler said. “We make sure their other needs are met before treating them for PTSD.”
Dangler said the most common treatment for the disorder is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This psychotherapy treatment is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
“We can’t get rid of memories, but we can help move them through your brain, rewiring the neural pathways so that they’re stored appropriately and don’t illicit that past level of panic and overwhelm,” she said.
Other forms of PTSD treatment at Syntero include internal family systems therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and occasionally the use of medication.
“Whether it’s EMDR, internal family systems therapy or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, we’re going to walk through it with people and make sure our clients are an active and primary participant in the treatment process,” Dangler said.
Dangler said a common misconception about PTSD is that people who have it are stuck with it for the rest of their lives.
“You can heal from trauma, and to me, there’s a lot of hope there,” she said. “I think people think they’re alone because trauma is inherently isolating, but we can help them, in part, through a therapeutic relationship and help move them into feeling more connected and safer again.”
Dangler recommends that individuals who believe they may have PTSD fill out the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire and discuss their responses with a trusted health care provider. ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. About 64% of U.S. adults reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18, and nearly one in six (17.3%) reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs.
“The ACEs study is one of the most important pieces of research to date in the field of trauma,” Dangler said. “It shows the irrefutable impact of adverse childhood experiences on long-term health outcomes.”
Dangler also offers a few ways loved ones can help support someone with PTSD:
• Know that a person with PTSD is not faking it; there are physiological reactions that are happening in their bodies and brains outside of their control
• Help find a support group or a therapist who understands what a person with PTSD is going through
If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or are in crisis, call, text or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately. For a list of ADAMH-funded mental health and addiction services providers, visit adamhfranklin.org/providers/.
Ämnen: Environment-ESG