PTSD may develop in response to a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or death, or the threat of physical harm or death. It can develop where the threat of harm was to oneself, a loved one, or even a stranger. PTSD was first recognized in relation to war verterans having been exposed to traumatic situations during war, but can also occur in response to other traumas such as mugging, sexual assault, child abuse, vehicle tragedies or natural disasters such as earthquakes.
The symptoms of PTSD are an intense startle response, emotional numbing, loss of interest in life, irritability, and flashbacks or nightmares related to the traumatic event. PTSD symptoms can be triggered by a stimulus that is reminiscent of the original trauma. When triggered, clients with PTSD may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic event is happening all over again.
Therapists at OCCT are trained in the treatment of PTSD with Cognitive Processing for Trauma (CPT). PTSD ca be accompanied by depressions, substance abuse, or a variety of other anxiety disorders. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important, as full recovery is more likely with CBT for those who are identified with PTSD early on.