What is PTSD?
Trauma therapy in Orlando is most often helpful for PTSD. But what is PTSD and how can you tell if you have it? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that occurs following a traumatic event. The person may experience flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, trouble trusting others, being easily startled, or feeling “on edge” in response to experiencing a traumatic event.
Who gets PTSD?
Trauma therapists normally see a wide variety of people who have PTSD. Trauma can be experienced by anyone, but not everyone is affected the same way. PTSD affects approximately 3.5% of U.S. adults every year, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD. Three ethnic groups – U.S. Latinos, African Americans, and American Indians – are disproportionately affected and have higher rates of PTSD than non-Latino whites (https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd).
How does PTSD affect relationships?
When one or both members of the couple struggles with symptoms of PTSD, this can cause problems with trust, closeness, communication, intimacy, and problem-solving. Often PTSD can come out during couples therapy or trauma therapy in Orlando.
Challenges a person who is struggling with PTSD may face in relationships might include:
PTSD Symptoms
- Issues with emotion regulation
- Loss of interest in hobbies/activities you used to enjoy
- Decrease in interest/desire for sexual activity or intimacy with a partner
- Inability to engage in sexual activities (due to triggers)
- Co-dependency issues
- Increased feelings of anger, being distant, critical, or abusive
- Decreased ability to engage in problem-solving – people with PTSD symptoms may experience anxiety or feeling overwhelmed even during small conflicts
- Decreased support from family/friends who may not have enough education/understanding of trauma or the severity of the PTSD symptoms (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/relationship-ptsd#effects)
When to seek help for PTSD
If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to seek professional help. Whether it’s individual, couples, or family therapy, the trauma therapists in Orlando at Orlando Thrive Therapy are here to help you on your journey. Our Orlando therapists are trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman Couples Therapy, and can provide additional tools and resources to help those struggling with symptoms of PTSD. If you or someone you know is looking for an expert in PTSD or trauma help, contact the author of this article, Lauren Rhodes, LMFT, at Orlando Thrive Therapy or reach out for more information.
