PTSD

The hallmark characteristic of PTSD is severe anxiety that develops following a traumatic event. A few of the events that may trigger PTSD include domestic violence, military combat, violent crime, sexual assault, and traumatic injuries. 

It’s normal to have anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges following a traumatic event, but these effects usually lessen over time. PTSD is unique because the anxiety doesn’t let up. Instead, it often increases. 

With PTSD, your intrusive symptoms return when you experience certain triggers, for example when you visit a place that reminds you of the event, or when you see a person who brings the traumatic event to mind.

PTSD symptoms commonly include:

Intrusive memories

Intrusive memories can be quite overpowering and may cause you to relive the trauma over again (flashbacks). You might also have these memories in the form of nightmares. 

Avoidance

If you have PTSD, you may go out of your way to avoid places, people, or anything else that could bring the trauma to mind. Avoidance can be very disruptive and even lead to severe self-imposed isolation.

Mood and thought changes

PTSD can cause significant negative mood and thought changes like feeling very negative about yourself, feeling hopeless, or feeling completely numb. Many people with PTSD withdraw from their loved ones and lose interest in the things they once enjoyed. 

Reaction and arousal changes

Reaction and arousal changes can include having angry outbursts, acting recklessly, and constantly being on high alert. You may be jittery, startle easily, or act recklessly. 

All of these symptoms can be terribly intrusive and may greatly reduce your quality of life, so it’s important to seek PTSD treatment to get your life back.

PTSD is commonly treated with traditional anti-anxiety, antiseizure, and antidepressant medications. However, similar to other mainstream treatments, these approaches are not always effective for everyone. 

Nova Vita Wellness Centers helps people living with PTSD find relief from their symptoms with IV ketamine therapy. Ketamine is a medication that was first used as an anesthetic, but doctors discovered that patients with PTSD, severe depression, and chronic pain found dramatic symptom relief through ketamine.

Ketamine blocks a brain receptor called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) to reduce hyperarousal, negative thoughts, and overreactions to stimuli. Ketamine also stimulates production of glutamate, the neurotransmitter involved in stress responses and traumatic memory formation. 

Ultimately, ketamine helps your brain rewire so healthy thought patterns replace the negative ones. Ketamine works far faster than oral antidepressants, and it can truly change your life if you have PTSD. 

Learn more by calling Nova Vita Wellness Centers, or click the online scheduler now.