Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects one in 10 individuals, often causing moderate to severe symptoms that affect their ability to get through daily life. At Dare To Care Too in Largo, Maryland, The Prescribing and Clinical Team, offer comprehensive care for PTSD, helping individuals heal from trauma with medication and therapy. You can get personalized PTSD treatment by calling the office or using online booking to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment.

request an appointment

Why do I have PTSD?

You develop PTSD because experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event has a dramatic impact on your emotional and mental health. Traumatic events naturally cause varying levels of anxiety, fear, and worry in everyone.

These feelings typically improve in about a month. If your anxiety lasts longer than a month and it’s accompanied by other ongoing symptoms, you may have PTSD.

The traumatic events that most often cause PTSD include:

  • Military duty
  • Gun violence
  • Physical assault or abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • Emotional abuse
  • Robberies
  • Accidents (car, plane, boat, etc.)
  • Death of a loved one
  • Natural disasters

You can also develop PTSD if a close friend or family member experiences the trauma.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

In addition to anxiety, PTSD causes:

  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Social isolation
  • Distraction
  • Guilt or shame
  • Avoidance

Avoidance occurs when you have such anxiety that you stay away from the places and things that remind you of the traumatic event, even if it means changing your daily routine or turning down social activities.

Why do PTSD symptoms suddenly flare up?

During a traumatic event, your brain automatically records the sights, sounds, smells, and other sensory details present at the time. You don’t remember these details because your brain tucks them into your subconscious.

Then one day, you encounter one of the details, and it triggers the memory in your subconscious. You immediately have a flashback or relive the trauma, causing intense emotions. These sudden flashbacks may cause fear, panic, or the feeling that you’re not safe. Some individuals have outbursts filled with anger or rage.

How is PTSD treated?

PTSD treatment often includes medication, therapy, or both. Your provider may prescribe one of several medications to relieve your symptoms, including antidepressants. Two antidepressants, sertraline and paroxetine, are approved to treat the anxiety and other symptoms caused by PTSD.

While medications target your symptoms, therapy helps you process and overcome the trauma. Trauma-based therapies help you understand the impact of trauma on your emotional and behavioral health and teach you how to cope with your feelings and face the things that trigger your memories.

The Dare To Care Too team offers personalized care and support for PTSD. Call the office today or use online booking to schedule an appointment and begin treatment that helps you move beyond the trauma.