Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment in Plano, TX

At Friedman Psychiatry, we recognize that each individual’s experience with PTSD is unique. Our treatment approach is tailored to meet your specific needs and concerns, ensuring that you receive personalized care throughout your healing journey. We combine evidence-based therapies, cutting-edge techniques, and a holistic approach to address the underlying causes of PTSD and its associated symptoms.

Our highly trained and experienced psychiatrist and professional specialize in working with individuals who have experienced traumatic events in Richardson, Allen, and Murphy. We offer a safe and nurturing environment where you can openly discuss your feelings and experiences without judgment. Through individual therapy sessions, and various therapeutic modalities, we aim to empower you with coping strategies, resilience-building techniques, and a deeper understanding of your trauma. Call our mental health clinic in Plano, TX to schedule an appointment today!

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that is often seen in individuals who have been through a serious event that made them feel severely threatened for their personal safety and risk for serious harm, as a result, they may experience vivid flashbacks or nightmares to the time and place where the person’s trauma occurred, which can make daily tasks or activities difficult if their PTSD remains unchecked and untreated.

Common PTSD Symptoms

Symptoms of PTSD most often appear in the first few months after a traumatic event, though it is also possible for these effects to remain dormant until years later. There is no telling what exactly will trigger a person’s symptoms, as each individual with PTSD is uniquely different.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD can vary widely, but they typically fall into four primary categories:

• Intrusive thoughts: Involuntary memories of the traumatic event that forces the person to relive their experience. These may occur as conscious flashbacks, or during an unconscious state while the individual remains asleep.
• Avoidance: Individuals with PTSD often try to avoid situations that they believe will trigger a distressing memory of their past trauma. For example, a person who was involved in a bad car accident may try to avoid driving or riding in a car.
• Negative thoughts and feelings: These often pertain to the individuals themselves, as many believe that they are bad or broken in some way due to their recurring flashbacks that may result in harm to others around them.
• Changes in physical or emotional reactions: People with PTSD are generally much more skittish and fearful, which causes many to react more dramatically to certain stimulus (triggers) around them.

Characteristics that define a diagnosis of PTSD include presenting symptoms as mentioned above for longer than one month’s time. Many individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder will also develop related psychiatric conditions, such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, or other emotional disturbances with some symptoms that may otherwise not meet all criteria for a disorder, yet could impact the life of the individual in a significant, negative way. 

Risk Factors to Consider

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It is not possible to predict with certainty whether an individual will develop PTSD. However, several factors that may increase an individual’s risk of developing this disorder, including:

• Added stress after a traumatic event
• Witnessing a traumatic event involving another person
• Feelings of helplessness or intense fear
• A history of mental illness or substance abuse
• Not having enough support from friends and/or loved ones after a traumatic event

The best way to mitigate these risk factors is to seek help and support from trusted friends and family around you while consulting with a mental health professional. 

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment in Plano, TX

For those who experience intense or impairing symptoms of PTSD, Dr. Ran Friedman is here to help. The most common methods used universally to treat PTSD include prescribed medications and psychotherapy.

Medications for PTSD Management

While medication cannot cure PTSD, it can certainly help to improve symptoms of the disorder. As previously noted, individuals with PTSD often experience sudden mood changes that can leave them feeling hopelessly sad or incredibly angry. Problems with sleep are also extremely common, and can also be managed using different types of medication as prescribed by Dr. Ran Friedman.

Types of Psychotherapy Used for PTSD

Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy can be very beneficial in treating a wide range of mental illnesses. Not all Psychotherapy is alike. Different types are designed to address patients’ needs in different ways. Those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring are typically regarded as the most effective methods used by mental health professionals.

Exposure Therapy

As its name would suggest, this form of psychotherapy is based on exposing the individual to their fears in order to relive the event in a safe environment that will not cause them any kind of harm. After experiencing the event in a safe and controlled space, many patients are able to realize that their avoided situations are not likely to cause a dangerous outcome, which can allow them to begin immersing themselves in previously enjoyable activities. 

Cognitive Restructuring

It is common for individuals with PTSD to remember the event in a more serious and dramatic way than how it actually occurred. Also common are feelings of shame or guilt, which could be related to the distorted memory of events. Cognitive restructuring focuses on reliving the event in a more realistic way that strips away the intense emotions around the trauma.

Schedule a PTSD Consultation

If you experience distress as a result of a traumatic event, please contact our mental health clinic in Plano, TX at (972) 905-1597 to schedule a consultation.