Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can develop after a person has experienced one or more traumatic events.
PTSD most commonly occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, the sudden death of a loved one, a terrorist incident, a life-threatening event, or a violent assault, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. PTSD can be a source of significant emotional pain that causes altered thought processes and behavior patterns.
Fortunately, posttraumatic stress disorder is a treatable condition. With the right level of professional care, you can learn to manage your PTSD symptoms, regain control of your thoughts and actions, and begin to live the satisfying life you once knew.
At Tower Behavioral Health in Reading, Pennsylvania, we provide PTSD treatment for adults and adolescents of all genders. When you’re ready to get the comprehensive professional assistance you deserve, we’re here to help you.
Signs & Symptoms of PTSD
Even in events that have a large number of witnesses, like natural disasters or terrorist attacks, different people process emotions in different ways. But while PTSD signs and symptoms can vary from person to person, the following are among the more common signs that may indicate that you are struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder:
- Being easily frightened
- Altering your routine or behavior patterns to avoid reminders of the traumatic event
- Behaving in uncharacteristically reckless or aggressive ways
- Social withdrawal
- Having a quick temper
- Nightmares
- Difficulty concentrating or retaining information
- Tightness in the chest
- Heightened sensitivity to possible threats
- Startled responses or jumpiness
- Out-of-body experience (depersonalization)
Having PTSD can feel like you’re living the same nightmare over and over. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you owe it to yourself to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.
Tower Behavioral Health will guide you through the simple process of participating in a complimentary assessment that can help us determine if our PTSD treatment program is the right venue for you to begin healing from the pain of your past.
PTSD Statistics
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), there are currently about 8 million people in the United States who are living with PTSD. Here are some other revealing statistics about posttraumatic stress disorder:
- The National Center for PTSD reports that about 10% of women will develop PTSD at some point in their lives, while only 4% of men will.
- The ADAA also finds that 67% of people exposed to mass violence have been shown to develop PTSD, which is a higher rate than in those exposed to natural disasters or other traumatic events.
- The National Institute of Mental Health finds that serious impairment is the most common diagnosed level of PTSD in American adults (36.6%), narrowly ahead of moderate (33.1%) and mild (30.2%).
Potential Effects of PTSD
Untreated PTSD, like many other mental health concerns, can manifest in a variety of ways. This can result in a number of short- and long-term effects that can make it very challenging for you to function on a day-to-day basis.
Some of the most common effects of PTSD include:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Diminished self-confidence and self-esteem
- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs
- Inability to keep a job, leading to financial instability
- Damaged personal and professional relationships
- Onset or worsening of co-occurring mental health concerns
- Overwhelming and persistent sense of dread and hopelessness
- Self-harm
The sooner you choose to receive PTSD treatment, the sooner you can begin to undo any possible damage that is a result of this condition. By getting proper professional PTSD care at a facility like Tower Behavioral Health, you can also avoid letting these potential effects take hold in the future.
Why Choose Our PTSD Treatment Center
Taking the bold and brave step of deciding that receiving PTSD treatment is in your best interests is a monumental moment. Once you determine that you’re ready to get help for posttraumatic stress disorder, you’ll find a number of benefits in choosing Tower Behavioral Health.
All care at our facility in Reading, Pennsylvania, is personalized to reflect your current needs, strengths, and goals. We administer thorough assessments prior to your admission to allow our team of esteemed professionals to develop a unique PTSD treatment plan that will help you make the most progress toward managing your symptoms.
Inpatient PTSD treatment at Tower Behavioral Health takes place in a safe, welcoming environment that is designed for you to leave the stressors of day-to-day life behind and thrive in an inclusive atmosphere of dignity and respect.
You’ll also quickly discover that you are not alone. By meeting fellow patients who have suffered through trauma and developed PTSD, you’ll be able to share experiences and develop relationships you may carry with you long after you walk out our doors.
Our staff of clinicians and other medical professionals always puts the patient first, an attitude that begins upon your admission and continues well after your time with us is over. You will receive a detailed discharge plan at the end of PTSD treatment that will ease your transition back to the community and give you unfettered access to a variety of helpful resources as you continue to make progress toward better health and well-being.
Therapies Used in PTSD Treatment
All the therapeutic interventions we use at Tower Behavioral Health are evidence-based and designed to help you thrive in a structured environment. The following are among the elements of care you may engage in:
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Medication management services
- Music, art, and dance/movement therapies
- Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
In order to provide you with the most beneficial PTSD treatment possible, we use an array of therapeutic modalities to assist in the healing process. Some of these may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational interviewing
- Mindfulness
Living with posttraumatic stress disorder can be a harrowing experience, but Tower Behavioral Health can help. With a patient-focused atmosphere of dignity and respect, an experienced and compassionate team of professionals, and personalized PTSD programming designed to help you optimally manage your symptoms, we will help you discover that better days are waiting for you.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Tower Behavioral Health.
