At Bayview Recovery Center in Tacoma, WA, we help those with addictions and mental health disorders learn to live with their conditions. PTSD can impact you long after the triggering event. With the right support and therapy, our clients have found peace and improved their sleep habits. What is PTSD?

If you’re searching for PTSD treatment in the Tacoma, WA area, we can help. Call Bayview Recovery Center at 855.478.3650 today to learn more about your treatment options.

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What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety when objects or events trigger intrusive memories. When you have PTSD, you often cannot control memories about the disturbing incident.

If you have experienced traumatic events, you may be having difficulty adjusting. However, with proper care, you can learn to deal with your condition. If you have had PTSD for several months or years, seek professional help, such as that available at Bayview Recovery Center, to begin a treatment plan as soon as possible.

In our PTSD Treatment program, clients learn to face up to the traumatic memory. We also deal with co-occurring disorders like drug and alcohol abuse. Receiving care from licensed professionals gives our clients the coping mechanisms needed to move beyond the crippling fear of PTSD episodes.

Symptoms

PTSD often does not manifest immediately after the event. However, you may start to notice symptoms within a month to many years later. Symptoms tend to be dramatic and often affect work and social relationships. They could interfere with normal functioning and make it difficult to complete everyday tasks.

There are four types of PTSD: avoidance, intrusive memories, changes in physical and emotional reactions, and changes in mood or thinking. You may experience one or more of these symptoms at various times.

Avoidance

What is PTSD avoidance? Symptoms of avoidance include ignoring thoughts about the traumatic event and avoiding places, people, or activities that trigger memories of the incidents.

Intrusive Memories

Intrusive memories may include unwanted distressing recollections of the events. You may find yourself reliving the trauma as if it were happening in the present through flashback or have upsetting dreams that make sleep difficult.

Changes in Your Physical and Emotional Reactions

For some battling PTSD, the disorder brings emotional and physical reactions, including the following:

Self-destructive behavior such as drinking or using drugs
Constantly remaining on guard
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Feelings of shame or guilt
Irritability and aggressive behavior

Negative Thinking and Moods

If your thinking and moods become more negative than usual, you may have PTSD. Symptoms of this form of the disorder include the following:

Negative thoughts about yourself or the world
Hopelessness
Memory problems
Feeling detached from other people
Lack of interest in old hobbies
Difficulty thinking positively
Feeling numb

PTSD and Substance Abuse Treatment in Tacoma, WA

What is PTSD treatment? As part of your treatment for PTSD, your therapist and Bayview Recovery Center may recommend dual diagnosis treatment if you also have drug or alcohol use disorder. For many individuals who are battling PTSD, they have nothing to fall back on to help control their mental health symptoms. As a result, they may turn to drugs or alcohol to escape their uncomfortable feelings. Doing so can lead to addiction, more traumatic incidents, and worsening PTSD symptoms. If you’re now battling addiction and PTSD, dual diagnosis treatment is your best option. This treatment option addresses both conditions simultaneously, giving you the tools you need to combat your addiction and mental health symptoms successfully.

At Bayview Recovery Center, we want to give you the tools you need to recover from PTSD and addiction. For more information about our treatment programs, or if you want to start your journey to recovery, contact Bayview Recovery Center today at 855.478.3650.