Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious disabling problem that results from witnessing or experiencing dangerous, injurious or destructive events. Severe personal violations including war, violence, molestation, rape and natural disasters can trigger recurring episodes of PTSD. Mental symptoms include unpleasant flashbacks, nightmares and frightening thoughts, often with accompanying physical symptoms that may include rapid heartbeats and sweating.
The professional mental health community has been aware of the symptoms for nearly a century. Clinicians first began studying these symptoms shortly after World War I, when the condition was called shell shock in reference to traumatized soldiers and civilians who endured attacks by bombshells. At the time the medical community mistakenly believed that the psychologically disabling symptoms that affected people experienced resulted from the loud sounds and percussive force of gunfire and detonation of bombs. Additional study proved that theory wrong.
Studies of veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, returnees from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as well as veterans of other foreign wars have confirmed that PTSD is a disabling condition brought about by exposure to extreme psychological stress. In addition to nightmares and flashbacks, hallmark symptoms include psychological numbing, hyper-vigilance, depression, substance abuse, relational problems, severe difficulties with normal social adjustment, and avoidance of any activities that remind the affected individual of the original experience.
The good news is that this condition responds well to treatment through a combination of well-proven, scientifically based clinical interventions, all of which are available here at Healing Pathways Medical Clinic. Pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and Integrative Restoration (iRest®) Yoga Nidra rest practice developed by Dr. Richard Miller all have been proven to be effective methodologies — particularly effective when two or more approaches are used in combination. Healing Pathways professionals are experienced in helping PTSD sufferers, as well as their family members.
Dr. Paul Copeland, the Healing Pathways founder, has diagnosed and treated more than 3,000 veterans of wars spanning World War II to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. People suffering from PTSD must realize that their behavior is not their fault, but once they acknowledge their condition they have responsibility to seek resolution of symptoms that so painfully affect them and those around them. We can help alleviate the symptoms of PTSD.
Healing Pathways also offers treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as problems experienced by military personnel and their families.
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