Trauma-informed care to help you heal from the past
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a traumatic event the sufferer has experienced — whether a traumatic incident, accident, violent assault, war, or other experiences.
While PTSD is typically attributed to war veterans, many others currently suffer from the disorder. Symptoms include avoiding reminders of the event, intrusive thoughts returning to the event, and overarching negative thoughts and feelings. While these symptoms are normal immediately following an event, PTSD is characterized by symptoms lasting a month or longer. These symptoms can take over someone’s life and make it difficult to function in society, which is why treatment should be taken seriously.
Get Help in Orange County
Support for post-traumatic stress disorder
PTSD is commonly linked with substance abuse, with sufferers turning to alcohol or drugs for self-medication. Because PTSD is chronic, individuals typically experience effects for many years, often a lifetime. Without specialist mental health treatment, the condition will deteriorate and worsen.
Treatment centers on finding illness causes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to uncovering root causes of mental illnesses like PTSD. In CBT sessions, therapists guide clients to identify problems relating to past events. By understanding PTSD drivers, individuals can address them by adapting how they think and behave.
Mental health treatment helps people live with conditions like PTSD. There is no cure for PTSD, though recovery with effective coping mechanisms learned in therapy allows for happy, fulfilling lives. Casa Recovery develops personalized mental health treatment programs to meet unique needs and promote best recovery outcomes.
Symptoms & Signs
How PTSD shows up
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a PTSD diagnosis requires each category of symptoms for at least one month: one re-experiencing symptom, one avoidance symptom, two arousal and reactivity symptoms, and two cognition and mood symptoms.
Re-experiencing
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Intrusive, scary thoughts
Avoidance
- Evasion of thoughts or emotions related to the trauma
- Evasion of people, places, or things related to the trauma
Arousal & Reactivity
- Feeling tense or irritable
- Responding in angry outbursts
- Being hypervigilant to surroundings
- Difficulties sleeping and concentrating
- Increased reactivity and startle response
Cognition & Mood
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Detachment from oneself or reality
- Intense emotions like sadness, guilt, or blame
- Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
- Poor recall of key aspects of the event
Risk Factors
Why do some people develop PTSD?
In the United States, trauma is relatively common, but PTSD is not. Several reasons explain why some people develop PTSD while others do not. One reason is biological sex. Other biological and environmental risk factors for PTSD development include:
- Genetics
- Childhood adversities
- Lack of social support
- Pre-existing mental illness
- Low socioeconomic status
- Pre-existing substance use disorder
- Nature and severity of the trauma
Why It Matters
Why you should get help
PTSD can be very painful and disruptive to endure daily. Avoidance symptoms particularly can be isolating and lonely, causing individuals to evade people or situations reminding them of traumatic experiences. This approach is self-defeating because it prevents people from getting help, pushing recovery further away.
Failing to treat this condition effectively and promptly can lead to additional mental health complications. Anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse often develop alongside PTSD, making treatment and recovery more difficult. Getting treated for dual diagnosis may be necessary to effectively address co-occurring disorders. Seeking PTSD help is important to prevent long-term health and social problems:
- Chronic pain
- Social isolation
- Eating disorders
- Weakening immune system
- Cardiovascular problems
- Declining physical health
- Problems in close personal relationships
- Loss of ability to function socially or at work
Casa Recovery has a trauma-informed treatment program helping clients confront fears and overcome the past.
Our Approach
How Casa Recovery treats PTSD
Beyond trauma-informed care, clients access different therapeutic modalities beneficial for treating trauma. Utilizing varying treatment methods — including individual and small group therapy — often helps clients determine what works best for their needs. Using only one modality may not effectively treat all aspects of a condition with many dimensions.
Medication and psychotherapies are two general options for treating PTSD, often used in combination or alone. We build each plan around the person in front of us, not a one-size-fits-all formula.
Therapies for Trauma
Evidence-based modalities for PTSD
Therapies suitable for PTSD clients include a combination of talk-based, movement-based, and body-centered approaches, often layered together for the most complete healing.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavior Therapy helps clients change negative thought and behavioral patterns by identifying core problems and causes. CBT teaches skills and coping techniques for managing harmful thoughts and behaviors.
EMDR
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing prompts clients to recall possibly distressing memories while following hand movements that promote rapid eye movement. This stimulates the brain’s ability to reprocess memory, allowing clients to uncover behavioral patterns.
Somatic Therapy & Somatic Experiencing™
A holistic therapy where clients receive psychoeducation, practice mindfulness, and learn to connect to bodily experiences that promote somatic-level healing.
Whole-Person Healing
Holistic support for lasting recovery
Holistic therapies such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and art and music therapy support the recovery process. Casa Recovery is a mental health and addiction treatment center in San Juan Capistrano, CA, taking a trauma-informed approach that ensures clients feel safe and comfortable. It is time to start living your best life, free of triggers and unwanted pain and suffering.
- Mindfulness
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
Start healing from trauma today
Casa Recovery’s trauma-informed team is here to help you confront your fears and reclaim your life. Reach out to learn more about your treatment options and take the first step toward lasting recovery.