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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD?Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a kind of anxiety disorder that may develop after a person is involved in or watches a very, very frightening event. The person may be actually hurt in the event or only feel threatened with extreme harm. Sometimes, families and friends can develop PTSD when someone they love is badly hurt or in a very dangerous situation. PTSD is a serious condition that can interfere with a person’s work and family life. A person with PTSD may have many kinds of problems including:
In PTSD, some or all of these symptoms happen almost every day for more than one month. PTSD usually starts within three months of a traumatic event, but it can also begin years after a trauma. Both adults and children can develop PTSD. About four percent of adults present with PTSD each year. People who have had past traumas in their lives, like childhood abuse, are more likely to present with PTSD when they are severely traumatized again. What causes PTSD?PTSD may develop after a traumatic event. The kinds of experiences that can cause PTSD include rape, mugging, physical and sexual abuse, fire, kidnapping, hurricanes, accidents or war. PTSD used to be called "shell shock" because soldiers returning from battle often experienced related symptoms. Research shows that terrifying experiences can cause changes in a person’s brain chemistry that may lead to PTSD symptoms. How can PTSD be treated?There are multiple effective treatments for PTSD. Several kinds of talking therapies help manage PTSD symptoms. There are also medications that can help. Getting counseling and talking about what has happened after a traumatic event can sometimes prevent PTSD from developing. In addition, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an innovative clinical treatment used to alleviate PTSD symptoms. MHA of Westchester has clinicians who are trained and certified in EMDR. The sections below provide links to web sites that give additional information about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as a link to Westchester County Mental Health Services, a database of local service providers including those who provide treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Additional Information About PTSDNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Westchester County Mental Health ServicesFor information about mental health services offered in Westchester and Putnam counties in the state of New York, consult our database of these services. General instructions for using the database are displayed before you click on the [Search Westchester Services] button. To focus on services for adults who may have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), use the Keyword feature. Click on the [Keyword Search] button in the lower right corner of the database. When the next screen comes up:
From the list of services displayed, click on the one closest to your area of interest. Return to the top of the page.
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