Exploring Different Kinds of PTSD and How to Treat Complex PTSD

• June is National PTSD Awareness Month.
• Different kinds of PTSD include: acute stress disorder (ASD), uncomplicated PTSD, complex PTSD, dissociative PTSD, and comorbid PTSD.
• Your counselor or therapist can work with you to determine how to treat your specific form of PTSD. This may mean combining different methods of therapy.

June is National PTSD Awareness Month, and National PTSD Awareness Day is recognized on June 27. During this period, the National Center for PTSD and other mental health organizations work to raise awareness and educate the public about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about 3.6% of adults and 5% of adolescents in the United States have PTSD in a given year. Interestingly, females are three or four times more likely to develop PTSD than males.

But what is PTSD? What are its symptoms? What are the different kinds of PTSD that can affect patients? What does treatment entail? Read on to learn more.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is often characterized by anxiety, sadness, anger, sleep issues, and other reactions after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Witnessing or experiencing trauma doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop PTSD. It’s estimated that around 70% of people worldwide will endure at least one potentially traumatic experience in their lifetime, but only a small percentage will develop one of the currently known kinds of PTSD.

With PTSD, your symptoms are persistent and can start to affect your relationships, work, and day-to-day life. You continue to feel fear and anxiety even long after the danger or traumatic event has passed.

Violent conflict like wars or other military action, natural disasters, domestic or sexual violence, accidents, and bullying are some forms of trauma—situations in which you feel your life and wellbeing are in danger or somehow immediately threatened.

A traumatic experience isn’t the only risk factor for PTSD. Other social, psychological, and biological factors can also contribute to the development of the condition, which will also affect how doctors treat complex PTSD or other types of trauma disorders.

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms can start to show even three or six months after the triggering event. These include:

• Frequent nightmares
• Partial memory loss of the event
• Flashbacks
• Sleep disturbances, like insomnia
• Difficulty focusing or thinking clearly
• Persistent negative feelings and thoughts
• Avoiding places, people, and activities that remind you of the trauma
• Developing phobias, like fear of flying (aerophobia) after a very turbulent flight
• Combined mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse

If you are affected by PTSD, you may not experience all of these symptoms, but most PTSD patients report enduring at least one or two.

The frequency and severity of your symptoms depend on factors like:

• The type of trauma you experience
• Your ability to understand or process your trauma
• How much social support you have, and
• Your stress management and coping skills.

Kinds of PTSD

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) tends to come on quickly, with symptoms like avoidance behavior, negative moods, intrusive memories, etc., developing within three days to a month of a traumatic event. Other forms of PTSD can develop later on and last much longer.

Uncomplicated PTSD can typically be tied to one major traumatic event, so it’s easier to treat. Symptoms include avoidance behavior, flashbacks, mood changes, and nightmares.

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is often seen in those who have experienced prolonged or repeated trauma, such as childhood or domestic abuse or wartime activities. CPTSD can be a long-term condition and affects your emotional stability, relationships, and self-perception. While we’re still studying the condition, we’re learning how to treat complex PTSD with methods like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy.

Dissociative PTSD is often characterized by a feeling of detachment from the self, your surroundings, and the people in your life. It may feel as if you or your world is not real. Treatment often includes cognitive restructuring and training on interacting with others.

Comorbid PTSD happens when you endure PTSD alongside other conditions, like depression or substance use disorder. Treatment can get complicated, as you’ll need to address each condition.

How to Treat Complex PTSD

There isn’t a single, specific solution for how to treat complex PTSD or other kinds of PTSD. But individual and group therapy sessions have proven very effective. Your therapist may recommend a course of treatment that includes CBT to help you better understand your trauma and triggers.

Journaling using specific complex PTSD journal prompts has proven effective. Other popular treatment methods include hypnosis and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

At Miami Hypnosis and Therapy, we work with you to create a tailor-made treatment plan, sometimes combining more than one kind of therapy. The goal is to help you find the best way to release your trauma and move forward with a healthier state of mind. We also offer both in-person and virtual Florida therapy sessions to match your needs and schedule.

Reach out today to learn more about how we can address the different kinds of PTSD and help you manage your mental health. Call (305) 790 3949 or send a message through the form on our contact page.