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PTSD Q & A


What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a mental health disorder affecting your thoughts, mood, and memories. Nightmares and flashbacks are common symptoms of PTSD, but the good news is that effective treatment can ease worrisome symptoms. Call the Nevada Family Psychiatry office at the first sign of distressing or intrusive thoughts.

What are the common PTSD symptoms?

You could have PTSD if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Nightmares
  • Flashbacks
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Always being on guard
  • Getting startled easily
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Avoiding triggering situations, places, or people

See Dr. Somers for a mental health evaluation if your PTSD symptoms have lasted a while or are severe and crippling.

What are the risk factors for PTSD?

PTSD occurs on the heels of trauma like:

  • Physical or emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Neglect as a child
  • Being in military combat
  • Having a job as a first responder
  • Being in a car accident or natural disaster
  • Undergoing another traumatic experience

Treatment at Nevada Family Psychiatry helps you overcome these or other difficult life situations.

How does my provider determine if I have PTSD?

Dr. Somers determines if you have PTSD after talking with you about your involvement in past traumatic experiences and reviewing your medical history. He also completes a thorough psychological exam by asking about your symptoms, mood, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. He can diagnose or decrease the likelihood of  PTSD based on your symptoms.

How is PTSD treated?

To treat PTSD, Dr. Somers could prescribe medicine and/or recommend you undergo psychotherapy (talk therapy). These treatments help you to effectively overcome your condition and live the best quality of life possible. It’s necessary to have a strong social support network in place, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods, and keep your stress levels low.

You could also undergo exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR combines exposure therapy with guided eye movements to change how you react to and process traumatic memories. The office tailors each treatment to your personalized needs.

Call the Nevada Family Psychiatry office today or book an appointment online to get relief from troublesome PTSD symptoms.