Traumatic events can have a lasting effect on your mental and emotional health and put you at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you feel hopeless or need help coping with flashbacks of violence or abuse, you can find compassionate care at Desert Bolt Behavioral in Phoenix, Arizona. Valery Nkendong, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, and the skilled medical providers offer strategies like exposure therapy to reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms. They provide one-on-one counseling in-office and online to ensure access to care when you need it most. Call the office to schedule a PTSD consultation or book an appointment online today.

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What is PTSD?

PTSD is a psychiatric condition that can develop soon after a traumatic experience or months or years later. You may be at increased risk of PTSD if you’re directly involved in the trauma or a witness to a tragic event.

Types of traumas that can trigger PTSD include:

  • Neglect
  • Violence
  • Auto accident
  • Natural disaster
  • Military combat
  • Death of a loved one
  • Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

Desert Bolt Behavioral provides compassionate care for adults and children experiencing PTSD symptoms.

The experienced mental health specialists offer diagnostic evaluations in-office and through an online teletherapy platform. They also create individual treatment plans to control your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.

How do I know I have PTSD?

PTSD can cause a range of symptoms that vary from person to person. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Desert Bolt Behavioral if you experience persistent symptoms like:

  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Mood swings
  • Being easily startled
  • Reckless behaviors
  • Sadness or hopelessness
  • Distressing or intrusive thoughts
  • Avoidance of certain places, people, or events

PTSD can also cause insomnia and other sleep disruptions that lead to persistent fatigue.

The medical team offers comprehensive evaluations to understand your symptoms. Your provider may request blood testing or other lab work to rule out underlying medical conditions that can cause mental or emotional health issues.

How is PTSD treated?

Desert Bolt Behavioral offers several treatment strategies to ease the frequency and severity of PTSD symptoms. Your care plan may include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help you recognize negative thoughts and behaviors to manage them more effectively.

You may also benefit from exposure therapy that helps you overcome stressful memories or emotional responses to traumatic events.

Medications

Medications are available to help you manage PTSD-related symptoms like anxiety and depression. The team offers medication management services to supervise your use of psychiatric drugs to protect your long-term health.

Your provider can also suggest lifestyle strategies to improve your sense of well-being, such as getting daily exercise, eating a healthy diet, and practicing mindfulness and stress reduction techniques.

Call Desert Bolt Behavioral to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for PTSD symptoms, or book an appointment online today.