What is PTSD?
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychiatric health condition caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Common causes of PTSD include natural disasters, serious injury, experiencing assault or death threats, or being involved in a serious accident.
Most people who experience a traumatic event will require time to adjust and move forward with their lives. But if you struggle with PTSD symptoms months or years after a traumatic event and they interfere with your daily activities, you may have PTSD.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms may start a few weeks after a traumatic event, but sometimes the symptoms don’t start until years after the event. Symptoms cause difficulties in social situations, at work, in relationships, and interfere with your ability to complete regular daily activities. Common symptoms include:
Negative thoughts and mood
People with PTSD commonly experience negative changes in their thinking and mood, including feeling hopeless about the future, detached from family and friends, and having a lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy. You may feel a lack of emotion or be emotionally numb.
PTSD also causes memory problems that may include having trouble remembering important details of the traumatic event itself.
Flashbacks and nightmares
PTSD commonly causes recurrent and unwanted memories of the traumatic experience. The memories may occur during sleep, or they may occur when you’re awake. Severe episodes may involve flashbacks or reliving the event in your mind as if it’s happening again.
Avoidance
It’s not unusual for people with PTSD to practice avoidance behaviors, like trying to avoid people, places, or activities that remind you of the traumatic experience. You may also change the subject of conversation if someone tries to talk about the event.
Physical and emotional reactions
Some people become easily startled or frightened after experiencing a traumatic event. You may have trouble concentrating or sleeping or self-medicate with alcohol or recreational drugs. PTSD symptoms commonly include having angry outbursts or being irritable.
How is PTSD treated?
Treatment after developing PTSD symptoms is critical to reduce their impact and improve your functioning. The primary treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy, but it is often combined with medication.
Our doctors and nurse practitioners, at Texas Cannabis Clinic, can evaluate you for PTSD during your video appointment. This is the only diagnosis we're able to provide.(Patients will need to provide proof of their qualifying conditions, if applicable).
As of September 1, 2021, Texas law allows for medical cannabis treatment of PTSD symptoms. Symptoms such as insomnia, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and aggression respond well to medical cannabis. Texas Cannabis Clinic offers an on-site psychologist to evaluate and diagnose PTSD before you see Dr. Brimberry about medical cannabis treatment.
Book a telehealth appointment on the "Schedule A Video Appointment" tab to get approved for medical cannabis treatment.
