It’s not only America’s veterans who struggle with mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though many still refer to this condition as “shell shock” or “combat fatigue,” anyone can develop PTSD, regardless of whether they’ve served time in the military. Many circumstances can cause post-traumatic stress in both women and men.
Surprisingly, PTSD in women is increasingly common today because of domestic abuse or sexual assault. It’s not uncommon for trauma like this to lead to a substance use disorder if left untreated or undiagnosed. Therefore, if you or someone you love is dealing with symptoms caused by unresolved trauma, treatment for PTSD may be the solution. In the Las Vegas area, Sierra Sage Recovery Services can help.
What Causes PTSD?
Sometimes when people witness or live through a traumatic event, they’re left with negative, unresolved feelings about the incident. They may become unusually sad or fearful when they think about it. Or they may relive the event in nightmares or flashbacks. Many events can trigger post-traumatic stress, including:
- Combat
- Death of a loved one
- Witnessing a horrifying event
- Being raped or assaulted
- Being abused by a family member
- Experiencing a situation where you feel helpless
Someone who has lived through a house fire may flashback to when they smell the smoke of a campfire, for instance. Or walking down a dark street at night may bring on a panic attack in someone who lived through a mugging.
Many individuals are unaware they are dealing with unresolved trauma or have developed PTSD. However, they do understand that they are uncomfortable, discontent, or angry. To remedy this, many turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Unfortunately, this kind of self-medicating increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder. When this happens, individuals need dual diagnosis treatment to address both their mental health issues sprouting from PTSD and addiction issues.
Symptoms of PTSD in Women
Female veterans may have PTSD because of the horrors they witnessed in the military. But homemakers and female college students may be just as likely to develop PTSD from witnessing a terrorist attack or being abused by a husband or boyfriend. Any situation that takes away your power and brings harm to you or surrounding people may trigger post-traumatic stress. In women, PTSD manifests in several ways:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Avoidance
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Feelings of overwhelming guilt
You may try to avoid everything that reminds you of the traumatic day. If it rained that day, you might feel panic every time the forecast calls for rain. If the event took place outside in summer, you might hate the scent of freshly cut flowers.
Women who struggle with PTSD may not even realize why they react in certain ways to certain stimuli because they’ve blocked the painful event from their memories. However, left unresolved, post-traumatic stress can lead to more serious mental health conditions, such as agoraphobia or fear of leaving your house for any reason. Compulsive hoarding may be another side effect of unresolved trauma. Trauma therapy, such as the kind offered in a women’s rehab center, can lessen the effects of PTSD in women.
Treatment for PTSD in Women
Treatment for PTSD requires behavioral counseling. Through approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, clients learn to recognize negative thoughts and redirect them. They may also learn how to “fix” cognitive distortions brought on by the traumatic event. For instance, someone who witnessed a bridge collapse may reason that all bridges are unsafe. They may add miles to their daily commute to avoid crossing bridges. Or someone who suffered an assault by a male stranger may feel that all men are evil.
Cognitive distortions are essential “all or nothing” statements that people adopt. These negative thoughts distort their view of the world and make the very act of living feel terribly dangerous. When, in reality, it’s not. Common therapies for women who struggle with post-traumatic stress include:
Trauma Therapy at Sierra Sage Recovery Services
For trauma therapy in Las Vegas, contact Sierra Sage Recovery Services at 833.922.2884, or visit us online for more information. PTSD in women can make life much more difficult than it has to be. Through the mental health treatment program in our women’s rehab, we can help you heal from unresolved trauma.
