PTSD treatment is therapy, and sometimes medication, that helps your mind and body stop reacting to past trauma as if it is still happening. Lotus Recovery Treatment Center is a trauma treatment center offering outpatient care with approaches such as EMDR, trauma-focused CBT or DBT, plus psychiatric care when medication helps.
What Is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after you live through or witness something frightening, such as an assault, an accident, combat or a sudden loss. It is not limited to veterans. About 6 out of every 100 U.S. adults will have PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the National Center for PTSD.
Most people feel shaken after a traumatic event. With PTSD, the symptoms last longer than a month and get in the way of work, sleep or relationships.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms usually fall into four groups.
01
Reliving the Event
Unwanted memories, nightmares or flashbacks that make it feel like it is happening again.
02
Avoidance
Staying away from people, places or conversations that remind you of what happened.
03
Changes in Mood and Thinking
Guilt, shame, numbness, gaps in memory about the event or losing interest in things you used to enjoy.
04
Feeling on Edge
Irritability, trouble sleeping, being easily startled or always scanning for danger.
Common PTSD Triggers
A trigger is anything that brings the trauma back into your body. It can be a sound, a smell, a date on the calendar, a tone of voice or a crowded room. Learning your triggers is one of the first things we work on, so you can plan for them.
Complications of PTSD
Without treatment, PTSD can affect your health, work and relationships for years. Many people start using alcohol or drugs to ease the pain, which raises the risk of a substance use disorder. Mood and anxiety disorders also occur more often with PTSD and can make symptoms worse. PTSD is treatable, so it helps to talk to a mental health professional if you are not recovering from a trauma.
Why Some People Develop PTSD
People respond to trauma in different ways, and researchers are still learning why. Studies show that people with PTSD often have lower levels of cortisol and higher levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a hormone that drives the fight-or-flight response. Brain imaging also shows differences, including a smaller hippocampus, an overactive amygdala and a less responsive medial prefrontal cortex.
How We Treat PTSD With Trauma Therapy
PTSD responds well to treatment. Your plan is built from:
- EMDR therapy, which helps your brain process traumatic memories so they feel less raw
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including trauma-focused CBT
- Seeking Safety, built for trauma with substance use
- Psychiatric care with medication management for sleep, anxiety or depression
- Group therapy
PTSD therapy in Thousand Oaks is available during the day or in the evening, so you can keep working while you heal.
All of our trauma therapy is trauma-informed. Your therapist moves at your pace and does not push you to relive events before you are ready. PTSD therapy builds a sense of safety first, then works through the trauma itself.
Coping With PTSD Flashbacks Between Sessions
Flashbacks can feel frightening, but they pass. Grounding skills help you come back to the present. You might name five things you can see, press your feet into the floor or hold something with a strong texture. Your therapist will help you build a plan that works for you.
When Trauma and Substance Use Go Together
Many people drink or use drugs to quiet trauma symptoms. Over time this often makes both worse. Our dual diagnosis program treats PTSD with substance use at the same time.
We also run a dedicated program for veterans and active duty military.
- PHP when symptoms make daily life hard to manage
- IOP for several sessions a week while you keep working
- Evening program for sessions after work hours
Our Trauma Treatment Center in Thousand Oaks
Our trauma treatment center is at 290 Conejo Ridge Ave in Thousand Oaks. We see clients from across the Conejo Valley, including Westlake Village. Call to ask about trauma treatment in Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks.
Call (805) 856-6690 to talk with our admissions team about outpatient PTSD treatment. Most insurance accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 signs of PTSD?
Common signs include flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding reminders, feeling numb or guilty, being easily startled and trouble sleeping. A clinician can tell you whether your symptoms fit PTSD.
How do you manage PTSD?
PTSD is best managed with trauma-focused therapy such as EMDR or CBT, sometimes with medication. Daily grounding skills, sleep routines and support from others help between sessions.
What are common triggers for PTSD?
Triggers can be sounds, smells, places, anniversaries, news stories or feeling trapped. They differ for everyone.
How do you deal with PTSD flashbacks?
Grounding helps you return to the present. Focus on your senses, breathe slowly and remind yourself where you are. Therapy reduces how often flashbacks happen.
Is PTSD treatment outpatient?
For most people, yes. At Lotus Recovery, PTSD treatment is outpatient, so you go home each night.
Does insurance cover PTSD treatment?
Most commercial plans do. We accept most insurance, then verify your benefits before you start.
What is the difference between PTSD therapy and trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is any therapy that helps you recover from a traumatic experience. PTSD therapy is trauma therapy aimed at the specific symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks, avoidance and feeling on edge.