Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric condition affecting one out of every 11 people in the United States at some point during their life. LinqCare Inc. is a psychiatry and behavioral health practice that offers individualized treatment and therapy for PTSD through its telehealth platform. To get help, call LinqCare Inc. or book your telehealth appointment online today.   

What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a psychiatric condition that occurs after someone witnesses or experiences a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, a terrorist act, or an assault. 

Fear is a normal response following any type of traumatic event. Fear triggers your body’s fight-or-flight response, protecting you from the danger and releasing chemicals and hormones to increase blood pressure, making you more alert. 

These physiological changes may make you feel on edge. With time and support, your fear goes away. However, with PTSD, the fear continues, and the symptoms worsen, affecting your daily life. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms usually appear about a month after the traumatic event. However, sometimes the symptoms may not show up until years later. 

PTSD affects everyone differently, and symptoms vary. But four distinct types of symptoms occur with PTSD, including:

Re-experiencing symptoms

Flashbacks, nightmares, and frightening unwanted thoughts are re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD. 

Avoidance symptoms

Avoidance symptoms of PTSD are the changes you make to your normal routine to avoid people, places, or situations that trigger traumatic memories.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms

People with PTSD feel on edge, jittery, and get easily startled. These are arousal and reactivity symptoms.

Cognition and mood symptoms

Cognition and mood symptoms are the negative symptoms that occur with PTSD, including feelings of guilt or shame about the trauma and a change in how you view the world.

What happens during a PTSD evaluation?

LinqCare Inc. takes a personalized approach to care. They perform a comprehensive initial evaluation with psychotropic testing through their telehealth platform. 

For psychotropic testing, they use GeneSight®, which involves swabbing the inside of your cheek to collect cells and then sending the sample to the GeneSight lab for analysis.

GeneSight is a pharmacogenomic test that analyzes clinically important genetic variations that may affect how your body uses certain medications. The results from GeneSight help determine what medication and dose work best for you, eliminating the need for a lengthy trial and error. 

What are the treatments for PTSD?

LinqCare Inc. takes an individualized approach to behavioral care. After your initial evaluation and psychotropic testing, your provider at LinqCare Inc. discusses testing and the types of medication that can ease your symptoms.

In addition to medication management, the team provides trauma therapy for PTSD with a licensed clinician that matches your preferences and needs. 

For personalized care for your PTSD, schedule your initial evaluation at LinqCare Inc. online or call today.