June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder awareness month, and North Star Family Medicine plays an integral role in helping our community identify, diagnose, and address mental health concerns.
A primary care provider is typically the first-person who patients discuss their mental health concerns with. It’s important to discuss these issues with your provider so they can address any physical diseases, such as thyroid disorder, which may mimic mental illness. The primary care provider also completes an assessment to diagnose the correct mental illness. They may recommend counseling, lifestyle changes, prescribe medications, and/or place referrals to Psychiatrists who specialize in mental health for advanced care treatment.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying life event a person experiences, such as military combat, physical abuse, disasters, or accidents. The person may be a part of the event or witness it. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories, severe anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of people, places and situations related to the traumatic event, memory problems, feeling detached from family and friends, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms may present days, months, or even years after the event.
At North Star Family Medicine, our providers offer support with medication management to assist with symptoms. For example, Prazosin is prescribed to help with nightmares. We assist our patients with referrals to counselors in the area who specialize in therapy for PTSD and help coordinate care they need. Most importantly, we help patients develop a treatment plan to help manage their symptoms and are readily available to patients as part of the plan to address their needs during tough times. We offer compassionate care for patients with PTSD for their physical illness also and ensure we consider their personal concerns as it relates to their PTSD.
Our goal is to help patients with PTSD to transition to Post Traumatic Growth–the “positive psychological changes experienced as a result of the struggle with trauma or highly challenging situations”. We understand there will always be challenges and we enjoy celebrating success with patients as they learn to balance the negative emotions associated with PTSD with the positive emotions of growth from their trauma.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call 988 for assistance.
