Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to distressing symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and constant anxiety that disrupt daily life and strain relationships. At Elevate Medical in Midtown Manhattan and Pleasantville NY, the experienced team—Yung Park, MD, Kevin Lemaire, DO, Sima Paul, MD, and Lesley Cano, PMHNP-BC—provides compassionate, evidence-based care to help you heal and regain a sense of stability.

Whether PTSD is affecting your mental health, work, social life, or personal relationships, the team is here to support your recovery.

Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online to get started today.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may occur after you witness or experience a traumatic event. It’s characterized by problematic or potentially hazardous symptoms when left untreated. 

Events that can lead to the development of PTSD include:

• Physical, mental or sexual abuse
• Military combat
• First responder trauma
• Car accident
• Death of a loved one
• Shootings
• Major environmental events like earthquakes or hurricanes

At Elevate Medical, the providers use evidence-based practices to help those who are struggling with PTSD to overcome it.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Common symptoms associated with PTSD include:

• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Startling easily
• Distressing memories
• Mood swings
• Fearfulness
• Hypervigilance
• Avoidance of certain people, places, or things
• Substance abuse

Left untreated, PTSD can have a negative impact on relationships, employment, education, and overall quality of life. 

How do you diagnose PTSD?

To determine if you have PTSD or another mental health disorder, your provider conducts a comprehensive initial psychiatric evaluation. 

This involves inquiries about your mood, thoughts, emotions, behavior patterns, lifestyle habits, past traumatic experiences, medication regimen, and medical history. Based on this assessment, they put together a personalized treatment plan.

What are the treatments for PTSD?

At Elevate Medical, the providers use highly effective treatments that may include:

Counseling on lifestyle changes

Your provider offers lifestyle modifications to reduce PTSD symptoms. Recommendations may include stress-reduction techniques such as regular exercise, meditation, outdoor activities, massage, yoga, or tai chi. 

The practice also provides medically proven assistance in breaking addictive habits like smoking, excessive drinking, or drug use.

Medication management

Your provider assists in managing mental health medications to stabilize mood and alleviate PTSD symptoms.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy involves gradual introductions to triggers associated with distressing PTSD symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that helps you learn effective behavioral strategies to manage and overcome PTSD symptoms.

Motivational interviewing

With motivational interviewing, you engage in discussions with your provider aimed at motivating and empowering you to make positive lifestyle changes.

To determine if you have PTSD or to seek treatment for the condition, contact Elevate Medical today by phone or use the online booking feature.