Psychiatry Associates Blog

We often think of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in association with combat veterans.  While the condition does impact a large percentage of our military, PTSD can occur in anyone who has experienced trauma, whether physical or mental.  Naturally, stress reactions following a traumatic event are expected, but if these stress reactions last longer than three months, cause great distress, or disrupt work/home life, it is time to seek help.

Read More

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common mental illness impacting those who have experienced or witnessed particularly traumatic events.  While it is commonly associated with combat veterans, anyone can suffer from PTSD.  Events such as assaults, car accidents, or natural disasters can all leave a lasting impact on the brain, leading to problems such as anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and self-destructive behaviors.  At times, these symptoms may be worse than others.  This is often due to thoughts or events that serve as “triggers.”  Learning how to identify these triggers and cope with them effectively is an important step in living a healthy, successful life with PTSD.

Read More

A little over a year ago, Baton Rouge and surrounding areas experienced flooding of historic proportions.  In a matter of days, 6.9 trillion gallons of water fell throughout the state with devastating consequences.  Many lost their homes, cars, possessions, and priceless keepsakes and then had to pick up and begin the arduous process of rebuilding it all.  It was undoubtedly a trying time but one that Louisiana got through with grace.  Then, a year later, our neighbors in Texas faced similar circumstances as Hurricane Harvey pummeled the Houston metro area, and for many, the heartbreak for these new flood victims was matched only by their own physical and emotional reactions to such traumatic memories.

Read More