Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) : A disorder which occurs after someone fails to recover have experiencing or witnessing a traumatic/terrifying event. PTSD may last months or even years. According to the Mayo Clinic there are 3 million cases of PTSD in the U.S. per year.

 

Symptoms may include: nightmares or flashbacks, avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma, heightened reactivity to stimuli, anxiety, or depressed mood.

 

People may also experience:

 

• Behavioral: agitation, irritability, hostility, hyper vigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation

• Psychological: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust

• Mood: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness

• Sleep: insomnia or nightmares

• Also common: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts

• Treatment: Medication and Therapy

 

Population typically affected: Veterans, People ages 18 & up is the age range most affected, Victims of Domestic violence, Assault victims, Rape Victims, uncommon in child.

 

((n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/)

 

Berks County resources 

 

Dr. Edward Chastka

1500 Penn Ave Suite 1

Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610 (484) 663-5296 

 

Optimum Care Counseling & Wellness Solutions, LLC

4239 Penn Avenue  Suite 11

Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania 19608 (610) 624-4474 

 

Other resources in Berks County:

​

• https://groups.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=179649&ref=1&sid=1489970270.0074_11935&city=Reading&county=Berks&state=PA&spec=19&gid=47842&tr=ResultsName

• https://groups.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=179649&ref=2&sid=1489970270.0074_11935&city=Reading&county=Berks&state=PA&spec=19&gid=59261&tr=ResultsName

• https://groups.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?county=Berks&state=PA&spec=19

• http://berks.pa.networkofcare.org/mh/services/subcategory.aspx?tax=YF-5000.0500-650 https://www.helppro.com/HP/therapist-finder/therapy-specialty/PA/Reading/40/Trauma_PTSD.aspx

 

Lehigh County resources 

 

Survivors of Suicide Support Group Family Answers

411 Walnut St., Allentown, PA 18102 610-435-9651 

​

Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley

801 Hamilton St., Ste. 300, Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-6610

www.cvclv.org

​

Confront/ Treatment Trends, Inc.

1130 Walnut St. Allentown, PA 610-433-0148

​

Other resources in Lehigh County:

 

• https://www.lvhn.org/conditions_treatments/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_ptsd https://groups.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?

• county=Lehigh&state=PA&spec=19 https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Human-Services/Mental-Health/Resources/Support-Groups

• https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Human-Services/Mental-Health/Children/Resources/Crime-Victims https://www.meetup.com/topics/ptsd-support-group/us/pa/allentown/

 

National: 

 

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/peer_support_groups.asp

• https://www.meetup.com/topics/emotional-trauma-and-ptsd/all/

• http://www.operationwearehere.com/PTSD.html

• http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

• www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pilots-database/pilots-db.asp

• www.victimsofcrime.org

 

Books:

 

The Bear's Embrace: A True Story of Survival by Patricia Van Tighem

 

Once a Warrior‑‑Always a Warrior: Navigating the Transition from Combat to ... by Charles W. Hoge

 

Loving Someone with PTSD: A Practical Guide to Understanding and ... by Aphrodite Matsakis