Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Anxiety Treatment Center
Both excessive anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are serious mental health issues that strongly influence life quality. They have different origins, but their symptoms are often similar and overlapping, as these disorders may be connected. There is even such a thing as PTSD anxiety. For correct treatment, a comprehensive examination is required to distinguish PTSD and anxiety. URP Behavioral Health provides expert care for these disorders. You get personalized treatments and evidence-based therapy for your health improvement.
Similar Symptoms of PTSD and Anxiety
Living with the symptoms of anxiety and PTSD is not such a rare phenomenon at all. The latter was even once considered as a specific subtype of anxiety disorder. Anyway, one can suffer from these disorders at the same time. Another case is when anxiety accompanies more prominent PTSD symptoms. That makes it more challenging to live with it. So, the overlapping symptoms of these two mental issues are the following:
- Excessive worry. Both PTSD and anxiety patients deal with irrational fears about the future. Such negative emotions lie in the very heart of anxiety disorder. Sufferers from PTSD may experience excessive worry about the potential appearance of triggering events.
- Negative thinking issues. These PTSD anxiety symptoms include feelings of hopelessness. Patients may lack faith in their ability to change the situation.
- Avoidance patterns. People with PTSD try not to get in any reminder of their trauma. Patients with anxiety tend to avoid social interactions. They have social withdrawal fears are the main reason for their problems.
- Sleep problems. Both disorders lead to difficulty sleeping. People living with PTSD may re-experience traumatic accidents in sleep. Anxious people can have trouble falling asleep due to negative rumination and related somatic symptoms.
- Physical symptoms. These mental issues come with several physical symptoms. Among them are a racing heartbeat, sweating, and muscle tension. They occur during facing social interactions or triggers or from intrusive thoughts.
- Hypervigilance. It’s a common coping strategy for both PTSD and anxiety disorders that consumes lots of cognitive and physical energy.
Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety
Despite the resemblance between PTSD and anxiety, they have different origins. The first mental issue is caused by a traumatic accident. War-related trauma is the most known reason for triggering PTSD. Since the Vietnam War, scientists have been studying the nature of this condition and treatment options. After that, American feministic organizations noted similar symptoms in veterans and women subjected to sexual assault. Among other possible reasons for PTSD are traffic accidents, child abuse, domestic violence, and the unexpected death of a loved one.
Anxiety disorders’ origin depends on their type and isn’t entirely known. They start progressing in adolescence or young adulthood due to external factors. Personality traits and genetic, cognitive, and neural reasons also take part in forming anxiety disorders.
Difference Between Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
In addition to the differences in origins, there are a few symptoms that distinguish anxiety from PTSD. They allow psychiatrists to claim that these are different mental issues. The following symptoms help differentiate between the two diagnoses:
- Triggers. Traumatic events are one of the main concepts for post-traumatic disorder. They don’t play a major role in anxiety-based illness development.
- Manifestation of symptoms. Anxiety symptoms are usually more pervasive, influencing different life spheres of people. PTSD is more characterized by trauma-related manifestations with flashbacks and severe emotional distress.
- Frequency of symptoms. Various types of anxiety disorders are chronic and impact a patient’s life all the time. For diagnosis of PTSD, persons have to experience some of the symptoms at least once a month.
- Emotional response. The sufferers of post-traumatic disorder may experience emotional numbness because of trauma. People with anxiety disorders are more often quite emotional with fear of expressing themselves.
Diagnosis Anxiety and PTSD
It’s not easy for a therapist for PTSD and anxiety to differentiate them. They have a lot of overlapping symptoms, which may misguide even experienced specialists. For instance, both disorders have heightened anxiety and sleep disturbances as manifestations. Specialists require skills and experience in differential diagnosis to conduct a comprehensive and deep assessment with a correct conclusion.
To identify an anxiety disorder, mental health experts conduct interviews with patients. They help get information about their symptoms and medical history. Another diagnostic approach, physical examinations, helps examine if it is a mental illness or if anxiety is a separate symptom of hyperthyroidism or heart issues. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) has clear criteria for diagnosing various anxiety disorders. It includes excessive anxiety and worry, difficulty controlling them, social distress, and several physical symptoms. The latter are restlessness, fatigue, focusing problems, crabbiness, muscle tension, and sleep issues.
Same as for anxiety, a PTSD therapist also conducts interviews but with a focus on trauma. The DSM-5 determines such manifestations as re-experiencing symptoms. It includes flashbacks or nightmares, emotional numbness, excessive arousal, and persistent negative thoughts.
Treatment for PTSD and Anxiety
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
These two approaches are currently considered the first-choice treatment for PTSD. CBT helps change negative thought patterns and behaviors that are peculiar to PTSD and anxiety disorders. Patients work through their traumas and fears and acquire healthy coping strategies. EMDR allows one to re-process and integrate the painful memories of traumatic events into long-term memory and lower the intensity of related distress.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
This therapeutic approach allows patients to change their negative beliefs and reframe their thoughts. In particular, it concerns trauma-related emotions as well.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
It combines CBT techniques with mindfulness practices. With DBT, people learn to manage intense emotions, which is more than relevant for PTSD and anxiety.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores unconscious processes and how experiences influence current behavior. This approach helps anxious patients connect their diagnosis to real-life situations.
Group therapy
It’s an effective treatment for PTSD and anxiety sufferers. Leading therapists create a supportive environment for participants to share similar experiences and find peer support.
PTSD and anxiety disorders are severe mental issues that negatively impact human lives. They require proper experience and skills to be revealed, as they have similar symptoms. These disorders are distinguished by their nature, with several symptoms indicating their differences. Skilled specialists from URP Behavioral Health help you establish specific mental health diagnoses and select an appropriate treatment. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you seek a professional approach to your problem.
Let us guide you towards healing
We know that seeking treatment can be overwhelming, but our staff is here to make the process as smooth as possible. We’re available 24/7 to address any questions or concerns you may have.
