PTSD Treatment Center & Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

Get the facts about treatment for PTSD at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Posttraumatic stress disorder, which is more commonly referred to as PTSD, is a mental health disorder that occurs after an individual experiences a distressing and often life-changing event. Some examples of traumatic events that have been known to lead to PTSD are physical attacks, combat, sexual assault, the death of a loved one, a car crash, and living through a natural disaster.

When you experience a traumatic event, it’s normal to go through a period of grief or shock. However, with PTSD, that distress never seems to end. In fact, instead of the symptoms dissipating, they intensify.

PTSD can make you feel as though you are reliving the experience over and over (through flashbacks and dreams). It can also make you feel that you are in constant danger. Other common effects of PTSD include dramatic mood swings, angry outbursts, depression, insomnia, and withdrawal from family and friends.

If you don’t get proper treatment for PTSD, these effects may persist and become more severe. However, with the right type of PTSD treatment, you can learn to manage your symptoms and once again enjoy a healthier and more hopeful life.

Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for PTSD

If someone you care about is experiencing continued negative effects in the aftermath of a traumatic event, it’s possible they have developed PTSD.

Knowing that a loved one is suffering from PTSD can be heartbreaking and confusing. However, you shouldn’t feel hopeless or helpless. There are treatment options available for anyone who is dealing with PTSD, and you can play an important part in your loved one’s recovery. Please consider the following:

• First, make sure your loved one is safe. Among the many unfortunate effects of PTSD is increased risk of self-harm and suicide. If you feel your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
• After you’re certain that your loved one is safe, educate yourself about the causes, symptoms, and effects of PTSD. Visit websites that are associated with national organizations, reputable treatment facilities, and well-regarded support groups. Understanding what your loved one is experiencing will increase your ability to provide the best help.
• It is also important to research PTSD treatment options. Learn about the types and levels of PTSD treatment that have helped others. Identify PTSD treatment centers in your area that provide that type of care. Remember that there is no one perfect type of treatment for PTSD. Instead, find the program that will best suit your loved one.
• Continue talking with your loved one. Not only will you learn more about what they’re dealing with and how they’re feeling, but this is also an opportunity for you to show your continued love and support. Suffering from mental illness can be lonely, so knowing that you care and are there for them can mean a world of difference. Keep the lines of communication open.
• Continue to look after your own mental health and well-being. Helping someone who needs treatment for PTSD can be challenging. Don’t try to do it all on your own. If possible, get help from family and friends. Also, don’t hesitate to make an appointment to see a counselor yourself. If you want to be the best source of support for your loved one, you need to make sure you’re not ignoring your own physical or mental health.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that healing from PTSD can be a lengthy process. Treatment for PTSD can help your loved one make great progress, but there may also be setbacks. Plan to be a source of love and support throughout the process.

Why you should consider getting treatment for PTSD at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Left untreated, PTSD can affect every area of an individual’s life.

When struggling with untreated PTSD, an individual can fall into depression and develop antisocial behaviors. They may have problems holding a job or maintaining personal relationships. Someone with PTSD may find it difficult to concentrate. They may even act out with uncharacteristic bouts of anger. In addition, individuals with PTSD might engage in substance abuse in a misguided attempt to self-medicate. This can lead to a host of additional problems, including addiction.

When a person receives proper care for PTSD and any co-occurring disorders, their quality of life can improve significantly. Effective professional treatment for PTSD can empower adults to live much happier and more hopeful lives.  When a person receives the right type and level of PTSD treatment, life can get much better.

Learn about therapies used in the treatment of PTSD at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is a state-of-the-art, inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility. Our high-end treatment center serves multiple cities and states, including Tennessee, North Georgia, and Alabama, offering acute care for patients who need crisis stabilization in a safe and secure setting.

Surrounded by trees, fields, and seasonal flora and fauna, our hospital provides a welcoming respite for patients to begin healing from PTSD. Comfortable care rooms, courtyard areas for relaxation, and a large gymnasium for exercise and recreation offer a well-rounded treatment experience.

At Erlanger, patients receive the most innovative approach to PTSD treatment, with programming that is customized to meet their individual needs.

At Erlanger, our mission is to deliver excellence in the treatment of PTSD, and to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by its symptoms. We strive to deliver compassionate, effective care that empowers our patients on their unique paths to healing from PTSD.

Our PTSD treatment center takes great pride in our ability to provide care in a manner that best meets the needs of our patients. One way that we do this is by offering four distinct programs that allow our patients to receive treatment for PTSD in a setting and amidst a population that is most reflective of their needs and stages of life.

These programs include an adult psychiatry program for patients age 18 and older, a geriatric psychiatry program for patients age 65 and older, and a dual diagnosis program for adults age 18 and older. All programs offer a fully comprehensive approach to care, incorporating a variety of evidence-based therapeutic interventions into each patient’s treatment plan. When a patient receives care for PTSD at our treatment center, they have access to the following:

Medical care: If a patient has a chronic, but stable, medical condition in addition to PTSD, we are able to offer the additional attention they need. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses provide medical care for those patients who require these services. Patients have the ability to meet with our medical staff daily.

Medication management: Medication is often a beneficial component in treating PTSD. The use of medication, however, is always determined on a case-by-case basis. For those patients who will benefit from medication, our PTSD treatment center has psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses who provide medication management services. Patients can expect to meet with a psychiatrist daily.

Detoxification: For patients who are struggling with addiction concerns in addition to PTSD symptoms, we offer nonmedical detoxification services on-site. Detox at our treatment center typically lasts between three and seven days. During this time, patients are also able to participate in therapeutic programming so that all of their needs are being met simultaneously. Medication-assisted treatment is also available as part of our detox services, including the use of Suboxone and Subutex. Each patient will work with their treatment team to determine whether to use these medications during detox.

Individual therapy: Licensed social workers and counselors provide confidential one-on-one individual therapy sessions for patients who are struggling with PTSD. These sessions offer patients the opportunity to discuss their concerns, process their experiences in treatment, and celebrate successes as they begin recovering from PTSD. The frequency of individual therapy sessions at our PTSD treatment center is determined throughout the patient’s treatment planning process.

Group therapy: Group therapy is an important part of the healing process at our PTSD treatment center. Our highly qualified staff members, including nurses, social workers, counselors, and activity therapists, lead several groups each day and encourage patients to actively support one another in treatment. There are a variety of groups offered, including the following:

• Recovery groups
• Community groups
• General processing groups
• Psychoeducational groups

Family therapy: When patients are struggling with PTSD, it can be extremely beneficial to include their family members in the treatment process. At our PTSD treatment center, licensed social workers and counselors lead family therapy sessions with patients and their loved ones. Not only does this give family members an opportunity to learn more about PTSD, what their loved one is going through, and ways that they can help, but it also provides them with a safe space to discuss how their loved one’s concerns have impacted them as well.

Continuing care options for PTSD treatment

Treatment does not simply end once your stay at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is complete. From the time that you are admitted into our PTSD treatment center, your treatment team will begin creating your discharge plan, which will be updated as you progress through treatment. This plan may include referrals to step-down levels of care, information on community resources that are available to you, referrals to support groups, and anything else that your treatment team believes will help you remain successful in healing from PTSD.

If you believe that you or your loved one could benefit from the care provided at our PTSD treatment center, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Our knowledgeable, compassionate staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have, explain more about our programming, and get you started in the admissions process.