Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects Veterans more disproportionately than the general population, affecting roughly 23% of VA patients. Many of these patients experience significant challenges in their daily lives.
What is PTSD
PTSD is a mental health complication someone may experience after experiencing a traumatic or life-threatening event. While stress reactions are normal in these types of events and often resolve in a few weeks, those who are experiencing PTSD have symptoms that last longer than a month. There are 4 symptoms of PTSD:
Reliving the event: you may experience flashbacks, or nightmares. There might be certain sights or smells that cause you to relive the event.
Avoidance: you may avoid situations that remind you of the event, such as driving if the event involved an accident.
Negative thoughts or feelings: you may experience more negative thoughts than you had before the event. You may feel numb, lose interest in things that you used to enjoy and you may feel guilt or shame.
Feeling on edge: you may feel jittery, have difficulty sleeping, be irritable, and have difficulty with concentrating. You may act in unhealthy ways like smoking, abusing drugs or alcohol, or driving aggressively.
Find Help Through the Ascend Program
The Ascend PTSD program offers an inpatient residential treatment approach that combines evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure, and medication therapies. Participants engage in personalized treatment plans designed to address their unique experiences and challenges. Importantly, the program emphasizes peer support, allowing veterans to connect with one another and share their journeys toward healing. Ascend PTSD program might be a good fit for you if you experience PTSD symptoms that affect your everyday life that haven’t improved with outpatient care.
For veterans struggling with PTSD, the Ascend program represents a critical step toward healing and resilience. For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/eastern-colorado-health-care/programs/ascend-ptsd-program
