Psychological trauma, a state of great shock or excessive sadness, can happen to anyone. It is an emotional response to a highly stressful, distressing, or frightening event. It can take any form, like nightmares or intrusive images, flashbacks, and upsetting thoughts related to the event. Those who suffer from this tend to have the symptoms triggered later in life, reminding them of their trauma. They are generally highly anxious and fearful in situations that may make them re-experience the trauma. Thankfully, a good psychiatrist can help with the best depression treatment in Cardiff, and can help people living with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. A psychiatrist can help by accurately diagnosing their emotional well-being and assisting them in managing their symptoms and coping.
Here’s how a psychiatrist goes about a trauma:
Diagnosis and assessment– A psychiatrist will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and will arrive at a diagnosis after using a recognized diagnostic classification system. The evaluation will include a review of the patient’s detailed medical records and gathering of collateral information from the patient’s loved ones.
To supplement the clinical information, a psychiatrist may even use certain screening instruments in a questionnaire format. The assessment involves understanding the nature of the traumatic event, the patient’s response, and any pre-existing mental illness. Lastly, after assessing the severity of the symptoms of a patient and exploring the potential causes, a psychiatrist will create a suitable treatment plan.
Psychotherapy– The treatment plan for a trauma patient typically will include therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, dialectal behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and supportive therapy. These can help the patients process traumatic memories, challenge negative thoughts and beliefs, develop coping skills, and rebuild a sense of safety and control.
Medications- A psychiatrist usually prescribes medications that stabilize mood, treat anxiety or depression, and address sleep disturbances. Usually, SSRIs and SNRIs are provided.
Collaboration and Support– A psychiatrist collaborates with the patient, the patient’s family and other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive, tailored care and support for the patient to recover soon.
Looking for the best depression treatment or personalized care for psychological trauma? Consult Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, the best child psychiatrist in Wales at Wales Psychiatry Centre. He has helped people with his services and helped them live a better life under his care. Visit Wales Psychiatry Centre for further details.