RDU Archives - Freedom Psychiatry

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in those who’ve experienced trauma, a dramatic situation, or dangerous event. It’s natural to feel scared, shocked, and anxious after a traumatic event. In fact, the body’s ‘flight-or-flight’ response is meant to protect a person from harm.

There’s a wide range of reaction to trauma.

A lot of people recover from trauma naturally but, for those who don’t, PTSD might develop. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding PTSD and those who suffer. Here’s what you need to know.

Time Heals All

Trauma Trauma can linger for decades beyond the initial experience. It can interfere with your daily life and growth. For some, untreated trauma can become part of their identity over the years. Someone with symptoms of PTSD should not rely on time as a healing mechanism.

Only The Weak Develop PTSD

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Though it’s unknown why some people develop PTSD and other don’t, inner strength has nothing to do with it. PTSD is a disorder that should be treated by a qualified professional.

I Should Be Able To Control This Alone

Wrong! This type of thinking adds to the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. You wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor for a broken ankle, and you shouldn’t hesitate to get help for PTSD either.

Certain groups are more reluctant to reach out than others-especially men. No one should suffer alone. Dr. Madaram is a member of the military himself. He has a special interest in military personnel and veterans who suffer with depression, anxiety, PTSD and other disorders that interfere with their lives.

Like any other health condition, anxiety looks different from person to person. Sometimes, it’s hard to recognize the signs of anxiety… Was it just a bad day or something more?

Anxiety is more than just being stressed or worried. And, for the 40 million adults who suffer each year, it can be debilitating. Here’s a break down of the different types of anxiety and how they might appear in daily life.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Defined by long periods of excessive worry over daily life. A person suffering from GAD worries about a lot of different things and feels anxious most days. Common causes of GAD include everything from genetics to trauma.

Symptoms of GAD: restlessness, anxious thoughts, overwhelm, irritability, and trouble concentrating.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety is an intense fear of being criticized or embarrassed even in everyday situations. It might prevent you from attending events and enjoying life.

Symptoms of SAD: Social withdraw, loss of interest, eating in public, making small talk and being in crowded public spaces.

Phobias

Phobias can leave people feeling very fearful about a particular object or situation. Most commonly, a person suffering from a phobia will go to all costs to avoid exposure. There are MANY types of phobias and fears.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder causes panic attacks. These intense and often uncontrollable feelings of anxiety can also cause physical symptoms.Untreated Panic Disorder can be crippling.

Symptoms of Panic Disorder: Shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and excessive perspiration, and stomach pains.

If anxiety is controlling your life, give Dr. Madaram a call today at (919) 802-1417. He’ll help you get back on the path to wellness and eliminate anxiety in your life.

The holidays are known as the most wonderful time of the year!

A time meant for relaxing and spending time with the people you love. However, in reality, the holidays are filled with stress of all varieties. Many of us are out of our daily routines and overloaded with sugar and other holiday treats. Add to that the stress of gift giving, decorating, entertaining and it’s no wonder people develop holiday burnout.

Here are some ways you can stay healthy, happy and enjoy the holidays more this year…

Say “NO”

Don’t be afraid to say “no” so you don’t overcommit. There’s a lot of stress associated with holidays from attending events to buying everyone a gift. Overcommitment in these areas of your life can lead to burnout. Instead of attending the entire party, try staying for an hour. If finances are a strain, give gifts of love and gratitude that don’t cost a penny.

Maintain Routines

Long nights, poor diets, and lack of exercise can really impact your mental health and mood. Focus on staying grounded in your healthy routines. Overeating, drinking, and excess sugar this time of year can all affect your mood. Be mindful and enjoy the holidays responsibly.

Prioritize

Society puts a lot of pressure on us this time of year! There are so many things we are supposed to do this holiday season that might not be part of what you actually want to do. Forget about decorating, baking, and caroling if they don’t make you happy. Prioritize your health and happiness. Make a “to do” list and create a plan that allows you to tackle a little each day.

Most importantly, slow down and take it all in. Don’t give into the pressures of stress and perfection we see this time of year. If you need help finding mental or emotional freedom for you or a loved one, Dr. Madaram can help create a wellness plan for you.

Is stress just a normal part of life? After all, doesn’t everyone experience it to some degree?

Stress in modern-day society seems to be just as common as the cup of morning coffee. Whether you chalk it up to a looming deadline at work or upcoming big event, stress can have an impact on your overall health in many ways.

What is Stress?

Stress is how the brain and body respond to demands. In life, there are demands we face daily. Work, physical activity, school, life events…even trauma. Stress grows and continues to build overtime.

You might notice that you are more on-edge….or sleeping less? How about your mood swings and rising anxiety levels?

It is important to pay attention to how you deal with minor (and major) stress events so that you know when to seek help. Many mental health disorders can lead to other chronic diseases. If you answer “Yes” to any of the questions below, it might be time to get help with managing your stress.

1. You develop new physical symptoms.

Different people may feel stress in different ways. For example, some people experience headaches while others can’t sleep. Digestive problems are also common for people with stress-related disorders. When you start to notice chronic, physical symptoms develop as a result of your stress…it’s time to get professional help.

2. You become obsessive and/or compulsive.

Stress can make some feel like they’ve lost control. In an effort to regain control of one’s thoughts, anxiety, and overall health, you might develop start to develop obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, or impulses that occur repetitively in your mind. Compulsions are behaviors or routines that make you feel driven to act out again and again. This type of behavior is commonly known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. It can interfere with your daily quality of life.

3. You are scarred by a traumatic event.

PTSD and trauma can leave you with psychological injury that can be shattering… and prevent you from functioning… or living a rewarding life, even if there’s no injury that you can see. Traumatic experiences so terrible, so painful, so utterly shocking and terrifying…that thoughts of it and the memories come back and make you feel like it’s happening again. Over and over. And when that happens, it can drive you to do things you wouldn’t normally do. It can severely interfere with your life.

4. Your energy levels drop.

When you are stressed, many systems in your body are affected including your nervous system. Your body might shift its energy resources to fight off perceived threats developed by anxiety. You might experience an change in hormones or a spike in blood pressure. All of these factors can leave you feeling tired, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

5. You develop unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Abusing prescription medication, drinking in access, spending too much, or sleeping too much (or too little) are just a few red flags. Stress-related disorders can have a BIG impact on your overall health and wellness. This is why it’s imperative that you seek treatment at the earliest sign of a problem.

Dr. Madaram’s perspective is that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

Let’s Talk Today!

Have you ever experienced something traumatic? An event so incredibly frightening or distressing that its shaken you to your core?

Maybe you’ve served in military combat or survived cancer…or a car crash…

Whatever the cause, trauma is real.

Psychological (or emotional trauma) can change the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you react. Trauma can rewire your brain and present challenges in your daily life. It can leave you feeling broken and depressed. People are not impacted by trauma in the same way. However, there are a few things we know about changes in the brain from trauma.

The Wounds You Can’t See

In some cases, the physical scars of trauma are lifelong, visible reminders. On the other hand, emotional trauma is about what’s happening inside your brain. These scars aren’t always visible, but they are very real.

Trauma: Your Thoughts

Trauma can rewire the way a person thinks. One area associated with thinking is the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It contributes to our rational thought process, problem-solving abilities, and sense of empathy and compassion. It helps us think clearly, make decisions, and create awareness of ourselves and others.

Trauma: Your Emotions

The Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) is partly responsible for regulating our emotions. A non-traumatized brain is able to manage challenging thoughts without being overwhelmed or consumed by them. Trauma affects our emotional regulation abilities.

Trauma: Your Fears

Lastly, the amygdala is another very important part of the brain that’s often affected by trauma. It helps us detect threats and manage reactions. The amygdala in a traumatized brain is active often causing fear, stress, and panic in unwarranted situations.

Hope and Healing

Approximately 50 percent of the population will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Remember, everyone experiences trauma differently. Trauma is not a competition. It is a very personal experience. For that reason, trauma can look completely different from one individual to another.

Everyone has different triggers and levels of stress caused by trauma. Some people will develop PTSD and some won’t. It’s important to remember, in a world full of comparison, that we should not compare our traumas. Feeling guilty because “it was nearly as bad as…” is not part of the healing process.

Your trauma is uniquely yours. It hurts YOU because it is real. Allow yourself to feel…to grieve.

What matters most is healing. Dr. Madaram’s perspective is that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

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