Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Find Healing for Lasting Fear, Distress, and Other Symptoms in the Philadelphia Area
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying, horrifying, or otherwise distressing traumatic event. Symptoms include unwelcome memories, avoidance of situations that trigger these recollections, hyper alertness or hyperarousal, and persistent negative thoughts and emotions. Although navigating daily life can be daunting with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Philadelphia area’s Dr. Jacob Buinewicz will build a well-structured, personalized care plan that can profoundly aid in recovery.
Dr. Buinewicz at Buckingham Psychiatry is devoted to providing informed, compassionate care. By offering a comprehensive plan integrating therapy, judiciously chosen medication, and lifestyle changes, he aims to alleviate PTSD symptoms and the distress they cause, bolstering the journey towards healing. Contact Dr. Buinewicz for dedicated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) support in the Philadelphia area.
Spanning Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem, Cherry Hill, Princeton, Doylestown, and surrounding communities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Buckingham Psychiatry offers individualized care plans for those grappling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Philadelphia area. Reach out to Dr. Jacob Buinewicz and begin your journey toward improved mental health. Call 484.466.5560.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is more than just an inability to handle exposure to a traumatic event. This is a long-term condition with serious symptoms that can persist for years to a lifetime. The disorder—sometimes referred to by those who have it as post stress syndrome or even post traumatic disease—manifests as lasting, severe stress and fear even long after the danger has passed. Fully grasping the intricacies of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is vital for effective management and healing. Although media commonly link the condition to war veterans, the disorder can affect anyone who has undergone a harrowing experience. Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (c-PTSD) is associated with inescapable chronic relational trauma, such as the harm a child growing up in an abusive home may experience.
No matter the trigger, the condition presents differently in each individual, posing unique challenges.
Intrusive Memories
These refer to recurrent, unwanted recollections of a traumatic event. They can manifest as distressing dreams or flashbacks, sometimes so intense that the patient essentially relives the trauma as though it were happening all over again.
Avoidance
Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may avoid people, places, activities, or situations that remind them of the traumatic event. This withdrawal can lead to isolation and further exacerbation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms.
Negative Mood and Thoughts
People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often experience persistent negative emotions, feeling detached from others, and struggling with feelings of hopelessness about the future.
Hyperarousal
Symptoms like sleep problems, irritability, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response are typical of patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Reactions can happen as though the body is in a constant state of “fight or flight.”
Meet Dr. Buinewicz
Jacob D. Buinewicz, MD is a board certified general psychiatrist. He graduated from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Trained in the combined use of psychotherapy and medication, he offers evidence based treatment for a variety of psychiatric disorders. He has specific expertise in mood and bipolar disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. He also offers care for common sources of stress including life transitions, decreased productivity at work, relationship issues, and grief.
Dr. Buinewicz believes all treatment should begin with a patient-centered comprehensive and holistic evaluation. Patients are involved in creating a treatment plan that may include medications, therapy, or a combination of both. He believes that therapy is often a critical component of care as evidence shows that it provides benefit over medication alone. His therapeutic approach is tailored to the individual patient and contains elements of psychodynamic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Contact Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz, MD for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and personalized treatment plan at 484-466-5560.
Personalized Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment in the Philadelphia Area
Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, Dr. Buinewicz begins with a comprehensive evaluation to understand each patient’s distinct challenges. Treatment may involve a balance of therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments designed to reduce distress and enhance daily quality of life.
Symptoms are thought to be caused by alterations to the nervous system, so medications that impact this system can be helpful. There are two medications approved by the FDA for treating PTSD—sertraline and paroxetine—and it is also very common to tailor off-label medications to treat unique symptoms. This means using medications made to treat a different condition, but which have been found to have a beneficial effect for patients dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. There are also treatments available for patients struggling with nightmares.
Beyond medication management, Dr. Buinewicz supports a comprehensive approach to treatment. Here are some components of Buckingham Psychiatry’s strategy for managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This form of CBT focuses on helping individuals process and reinterpret distressing memories, develop coping strategies, and change behaviors resulting from distorted beliefs about the trauma and its aftermath.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT helps patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. In so doing, the patient creates a new understanding and conceptualization of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on current life.
Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
Practices like controlled breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness can help manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms by calming the body’s “fight or flight” response and promoting greater relaxation instead.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
A balanced diet, regular physical activity, good sleep hygiene, and avoiding alcohol and drugs all contribute to reduced symptoms and improved well-being.
Support Networks
Joining therapy groups can offer valuable peer support and shared coping strategies. Furthermore, Buckingham Psychiatry encourages fostering understanding relationships with family and friends.
Community and Online Resources
Engaging with broader communities—like local support groups or online forums—can offer additional help and normalize experiences, fostering shared understanding.
Through a broad, but personalized approach, Buckingham Psychiatry’s Dr. Buinewicz strives to empower individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by combining medical, therapeutic, and supportive strategies for a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Key Takeaways of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex journey requiring understanding, patience, and reliable support. By adopting an all-encompassing treatment approach, individuals can navigate toward improved quality of life.
For those living with (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) PTSD in the Philadelphia area, Buckingham Psychiatry’s Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz in Doylestown, PA, offers experienced care and a haven of support. To begin your journey, call 484.466.5560 to book a consultation.