Preferred Acute Hospital for PTSD & Trauma

Sometimes PTSD is hard to recognize at first because it does not stem from one single, major event. A series of experiences that occur over weeks, months, or years, usually during crucial stages of development, can add up and take a toll on mental health.  

While the causes of PTSD and the types of traumatic experiences may vary greatly from person to person, the symptoms that emerge share some common patterns. 

Trauma survivors who meet specific criteria receive a diagnosis of PTSD. To meet the criteria, your symptoms must last for more than a month and cause significant distress and disruption to your day-to-day functioning.  

Symptoms may appear right away or within the first few months following the traumatic event. Sometimes they take longer to emerge. They can persist for months or years if you don’t receive appropriate support and treatment.  

The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories: 

• Intrusion: This category includes unwanted and involuntary thoughts, such as disturbing dreams, memories, and flashbacks. These thoughts can cause panic attacks and persistent fear. 

• Avoidance: After a traumatic event, you may avoid reminders of it by shutting out certain people, places, activities, objects, and situations. You may not even want to talk about the experience or how you feel about it. Avoidance can stand in the way of everyday activities and harm relationships.  

• Thinking or mood changes: Your symptoms may start with deep sadness and a lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy. You might also struggle to remember things or find that you remember them differently from others. In addition, you may develop far-reaching beliefs that affect your outlook on life, such as “I cannot trust anyone ever again.”  

• Reactivity and irritability: You may feel especially irritable or “snap at” people, including those you love. You might find yourself behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way, being hypervigilant or easily startled, or struggling to concentrate. 

People who experience symptoms of PTSD may also struggle with depression, addiction, and other mental health challenges. As a comprehensive behavioral health and addiction treatment center, we will approach your needs holistically. 

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. The National Library of Medicine puts the percentage around 5%-10%.  

A single event may lead to PTSD, or in the case of complex PTSD, a series of events. When you receive treatment for PTSD, it helps to determine the underlying cause. Examining the roots of PTSD can feel painful and challenging, but it is an important step in the healing process. 

Here are some factors that can increase someone’s risk for developing PTSD:  

• Experiencing or witnessing a violent physical assault  

• Exposure to military combat and warfare  

• Being the victim of rape or sexual violence  

• Being in a serious car accident or other type of accident, which may include physical injury 

• Living through an environmental disaster like a hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, or flood 

• Abuse or neglect during childhood  

• Witnessing a traumatic event, including death or serious injury to others  

• Life-threatening health problems, intensive medical treatments, or medical emergencies 

• The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one  

• Chronic stress from circumstances such as poverty, discrimination, or domestic violence  

ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital is a specialized PTSD treatment center for adults age 18 and older. At our Greenville, North Carolina, hospital, we understand these complex challenges. We want to help you take steps on the road to healing from the effects of trauma. 

Just the first phone call to a treatment center like ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital can make you feel more in control. When you contact us, we will conduct a thorough assessment, taking the time to fully understand your unique situation. We will listen and create a treatment plan that is tailored to you. We know that PTSD does not define you, and we will help you realize your potential.  

With the right professional support, you can reclaim your life and benefit from: 

• Fewer intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares 

• Greater ability to manage and express your emotions  

• Healthy coping strategies and a better ability to deal with stress  

• Restored and stronger connections with family and friends  

• Better self-esteem and confidence in your own resilience, including in your ability to handle future challenges in life 

• Enhanced ability to handle everyday tasks and responsibilities  

• The strength and self-worth to make positive health and self-care choices  

• Connection with a supportive community of mental health professionals, as well as peers who relate to your experiences  

Patients typically stay at our inpatient PTSD treatment center for seven days, but everyone’s journey is different depending on their needs and treatment goals. 

At our Greenville treatment center, we provide a range of services. Your PTSD healing journey with us may include:  

• A complete physical exam prior to admission. We can provide basic medical care if you need it.  

• Medication management services. If you are taking medication for PTSD, you can meet with a pharmacist, physician, nurse, or nurse practitioner, who will help monitor the effectiveness of the medication. 

• Group therapy sessions led by licensed master’s-level therapists that focus on coping skills, the effects of trauma, triggers, and establishing healthy boundaries. During these sessions, our team will guide you through discussions, and patients can share their stories with each other. 

• Daily experiential therapies like art therapy and music therapy. These therapies give you a creative outlet to express yourself and work through the effects of trauma. Music therapists, art therapists, and mental health technicians lead our experiential therapies. 

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available for those who may be struggling with addiction. During your assessment, our admissions counselors and clinical staff will work with you to determine if MAT would be beneficial to incorporate into your treatment plan.  

During your treatment, you can address the symptoms you’re experiencing as well as other challenges in your life, whether these are concerns with relationships, your career, or your sense of self.  

We address your needs as a whole person, not only as someone who has experienced trauma. As part of the healing process, we encourage you to prioritize self-care and seek social support. Rebuilding healthy routines and habits may also help you make progress toward long-term healing.  

If you are a relative or close friend of someone who has PTSD, you may wonder what you can do for them. It can feel frustrating, especially if the person says that they don’t want help. However, your support might encourage them to seek professional treatment. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that, as a loved one, you learn as much as you can about PTSD so that you can better understand how to handle it. You can also tell your friend or relative that you are ready to talk anytime. Encourage them to connect with other family members and friends, and to remember that they have a network of support.  

Because PTSD is a psychiatric condition, their best hope for healing is through professional intervention and therapy. ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital is here to help.