Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment at Las Almas
One Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychological reaction to a traumatic experience. It occurs when a person is exposed to an extremely threatening or upsetting situation and is unable to adequately process it. This can be an accident, an experience of violence, a natural disaster, or prolonged emotional stress.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
In Europe, for example, 10% of people develop PTSD during their lifetime. Particularly affected are:
✔ Emergency services such as fire brigade, police, rescue services and military
✔ Victims of violence, abuse or accidents
✔ People with repeated trauma (e.g. through torture or escape)
✔ Patients after long hospital stays or artificial ventilation (e.g. long Covid)
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Table of contents
The Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental illness that can develop after an extremely stressful experience. People who have experienced traumatic events such as serious accidents, physical or psychological violence, natural disasters, or life-threatening situations often develop strong emotional and physical reactions.
PTSD occurs when the brain cannot adequately process an overwhelming experience. In Europe, an estimated 10% of the population are affected by PTSD at some point in their lives. The disorder is particularly common in people who are confronted with severe trauma through their work or life circumstances. These include Emergency services such as fire brigade, police, rescue services and military, but also victims of violence, abuse, or long-term emotional stress. People living in crisis areas or experiencing displacement are also at increased risk.
Furthermore, PTSD can also occur after medical procedures or serious illnesses. For example, many patients show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder after extended hospital stays, especially after receiving mechanical ventilation. This is especially true for people who have been treated in intensive care due to COVID-19.
Without targeted treatment, PTSD can lead to chronic anxiety, depression, social isolation, and even suicidal thoughts. It's all the more important that those affected seek professional help early on.
Your path to healing – Las Almas helps
therapy overview
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
PTSD can manifest itself in a variety of ways and significantly impair the quality of life of those affected. Many people experience recurring, uncontrollable memories of the traumatic event. These so-called Flashbacks can feel like the experience is happening again. They often occur suddenly and are accompanied by intense feelings of anxiety.
Those affected often suffer from Nightmares and sleep disorders, which lead to chronic exhaustion and increased stress levels. Persistent inner tension is also typical of PTSD. Those affected are in a constant state of alert and have difficulty relaxing. Sounds or certain situations can trigger fear reactions because the brain associates them with the traumatic experience.
Another common symptom is the Avoiding certain places, people or situationsthat remind people of the trauma. This can lead to social isolation and severe restrictions in their daily lives. This is often accompanied by emotional bluntness, depressive moods and lack of motivationwhich severely affect general well-being.
Many people with PTSD also tend to Irritability, outbursts of anger or increased aggressivenessEmotional control is difficult, which can lead to problems in interpersonal relationships. Those affected often try to relieve their symptoms with alcohol or medication, which increases the risk of Addiction problemsincreased.
These symptoms can persist for months or years if not treated professionally.
The Treatment Process at Las Almas – 3 Steps to Healing
Our treatment is based on a holistic, evidence-based approach, which is individually tailored to each patient. The process includes three central steps that enable effective and sustainable improvement of symptoms.
Individual diagnostics & initial consultation
Intensive therapy & neuromodulation
aftercare & sustainable stabilization
Goal: A sustainable improvement so that you can once again take part in everyday life full of joy and energy!
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder at Las Almas
At Las Almas we rely on a holistic and scientifically based therapy approachto provide lasting help to people with PTSD. Our multimodal concept combined modern neuromodulation with proven psychotherapeutic methodsto enable profound healing processes.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
The Ketamine therapy has proven extremely effective in treating PTSD. Ketamine can reduce anxiety within hours and help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. It improves Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to create new neural connections. This significantly facilitates and accelerates the therapy process.
Our Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy combines ketamine infusions with intensive psychotherapy sessions. This allows patients to engage in processing the trauma without being blocked by overwhelming emotions. The therapy helps reappraise distressing memories and create emotional distance, so that the negative effects of the trauma gradually diminish.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
rTMS is a non-invasive method in which targeted magnetic pulses stimulate specific areas of the brain. This technique has been used successfully for years to treat depression and anxiety disorders and also shows promising results in PTSD.
By stimulating the brain, Dysfunctions in traumatized nerve cells can be remedied, which reduces anxiety, sleep disorders and emotional blockages. rTMS is FDA-approved and is considered one of the most effective alternatives to drug treatments.
Neurofeedback & HRV biofeedback – gain control over emotions
Neurofeedback is an innovative technique that enables patients to to regulate one's own brain activityThrough visual or auditory feedback, they learn to calm themselves and control emotional reactions.
HRV biofeedback, on the other hand, focuses on the Heart rate variability (HRV), i.e., the body's ability to adapt to stress. People with PTSD often exhibit low HRV, meaning their nervous system is permanently in a state of heightened tension. Through targeted biofeedback training, they can learn to reduce their stress reactions and regain a sense of inner calm.
