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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a collection of symptoms that develop
in response to an extremely traumatic
event. In particular, PTSD occurs following the experience or witnessing of
life-threatening events such as violent personal assaults such as rape,
military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, fires, serious
accidents, or sexual/physical abuse. A person’s initial responses during the
traumatic event become chronic and maladaptive as time passes and the person
is no longer in a life-threatening situation. These maladaptive responses or
symptoms of PTSD in turn can negatively impact families, work, health, and
social relationships.
Symptoms range from mild and manageable to
extreme and debilitating. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the
experiences through nightmares and flashbacks, frequently have difficulty
sleeping, and often feel detached or estranged from others. They feel
extremely tense and anxious in many different situations and are often
always expecting something bad to happen to them or those around them.
Furthermore, individuals with PTSD are twice as likely to utilize health
care services each year for the treatment of circulatory, digestive,
muscular, skeletal, nervous, and respiratory problems. These symptoms of
PTSD can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the
person's daily life. Many people with PTSD report feeling like they
are “running from their past.” They also feel hopeless and unable to change
their situation.
It is important for people with PTSD to realize
that there is hope. PTSD can be successfully treated. Treatment
often involves learning ways to relax and decrease feelings of stress and
anxiety, learning better sleeping habits, and when appropriate talking about
the trauma in a way that decreases the negative feelings associated with it.
Therapy can also be helpful for families or loved ones of an individual
diagnosed with PTSD.
For more information about PTSD, please
contact a therapist at Powers Ferry Psychology Associates.
Related links:
www.ncptsd.org
 Dr. Amanda R. Lorenz has extensive training and experience in the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For example, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults to overcome the often debilitating symptoms associated with sexual and physical abuse. Dr. Lorenz also wrote and implemented a treatment program for combat veterans with PTSD at the Atlanta -VAMC. Finally, she has worked with hurricane victims and people involved in motor-vehicle accidents (MVA’s). When treating PTSD, Dr. Lorenz incorporates education, skill building, and exposure techniques, as needed, for her clients.
Amanda R. Lorenz, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Her graduate research focused on the
influence of emotion on a person’s thoughts and behavior. She has published several articles and book chapters examining this topic in psychopathic and borderline forensic populations. Dr Lorenz completed her residency at the VAMC-Atlanta and her post-doctoral training at private practices in the Atlanta area before joining Powers Ferry Psychological Associates. Dr. Lorenz sees clients in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.
Dr. Amanda R. Lorenz has a generalist training in the treatment of psychological disorders based on years of clinical and research experiences. She has conducted therapy with
adults, children, and adolescents at in-patient psychiatric children /adolescent hospitals, veteran’s hospitals, private practices, schools, jails and prisons both in Wisconsin and Georgia. She has also developed and implemented treatment manuals and programs in order to better help her patients. Her specialties include Trauma/PTSD, Addiction, Children, Couples, and Chronic Illnesses. While treating these disorders, Dr. Lorenz also addresses co-existing concerns including depression, anxiety, grief, divorce, ADD/ADHD, and interpersonal conflicts. Based on these experiences, Dr. Lorenz provides
individual, couples, and family counseling.
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