What can be a PTSD emergency?
When the PTSD patient is at risk of harming themselves or others, it can call for an emergency.
What to do in case of a PTSD emergency?
In case of an emergency with a PTSD patient, rush them to the nearest hospital’s Emergency Room. Ensure that the patient is safe (if they are engaging in self-harm) or that others are safe (if there is other harm). You may choose to call the police if you need assistance in handling and taking the patient to the hospital.
How to prevent a PTSD emergency?
One way to prevent emergency is to take the help of mental health professionals and engage in regular treatment. A psychiatrist would prescribe medications in order to make the symptoms manageable for the patient. A therapist in addition can play the important role of working through the traumatic memory and the pessimistic meaning attached to it by the patient. A therapist can involve the family members in making a crisis prevention plan based on if the patient has a tendency to engage in harm of self or others.
What do professionals do in case of a PTSD emergency?
A psychiatrist can administer medications that can soothe the PTSD patient’s agitation or distress. When immediate help is required such when a patient at risk of self-harm, other modes of treatment such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMS) can be administered by the psychiatrist.
