Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a harrowing condition, and in recent years it has grown increasingly prevalent in the United States. The condition is severe enough that it can have major consequences not just for the victim, but also for the members of his or her family. According to a recent medical report, however, those family members can play a vital part in helping the patient to recover. The report finds that attending couple therapy can help with the symptoms of PTSD, and also help to improve the couple's relationship. The study has won the attention of leading psychologist Mark Cartwright of Dallas.
With a background in School Psychology and extensive experience, working with kids and geriatric communities alike, Mark Cartwright is a leading mental healthcare provider. He provides private evaluations to patients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, assessing and treating conditions ranging from autism to Alzheimer's. Dr. Cartwright also offers his services to those afflicted with PTSD. He has responded to the new medical report with a statement to the press.
"PTSD is a growing problem in the United States, and it is only growing more commonplace all the time," says Dr. Cartwright in his statement to the press. "When you pause to consider recent events, such as the shooting in Colorado and then again on the street outside the Empire State Building, it is not hard to understand how more and more Americans are becoming traumatized by things they witness, experience, or simply see on TV."
Dr. Cartwright also notes that couple therapy may be particularly helpful to PTSD patients who have experienced symptoms of hyperarousal. "This is not true for every PTSD case, but for many, there can be symptoms of extreme anger and irritability," he notes. "This can really take a major toll on the patient's loved ones. As such, being able to talk through the issues and reach some mutual empathy and understanding, can prove invaluable."
The new medical study, itself, suggests that PTSD patients recover the best, and the fastest, when they have a "social support" system in place. The ability to lean on others is crucial for making a full recovery, the report notes; patients who undergo individualized therapy do not recover nearly as well.
Couple-oriented PTSD therapy sessions typically offer education about the causes and symptoms of PTSD, as well as tools that each member of the couple can use to better cope with the difficult situation. "These resources are important for couples seeking to support one another through a trying season in life," affirms Mark Cartwright.
ABOUT:
A psychologist in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area, Mark Cartwright specializes in school psychology. Mark Cartwright of Dallas attended Ohio State University, where he earned his master's and doctorate degrees, and Ohio University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Mark Cartwright of Dallas completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Dallas Medical Center of the University of Texas Southwestern. Mark Cartwright of Dallas currently offers his services as a licensed specialist in the areas of assessment, evaluation, and treatment of ADHD, anxiety disorders, PTSD, autism, and dementia.
Website: http://markcartwrightdallassite.com/