Whether you are a combat veteran, suffered abuse as a child or endured other forms of severe physical, mental and/or emotional stress, chances are you suffer from some degree from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD can last for months or even years after a traumatic event, evoking flashbacks and triggering intense emotional and physical reactions. For years, doctors have tried and failed to treat PTSD with opioid drugs and antidepressants. Today, an all-natural remedy holds promise for sufferers of PTSD and their loved ones.
Causes of PTSD
Surviving any type of horrific event can be life-shattering. Auto accidents, fires, plane crashes, natural disasters or domestic violence can all turn your world upside down. Military combat and the horrors of war can leave indelible scars. Rape, incest and other heinous acts can demolish the victim’s self esteem and keep them from establishing healthy human relationships.
Physical, mental and emotional recovery from traumatic events can take a long time, but most people are able to eventually move on, leaving their trauma behind. In some instances, however, the victim of trauma is unable to stop reliving the terror of their experience, remaining gripped in the clutches of the past.
The inability to recover from past trauma is classified as PTSD. The disorder is medically unique in that it is one of only a few mental illnesses triggered by an outside event. The trauma may be physical, but PTSD can also occur as a consequence of witnessing a traumatic event.
The top triggers of PTSD include:
- Rape
- War and combat
- Kidnapping
- Sudden death of a close friend or family member
- Childhood sexual or physical abuse
- Childhood neglect
- Domestic violence
- Natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes or hurricanes
- Terrorist attacks
- Plane crashes
- Car accidents
- Assault
About one in 10 people who witness or experience a traumatic episode will develop PTSD at some point. Rape is the leading cause of PTSD, making the disorder more common among women than men. PTSD victims often suffer from other mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and they are more prone to resort to substance abuse of drugs and alcohol.
PTSD Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD can vary in frequency and intensity from one individual to the next, and manifest in different ways. PTSD symptoms are often grouped into categories:
Intrusive symptoms: Distressing memories; nightmares; flashbacks of reliving the event; severe emotional distress; physiological responses and changes.
Avoidance symptoms: Reluctance to discuss the event; steering clear of people, places and things that may evoke memories of the event; avoidance of anything that may trigger feelings, thoughts or memories of the traumatic event.
Alterations in mood and cognition: Memory loss; negative outlook or attitude; self-blaming or blaming others for the event; feeling disconnected from others; inability to experience pleasure; inability to feel positive emotions.
Alterations in arousal: Sleep disturbances; irritability; sudden angry outbursts; reckless behavior; self-destructive behavior; paranoia and hyper-vigilance; self-harm; easily startled.
PTSD has been linked to depression, anxiety and increased risk of suicide. People who suffer from PTSD also often experience metabolic disorders like cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Substance abuse and alcoholism are common among PTSD sufferers, along with personality disorders and anti-social behavior.
Conventional Treatment of PTSD
For decades, PTSD has been treated with psychotherapy and medications. One of he most successful short-term and long-term psychotherapy approaches is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is trauma-focused, putting the traumatic event that triggered PTSD at the center of treatment. It focuses on recognizing, understanding and rethinking the event, with the end goal of altering behavior patterns.
The medications most commonly used to treat PTSD are selective serotonin reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin serves as a neurotransmitter to send messages between the brain and nerve cells. It is considered a “feel good” hormone that works to stabilize your mood and stimulate feelings of wellbeing and happiness. SSRIs prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed by the neurons, so they continue to circulate in elevated amounts.
While SSRIs appear to alleviate PTSD symptoms of anxiety and depression in civilians, especially females, recent studies of combat veterans with PTSD showed variable responses to SSRI therapy, indicating that SSRIs may not be as effective in treating combat-associated PTSD. In either case, SSRI therapy targets some of the symptoms of PTSD, but fails to get at the root of the disorder.
In addition to drugs and psychotherapy, a 2018 review of alternative treatments found certain therapies to be of some benefit, including:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Acupuncture
- Hypnotherapy
- Meditation
- Visualization
NAD+ Therapy to Treat PTSD
New research on SSRIs and depression suggests that serotonin deficiency may not be at the root of PTSD and depression. Strong evidence points to a lack of synaptogenesis (the growth of new nerve synapses) and neurogenesis (the generation and migration of new neurons). Directly treating the cause of diminished neuronal activity by stimulating biogenesis of nerve cells may be key to resolving symptoms of PTSD.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme derived from dietary niacin that is responsible for over 500 biological processes in the human body. NAD+ plays a particularly important role in the repair and biogenesis of DNA located within every cell, including nerve and brain cells. NAD+ restores mitochondrial function within cells and promotes repair of cellular matter. It is interesting to note that SSRIs actually inhibit the synthesis of NAD+, exacerbating common psychiatric symptoms like those associated with PTSD.
NAD+ IV therapy is a safe, inexpensive and minimally invasive treatment that promotes cellular biogenesis and alleviates depression, anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD. Because NAD+ is a nutrient and not a drug, there are no negative side effects. NAD+ therapy is approved by the FDA.
PTSD Therapy in NYC
If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD, NAD+ IV therapy offers a safe, natural and cost effective solution. Unlike opioids and antidepressant drugs that attempt to suppress and mask symptoms, NAD+ therapy offers a nutritional solution that actually alters your brain cells and regulates metabolism to eliminate symptoms and help you heal.
Contact Advanced Cryo NYC today and schedule your first NAD+ therapy session for PTSD. Relax in our spa-like clinic as healing NAD+ and other nutrients are infused directly to your bloodstream and distributed to cells throughout your body. Many report immediate symptomatic relief after the first session. Multiple sessions ensure that your brain is supplied with ample amounts of NAD+ to replenish and regenerate healthy cells.
Leave the trauma of your past behind and step into a promising future with NAD+ PTSD therapy at Advanced Cryo NYC.
Resources
Heppner, Pia S., et al. “Metabolic syndrome: relative risk associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and antipsychotic medication use.” Psychosomatics 53.6 (2012): 550-558.
Panagioti, Maria, Patricia Gooding, and Nicholas Tarrier. “Post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal behavior: A narrative review.” Clinical psychology review 29.6 (2009): 471-482.
Wahbeh, Helané, et al. “Complementary and alternative medicine for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A systematic review.” Focus 16.1 (2018): 98-112.
