SALISBURY TWP., Pa. – He’s written a number of books on how to fix everything from your anger to depression. Now, therapist Faust Ruggiero is talking about PTSD.
He visited 69 News at Sunrise with some ways to get through it.
He said PTSD always starts with trauma. Most of us at some time throughout our lives have been traumatized, he said.
Whether or not trauma leads to PTSD depends on individual circumstances, Ruggiero said.
Ruggiero talked about how trauma leads to PTSD in some people, but not others. The body and the mind do not reset after a traumatic event in cases of PTSD, he said.
He said mood changes that you can’t stop, reliving the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares, and the inability to focus on what you are doing can be signs of PTSD.
If you suspect you may have PTSD, do not try to handle it on your own. See a doctor, he said.
There are counselors that are skilled in PTSD.
Can family help in any way? Family members should not tell the person who may have PTSD you know what they are experiencing or tell them to get over it. Listen to them and give them support, and help them make the decision on whether to seek help, Ruggiero said.
He’s written a book, The Fix Your PTSD Handbook. Those interested can buy it at his website or at booksellers such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble.