Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can impact every one of us no matter how strong our mental health may be. Any perceived life-threating situation or injury sustained during a traumatic incident can lead to PTSD. For those in the LGBT community, PTSD can often go largely untreated for an extended period of time due to the individual’s fear of being unable to find an LGBT friendly rehab program.
The truth is that there are not only LGBT friendly rehab programs, but there are programs that offer the type of LGBT addiction help, and post-traumatic stress disorder help that will ensure a long-lasting recovery.
The Impact of PTSD in LGBT Individuals
PTSD can enter into our lives in a variety of ways. For some individuals in the LGBT community, PTSD can sometimes stem from bullying or other trauma experienced while coming to grips with their own sexual identity. Whether you have been sexually or physically assaulted, verbally or mentally abused, or you have gone through a traumatic event while on active duty in the military, the symptoms of PTSD in LGBT individuals are typically the same as they are for all other people:
- You may experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and paranoia
- You may feel constantly on edge and have very high startle reflexes
- You may withdraw from friends, family members, and the things you once enjoyed participating in
- You may experience disconcerting flashbacks and night terrors that are all-too real
- You may feel driven to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol in an effort to numb your overwhelming emotions
Individuals in the LGBT community are often already considered to be in the high-risk category for suicidal thoughts and actions, but when you add in PTSD and the potential for an addiction, you have the recipe for a volatile situation that could cause homelessness or even become life-threatening.
The Right Type of LGBT Addiction Help
Getting posttraumatic stress disorder treatment is essential to helping you regain a sense of normalcy in your life. PTSD in LGBT individuals can be overwhelming; particularly when drug addiction or alcoholism becomes a factor. You may feel as though you are constantly being harshly judged for your sexuality, and also for your addiction. You may simply feel unsafe and constantly on edge, which are normal symptoms of PTSD.
However, you don’t have to suffer with PTSD and addiction. In an LGBT friendly rehab you will be treated with respect by medical professionals who understand what you are going through and accept you and encourage you to be the happiest, healthiest version of yourself.
When you enter treatment you will undergo an initial interview meeting that is not at all harsh or judgmental in nature, and an individualized treatment plan will be devised for you. Everyone is unique: the best form of LGBT addiction help is the help that works to address your unique situation and your unique recovery needs.
Recovery is a safe place. Recovery is a place where you can be free to be yourself, and where you can get the valuable post-traumatic stress disorder help that will set you on the path to sobriety.
Find the Best LGBT Friendly Rehab Facility
To find LGBT addiction and posttraumatic stress disorder help, please call our toll-free helpline. Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day to help you find the LGBT friendly rehab facility that is right for you.
