The events of October 7, 2023 were a turning point for many people in Israel and led to a sharp rise in PTSD cases across the country. PTSD can significantly affect people’s behavior and quality of life, showing up in ways that strain personal relationships, daily routines and mental health. If you suspect that someone you love is suffering from PTSD symptoms, don’t give up! Make sure they are evaluated and treated by the appropriate professional.
A particularly moving example is the story of Asaf Dagan, an Israeli Air Force navigator who took his own life after years of struggling with PTSD. Despite his family’s ongoing efforts to help him, the battle with PTSD proved unbearable. His story, featured prominently in reports by “Israel Hayom” and “Kan“, is a painful reminder of the consequences of untreated PTSD and highlights how important it is to find the right treatment.
Recognizing PTSD Symptoms
PTSD symptoms can show up in many different ways, affecting a person’s emotional, cognitive, behavioral and physiological functioning. Knowing the symptoms is essential for recognizing when professional help is needed.
Emotional symptoms: persistent anxiety, restlessness, confusion, intense fear, and intrusive or unwanted thoughts.
Cognitive symptoms: difficulty making decisions, poor concentration, and trouble maintaining attention.
Behavioral symptoms: avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, social withdrawal, and excessive worry about everyday events.
Physiological symptoms: physical signs such as nausea, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, dizziness, sweating and uncontrollable trembling.
Please note: symptoms vary from one person with PTSD to another. If you notice unusual behavior in someone you love, read up and seek advice so you can help them in the best possible way.
Treatment Options for PTSD
There are a variety of effective treatment methods that can help people suffering from PTSD. Stella Center Israel offers an innovative, proven medical treatment designed to calm the body, bring it out of the survival mode in which a person with PTSD is “stuck,” and in effect treat the symptoms of the trauma itself and of the anxiety.
Treatment at Stella: A Ray of Hope
Stella Israel, part of the global Stella network, excels at providing advanced, effective treatments for PTSD. The center specializes in treating PTSD with an innovative method: a temporary nerve block using an anesthetic in the neck area, along the pathway of the sympathetic nervous system, better known as the “fight or flight” system.
What Actually Happens in Our Treatment?
After an eligibility assessment and an initial consultation, if the person is found suitable for treatment, the procedure consists of 2 sessions two weeks apart, with one injection per session. The procedure acts as a kind of “reboot” that restarts the sympathetic (fight or flight) system, and in effect releases the patient from the constant survival mode in which they are stuck. The treatment brings the patient to a state of calm and significantly reduces PTSD and anxiety symptoms; among other things, it reduces anxiety attacks, hyperarousal, irritability, and difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
More than 75% of patients treated with SGB (Stellate Ganglion Block) report significant relief from PTSD symptoms after 2 treatments!
Watch the i24 News Report on SGB Treatment at Stella Israel
Worried that someone you love is showing signs of PTSD? Don’t wait.
Early intervention can make a significant difference on the road to recovery.
We at Stella Israel are here for you with anything you need
