Symptoms
Testing
Treatments
What causes PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder develops after you experience an event that’s traumatic or life-threatening. While many patients are directly involved in the event, PTSD also occurs if you witness the event or when you learn about trauma that affected a friend or family member.
Examples of events that often cause PTSD include:
- Military duty
- Gun violence
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Severe accident
- Manmade or natural disaster
- Death of a close friend or family member
When you have PTSD, you have symptoms such as:
- Flashbacks, dreams, or sudden memories of the traumatic event
- Hypersensitivity that makes you feel edgy, stressed, or easily startled
- Need to avoid people and places that remind you of the event
- Negative mood and feelings of guilt
In many cases, patients feel guilty or assume blame because they believe they should have prevented the traumatic event.
How are PTSD and its underlying brain changes diagnosed?
As a pioneer in the field of neuroenhancement, Dr. Asif believes that successful treatment depends on identifying and understanding your unique brain function. To that end, your diagnosis begins with a neuroscience-based assessment of your brain — a revolutionary approach developed by Dr. Asif that isn’t available in a typical psychiatric assessment.
You participate in tests such as:
Quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG)
QEEG, which is brain mapping, records your brain waves using 19 sensors placed on your scalp, then a specialized computer translates the information into a map of your brain. The map precisely shows brain activity, including areas that are underactive and contributing to your PTSD symptoms.
Biostress test
While you participate in a psychological stress test, Dr. Asif measures your breathing, heart rate, and QEEG, collecting information that guides treatment decisions.
Cognitive testing
PTSD is sometimes associated with memory, attention, and learning problems. If that’s a potential concern, Dr. Asif may perform cognitive testing.
What innovative treatments enhance your brain function to improve PTSD?
When you experience a threat, your brain triggers an automatic response, releasing biochemicals that help you deal with the immediate danger. However, the ongoing release of biochemicals leads to long-lasting changes in several brain areas, which contributes to PTSD.
During your diagnostic testing, Dr. Asif identifies the exact areas of your brain that are malfunctioning. Then he develops a customized treatment regimen that targets these brain areas, boosting their nerve activity, improving function, and relieving your PTSD.
Dr. Asif has developed unique treatment protocols that you can’t find elsewhere, often using several of the following options:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
When a pulsed magnetic field passes through your skull, the magnetic waves gently and effectively change nerve activity. With TMS, Dr. Asif can target a very precise area of your brain that’s not functioning up to par to raise neurotransmitter levels and improve PTSD.
Neuropsychotherapy
Dr. Asif records your brain activity with QEEG during your psychotherapy session. As you explore life experiences, emotions, and behaviors, he can see how the neural networks in your brain respond, allowing him to adjust your treatment as necessary for optimal results.
Neurofeedback
Dr. Asif uses the cutting-edge Brain Master AVATAR™, which lets you visualize your brain patterns and learn to consciously improve brain waves associated with the targeted areas of your brain.
Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation is a revolutionary treatment that uses infrared light to safely boost energy in nerve cells in your brain. During photobiomodulation, your brain waves are monitored with QEEG so the frequency of the infrared light can be adjusted in real-time.
Psychopharmacology
Since there are numerous medications, and many PTSD patients don’t respond well to the first few prescribed, Dr. Asif orders genetic testing. With a simple cheek swab, the Genecept™ Assay test shows how your body metabolizes medications, allowing him to prescribe the best medication without trial and error.
If you have PTSD symptoms, call Brain Wellness Center or schedule an appointment online. While they don’t accept insurance, they give you a bill complete with CPT codes that you can submit to your insurance company.
