PTSD & Trauma Therapy

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, severe accident, terrorist attack, war, rape, or other violent personal assault. The typical psychological response to a traumatic experience is shock or experiencing acute stress. However, people with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares. They also may feel sadness, numbness, fear, or anger, and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.

Living with PTSD can create many emotional challenges; in some cases, these may be so severe that your health is negatively affected. A typical PTSD symptom includes being disoriented and unable to comprehend the things happening around you. However, as the mind begins to process the traumatic situation, these symptoms typically become less severe and may potentially start to lift gradually. This makes it critical to address the issue immediately and work to find effective treatments and techniques.

The good news is not every individual dealing with a traumatic event will develop PTSD. However, when it comes to PTSD, a person can remain in a state of mental shock for a long time. If this happens to you, there is a high potential for symptoms to begin to worsen. It is also possible for a person to develop PTSD many years after the trauma. There have been some cases where severe symptoms only develop several days or even years later.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD affects millions and may occur at any age, including during childhood. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and there is substantial evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may even be hereditary. If you have family members with PTSD, it is more likely that you will also have PTSD at some point in your life. One of the major concerns for most medical providers is that, like many other mental health illnesses, PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. This can negatively affect the quality of life for any person with PTSD, so treating all co-occurring conditions is essential.

Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder

PTSD symptoms can create significant problems for a person in their personal life. Symptoms usually appear seemingly unexpectedly and suddenly. It’s possible for people living with PTSD to begin to experience hearing loud noises, seeing a specific image, or smelling a scent that brings back memories of the traumatic event. Below are some common symptoms shared by people with PTSD:

• Feelings of stress or fear when reminded of the traumatic experience that may even lead to panic attacks.
• Re-living the event in the form of flashbacks that merely appear at any time of the day or night.
• Experiencing nightmares of the event.
• Experiencing fear and worry that may impact your ability to complete daily tasks, care for your family, or hold down a job.
• Avoiding specific situations that are associated with the trauma.
• Not enjoying life as much as before the trauma and continually feeling detached or emotionally numb.
• Consistently having difficulty concentrating at work or doing simple tasks at home and being easily startled throughout the day.
• Showing out of control bursts of anger or becoming violent.
• Constantly being on the alert for danger.
• Frequently being more isolated due to fear of leaving the home and getting out into the world.
• Experiencing physical pain that tends to worsen as the day moves along. Some of these symptoms include headaches, migraines, nausea, racing heart, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and dizziness.
• Withdrawal from activities that were once pleasurable and added to your quality of life.
• Harming another individual.
• Loss of appetite may contribute to a significant amount of weight loss.
• Failing to take care of your health and body.

Finding Treatment for PTSD or Trauma

People with PTSD typically respond very well to treatment. Using the most effective treatment methods is key to returning to your regular life. It’s common for either psychotherapy or medication to be used in treating PTSD.

Medication

There are a variety of medications you can select from, and your physician will be the best resource for guiding you to the proper medication. Below are some types of medicines that are helpful in treating PTSD:

Below are some types of medications that are helpful in treating PTSD:

• Antidepressants
• Sleep medications
• Anti-anxiety drugs

Depression and anxiety commonly accompany PTSD, and prescription drugs may assist you in better dealing with the symptoms. However, remember that any medication you take will not entirely relieve you of PTSD. It may take trial and error before finding the best prescription drug to manage PTSD better. Medication, with therapy, is the most effective approach to treating PTSD.

Psychotherapy

Four types of psychotherapy are proven to be extremely helpful in overcoming PTSD:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The most effective way to cope with the negative thoughts that commonly accompany PTSD is with CBT. CBT will encourage you to change your thought process to a more positive way of thinking. Over time, this can help you be in a better mood and may allow you fewer PTSD symptoms. You can typically expect to enroll in a 12-week treatment program to get the most benefits from CBT. Sessions may last 60-90 minutes, so you must thoroughly prepare to commit to your therapy.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET): With PET, you will work on confronting whatever has been bothering you due to the traumatic event. This work to alleviate your symptoms will allow you to lead a happier and healthier life. During PET, you will make a list of situations you fear, which often remind you of the traumatic event. You will gradually begin exposing yourself to your fears through guidance from your therapist. Your therapist will also encourage you to focus on your breathing to enable you to feel better and cope while working through your fears.

Stress Inoculation Training (SIT): This psychotherapy method can last a few months and be very effective. SIT will demonstrate techniques such as massage and breathing methods that may assist in alleviating your stress. It’s common to do SIT with a group of people who also have PTSD; this way, you can share as little or as much as you’d like about the details of your experience.

Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This is an integrative approach to psychotherapy that has increased in popularity in recent years due to its proven effectiveness in treating trauma. EMDR has proven to play a significant role in helping people heal from past traumas and the symptoms of those traumas by helping to access the trauma memories and reprocessing them in a way that decreases their negative impact.

Self-Help Strategies for PTSD

There are strategies that you can do on your own to help with PTSD. Incorporating various techniques into your daily life can be helpful and enable you to feel better in both the short and long term. Some self-care strategies that you can try include:

A Healthy Diet: The foods you eat daily tremendously impact your health and well-being. Incorporating nutritious foods low in fat and sugar can help reduce depression and anxiety. Be sure to choose more servings of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats rather than sweets and highly processed foods.

Join a Support Group: Communicating with individuals going through the same things helps you feel like you’re not alone. Human connection is so important when you’re struggling. Find a community of people you can reach out to and communicate with routinely.

Start an Exercise Routine: One of the best things you can do for your physical and mental well-being is to be more active. Taking the time to go for a long walk or going to the gym can help release endorphins, which is an efficient way to boost your mood instantly. Be sure to work towards a routine that you enjoy and that will help you stay active.

Keep a Journal: Working to identify your feelings and what may trigger negative emotions when living with PTSD is something you should consider doing. Regular journaling will give you the most optimal results from your efforts.

Create Daily Affirmations: Have a list of positive and affirming statements you can say out loud each day. This may help them become stronger and more able to cope with the symptoms of PTSD. You may likely say these affirmations to yourself as the day progresses. Repeating affirmations may feel forced or unnatural, but it can be beneficial over time.

Finding a Therapist for PTSD or Trauma

You can live a happy life that enables you to reach your full potential, even if you have PTSD. The key to doing so may predominantly be working with a licensed professional. Numerous online therapists possess the qualifications to help you learn practical techniques and coping strategies to lead a better life with PTSD. Finding a therapist can be done with ease and efficiency on our website.

Don’t suffer when there is hope and help. You are worth the time and effort it takes to get to a more positive place.

If you feel suicidal at any point and need a person to talk to immediately, you can get assistance by contacting an online hotline and speaking to a professional. It’s essential to talk to the right professional that will allow you to get past this challenging time and enable you to have a better quality of life.

Search therapytribe.com to find a qualified PTSD therapist in your area on online in your state.

References

• American Psychiatric Association (2017, January). What Is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder? Retrieved March 31, 2009 from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
• National Institute of Mental Health (2016, February). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved March 31, 2009 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
• Mayo Clinic (2018, July). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Retrieved March 31, 2019 from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.