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Fight Post Traumatic Stress

Edited by estrella sacragon, Eng, Lynn, Alma and 1 other

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How to Effectively Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder affects the lives of millions of people. Are you one of them? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is undeniably one of the hardest conditions for someone to deal with. People who come across life-threatening situations or events that threaten their emotional or physical safety often end up burdened with a lot of powerful symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories.

People suffering with PTSD normally become hypervigilant. In fact, some even desperately look for other coping strategies in all hopes to at least avoid any circumstances that may remind them of the trauma they encountered.

With PTSD, sufferers experience various degrees of manifestations. Some have erratic mood swings, anxiety problems, anger, addictions, low self-esteem, difficulty in work, and unexplained aches. There are also those that deal with chronic disability and pain, especially when they have suffered physical injuries. When left untreated, PTSD issues may worsen over a period of time.

Fortunately, there have been thorough studies and treatments that have been developed in dealing with PTSD. Major treatments for PTSD sufferers are the following specific medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

How to Effectively Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

1
Psychotherapy
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Basically, this is commonly called the "talk" therapy. The treatments involve having talks with mental health professionals who are trained in treating mental illness. Whether the sessions may involve one-on-one meetings or group conversations, psychotherapy normally go between six and 12 weeks. But in more serious cases, the sessions might require more time. With psychotherapy, the constant involvement and support of friends and family of the patient play a very critical role.

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2
Psychotherapy comes in different types
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Some directly target PTSD symptoms, while others mainly focus on job-related issued or social concerns. Therapists and doctors can combine different therapy methods, depending on the need of each patient. But the most common therapy is the CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is composed of three parts - exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and stress inoculation training.

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3
Exposure therapy is an approach wherein the patient is helped in facing and controlling their fears
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The patient is basically exposed to the trauma they went through, but in a safe way. This therapy makes use of writing, mental imagery, or even taking the patient to the exact place where the unfortunate event happened.
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4
Cognitive restructuring
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With cognitive restructuring, the patient is taught to make sense of all his bad memories. In some cases, patients may remember the event far differently than how it actually happened. They may somehow feel guilty about something that they are not at fault about. Through this approach, the patient is taught to realistically look at what really happened.

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5

Stress innoculation training
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As with stress inoculation training, the therapy is designed to lessen the symptoms brought about by PTSD. The patient is taught how to reduce their anxiety levels and help him look back at his memory in a healthier manner.
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6
Medications
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There are generally two medications duly approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in treating PTSD: Sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil). These are antidepressants and can help control symptoms of PTSD like worry, anger, or sadness. Patients who take these medications often end up having easier time in going through psychotherapy.

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7
Getting through PTSD may be challenging
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But with the right medication and professional help from therapists, patients can successfully cope with this problem and eventually reduce their anxiety and stress levels.
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