WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PTSD
PTSD is a mental disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing a very stressful, terrifying, or traumatic event such as accidents, natural disasters, sexual violence, abuse, rape, war, conflict, and even childbirth experiences.
When people go through traumatic events, they usually adjust and recover from the initial symptoms of the shock or the stress after a while. But if the symptoms start getting worse months or years after the event and it starts to interfere with your daily life, you may have PTSD.
PTSD symptoms include:
- Recurring intrusive thoughts about the event
- Vivid flashbacks
- Distressing dreams
- Trying to avoid things, people, or places that remind you of the event
- Avoiding thinking or talking about it
- Adverse changes in your mood and thinking such as feelings of hopelessness, changes in self-perception, feeling emotionally numb and detached
- Self-destructive behavior like drinking too much or using recreational drugs
- Overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame
- Being jumpy and always being on guard
- Having troubles sleeping and concentrating
PTSD TREATMENT WITH THOUGHTWISE
The primary treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy or “talk” therapy. The most commonly used type of psychotherapy used are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) types of interventions such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR, a non-CBT type of therapy that uses a combination of exposure therapy and a patient’s rapid and rhythmic eye movements, is also a very common type of treatment. Click here to learn more about EMDR.
Each of these PTSD therapy follows different methods and techniques. But their goal is the same: to help you manage the symptoms and heal from the trauma.
Sometimes, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used alongside therapeutic treatments. The medications help control PTSD symptoms like excessive worrying, anger, and sadness. The type of drugs your psychiatrist will prescribe to you will depend on your symptoms.
Your expert PTSD therapist at ThoughtWise can discuss all the available PTSD treatment options with you on your visit.
Whatever the treatment is, our goal at ThoughtWise stays the same: to make sure that you live your life the best you can by helping you heal.
KNOW ANYONE WHO YOU THINK MIGHT HAVE PTSD?
If you know anyone who is showing signs of trauma and might have PTSD, reach out to them and help them reach out to us so they can get proper help. Most people do not exactly know how to help someone with PTSD. And although a friend to talk to is always a good thing, PTSD is too complicated to just try and talk it out. Helping someone you know who has PTSD get professional help is the best way to help them.
