How to Safely Treat PTSD and Trauma

Approximately six percent of people struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their life. And, women are more likely to struggle with PTSD than men are. Unfortunately, PTSD is a hard condition to work through.

But, if you’re having trouble with PTSD, you don’t have to wait it out or go at it alone. Let’s go through ways to treat PTSD and trauma safely and effectively.

Therapy

Your first step when treating your PTSD should be therapy. Talk therapy can be scary, but it can be extremely beneficial for helping you work through your trauma. You should try and get treatment for your PTSD as soon as you recognize the symptoms, since this is a problem that can get much harder to deal with over time.

Ideally, you want a therapist who’s experienced in what you’re dealing with. Look for a trauma therapist in your area. You can also ask your healthcare provider if they have recommendations for you.

Of course, you’ll have to take other actions when you’re going through therapy for PTSD. General self-care is essential for the process of getting better. Avoid drugs and alcohol whenever possible. Drink water, and eat a healthy diet. Try and get regular exercise. Lean on your family and friends for help and support whenever possible.

CPT

There are also specialized forms of therapy that can be particularly beneficial for people with PTSD. One of these types of therapy is CPT or cognitive processing therapy. This form of therapy is usually done over a short period of time, often spanning less than a couple of months.

During this form of therapy, you’ll discuss how traumatic events in your life have affected your everyday experience. You’ll identify points where the traumatic events have caused thoughts you haven’t found a way to work past yet, and start to talk through these thoughts.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EDMR) isn’t about talking about your trauma. Instead, it’s about changing your eye movements while desensitizing yourself to the memory of your trauma. This is meant to reprogram your brain’s processing center, which can get stuck on your trauma.

EDMR may involve hand movements by your therapist, or could involve lights or a computer screen. Your therapist will ask you about your trauma and evaluate your stress levels before and after each session, to see how your progress is going. This will also help your therapist figure out if EDMR is a good choice for you or if you should try out other forms of treatment.

Exposure Therapy

If there are specific triggers and situations for your PTSD, exposure therapy can help. Exposure therapy will slowly and safely help you readjust to memories or places, which can exacerbate your symptoms of PTSD. Your doctor may work with you to help you imagine these situations.

Depending on the stimuli causing your issue, your doctor may want you to actually confront the issue in person. Virtual reality technology has also become a powerful tool in exposure therapy, so that you can confront your fears without worrying about your safety.

CBT

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another option when it comes to treating your PTSD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy goes through your thinking patterns and tries to identify where negative emotions creep in. Then, you’ll work to change these patterns to avoid triggers. You’ll also go through how things in your everyday life impact your emotions and reactions.

During CBT, your therapist will teach you strategies to identify and work through your emotions. There may be homework and worksheets involved to continue the work outside of therapy sessions.

Medication

Your mental health care provider may also consider prescribing medication to help you combat PTSD. This is usually done in combination with other forms of treatment for the best possible result.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used for depression, but they can also be used to treat some of the symptoms of PTSD.  Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) can also be beneficial. Prazosin and different forms of anti-anxiety medications are also sometimes used to help combat PTSD.

Some types of medications can also help you with other mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders and depression.  It may take experimenting with multiple medications, but with some trial and error, you should be able to find a medication that helps with your PTSD symptoms.

Just make sure you only take prescribed medication. Taking unprescribed medication can just make your symptoms worse. Plus, ensure you take your medication as prescribed, in the correct dose at the right intervals.

Join a Support Group

Sometimes, it’s best to talk to people who understand how you feel and where your trauma comes from. That’s where a support group can come in. You can choose a specialized support group that includes like-minded people. Some types of support groups for PTSD include:

• Veteran’s support groups
• Sexual assault survivor support groups
• LGBTQ+ support groups
• Support groups for women

Of course, you may not feel comfortable talking about your trauma in a group setting. In that case, you may want to start off by talking through your feelings with a friend or acquaintance that understands what you’re going through.

Start Addressing Your PTSD and Trauma Today

If you’re suffering from PTSD and trauma, it’s time to bite the bullet and get some help for your struggles. Don’t be scared — with the right treatment; you’ll be on the right track to feel better in no time.

Do you need more mental health advice? Check out some of the posts on this page for more.