Treatment Options For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that develops as
a result of a psychologically traumatic event--usually a threat to a person's physical, sexual, or psychological well-being. PTSD is more serious, though less frequent, than acute stress disorder, which also results from psychological trauma. A person diagnosed with PTSD is unable to cope, re-experiencing the trauma in nightmares or flashbacks, avoiding situations or stimuli associated with the event, and struggling to function normally in social or occupational settings. Fortunately, there are several treatments available for PTSD. Here are some of the most common.
Cognitive therapy helps a person reevaluate his or her view of the trauma to eliminate thoughts of fear, anger, or guilt that are aggravating the stress. A therapist helps the patient replace these damaging thoughts with more accurate ones so that the event can be put in the proper perspective (e.g. the event was not the patient's fault).
Exposure therapy allows the patient to frequently discuss the event with a therapist so that he or she can learn to not be afraid of the memories surrounding the trauma. Talking about the event in a secure environment allows a person to change how they react to the memories. This process usually involves "desensitization," in which the patient begins by talking about less upsetting recollections, and "flooding," where the patient recalls many bad or painful memories at the same time. This helps the person learn not to become overwhelmed. Relaxation techniques, like breath exercises, are also used.
A newly developed treatment is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As the patient discusses his or her memories, he or she focuses on sounds, hand taps, and eye movements, providing a release for and distraction to the initial pain. Research about this treatment is still ongoing.
Group therapy is another option for persons struggling with PTSD. This treatment allows the patient to discuss his or her feelings with others who have experienced similar traumas and also have PTSD. Group therapy enables a person to form relationships, focus on his or her present life, build trust and self-confidence, deal with destructive emotions, and ultimately cope with the traumatic event.
Other treatments include brief psychodynamic psychotherapy, family therapy, and medication. Treatment for PTSD usually lasts three to six months, although if the patient has other health problems it can take more than one or two years. The good news is that a person with PTSD can learn to cope with the trauma and resume normal life.
by: Art Gib
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