Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

Life is a journey of fulfillment, challenges and uncertainties; and truly gets disrupted with unforeseen events. Reactions to such situations varies among individuals attributed to age, situation and time. People may feel nervous, live sleepless nights or may suffer stressful frightening moments; which is normal by human nature. Time heals it and people involved gradually bounce back to ordinary life.

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

However, in some cases, such state of mind persists much longer and seriously disturbs life; in medical science we refer it to Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. According to American Psychiatric Association (APA), PTSD is an anxiety disorder or an abnormal psychological condition develops after a person is exposed to a traumatic or painful incident.

Individuals of any age and gender can suffer PTSD and symptoms may develop immediately after an accident or during the course of time. War veterans, survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, or other such painful events tend to get PTSD. PTSD causes acute anxiety among patients and often re-experience the traumatic event. In some cases, survivor undergo intense nightmares, or flashbacks and starts avoiding people or situations which reminds about the accident. For example, a number of Nepal’s earthquake survivors might be fighting with nightmares, poor concentration, and other symptoms which may lead to PTSD.

Various medical study reports that 7.7 million Americans of age 18 and older have PTSD and more than 67 percent of people exposed to mass violence have shown sign of developing PTSD, which is a higher rate than those exposed to natural disasters or other types of traumatic events. People who have experienced previous traumatic events has higher risks of developing PTSD and it can also affect children and family members of military.

People impacted by PTSD always feel nervous, unable to concentrate and does not get good sleeping nights. Even they are safe and already passed the traumatic incident, always in a mind of something terrible is about to happen. Some patients even feel very numb, detached and experience abnormal mood swings.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment

Timely examination and a well-defined Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment is always recommended for faster recovery, else symptoms may hit more critical stage. Any person suffered by PTSD can change entire way of life of their family. The treatment primarily includes psychotherapy, but often includes medication to complement the psychological consulting process. Combining both helps patients to improve their symptoms and regain the sense of control over their life.

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy or CBT is one of the widely accepted and effective psychological therapy based Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment. CBT is an advanced counselling method and helps identifying the cause of the condition and accelerate recovery process. CBT teaches patients on how one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors work together towards controlling anxiety disorder and stress. It also trains on relaxation techniques to mitigate nervousness and bring back their thoughts to the present.

Additionally, exposure therapy helps patients to talk about their experience to reduce avoidance, which helps them to face real situations to ease fear.

Is Medication Required?

In advanced stages, doctors suggests medication towards reduction of symptoms during the course of the psychological treatment. Medicines such as antianxiety or antidepressant assistsspeedy recovery through anxiety management.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment procedure is highly personal and behavioral based factoring different people psychology; a standard treatment procedure may not benefit all patients. Research validates that support from family and friends play an important critical role in the recovery process. Involvement of closed ones provide support for gaining emotional balance quickly which results in gradual transformation towards normal life.

It suggested that we get consulted by Doctors, Psychologists, or Mental Health Consultants at the earliest, if we exposed to symptoms related to PTSD.

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