What Is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a life-threatening event, such as military combat or sexual assault. It’s also sometimes called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, feeling emotionally numb or disconnected, and avoiding places or people who remind you of the traumatic event.
You may have seen the term PTSD used in movies and on TV shows to describe people who have experienced trauma. It’s important to know that this disorder is not exclusive to veterans. PTSD can develop in anyone who has experienced trauma.
The 5 Best PTSD Treatment Options
PTSD can affect how a person thinks, feels, and navigates daily life—but effective treatment is available. With the right support, individuals can process trauma, reduce symptoms, and regain a sense of safety and control. The following treatment options are evidence-based approaches that help people heal at their own pace and build lasting resilience.
1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective PTSD treatment options. This form of therapy can be used to help individuals reduce their symptoms, including flashbacks and nightmares, as well as the hypervigilance and anxiety that can accompany them. It also helps people learn how to cope with their memories in healthy ways.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts and emotions influence our behavior, and vice versa. In order to treat PTSD, therefore, it is necessary to address these interconnected aspects of our mental health.
CBT helps people understand how they are thinking about their trauma and how those thoughts may be causing them distress. Through skill-building and practice, it reduces distress and improves daily functioning, including how people respond to future traumatic experiences.
2) Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that uses eye movements, sounds, and tapping to help you process the past. This can help with PTSD treatment because it helps you process the trauma you’ve experienced in a new way, so that it stops affecting your present-day life.
This treatment was developed by Francine Shapiro, who found that certain kinds of eye movements helped her deal with her own traumatic memories. She then went on to study other people who had similar experiences and noticed that they also seemed to benefit from these same kinds of eye movements.
Your therapist will guide you through various eye movements or other sensory cues while talking about your traumatic experience(s). The idea is that by doing this, you’ll be able to “reprocess” the trauma in a new way and get past it so that it no longer affects your life.
3) Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Exposure is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps you confront fears. Prolonged exposure is a particular form of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps people gradually confront memories, emotions, and circumstances connected to their trauma. It’s a way to learn how to manage your feelings and emotions, so they don’t control you.
The idea behind prolonged exposure therapy is that spending time thinking about what happened helps reduce its power. Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can also make those thoughts and emotions less likely to control your life.
This treatment involves reliving your trauma over and over again until it doesn’t bother you anymore. During this process, you might feel uncomfortable or even scared—but that’s okay! The point of prolonged exposure therapy is not to make it easy for you; it’s about helping you confront and get closer to those scary thoughts and feelings so that they don’t control your life anymore.
4) Stress Inoculation Training
Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) is a popular treatment for PTSD that has been shown to be effective in randomized controlled trials.
In SIT, patients are taught to recognize and manage their symptoms of anxiety and stress, rather than just letting them take over. They learn to identify what triggers their symptoms and learn techniques to cope with them. The goal is to get the patient back in control of their own body and mind so that they can live life in a healthy way.
SIT is not a cure for PTSD—it’s more like ongoing maintenance or preventative care. But studies show that it does help people re-learn how to control their bodies and minds after trauma.
5) Medications
Medications are one of the most popular approaches to PTSD treatment. They can be used in conjunction with other treatment plans, or as a standalone option. Medications for PTSD are typically prescribed for people who have moderate or severe symptoms. You should consult with your doctor about whether they’re appropriate for your particular situation.
There are a number of different medications that can help people with PTSD, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. Antidepressants can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality, which can help people feel less overwhelmed by their symptoms. Antipsychotics also reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality, but they may also help relieve nightmares and flashbacks associated with PTSD.
It’s important to note that medications aren’t right for everyone. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to dealing with PTSD. If you’re considering medication, talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Seeking PTSD Treatment at The Blanchard Institute
The bottom line is that there are lots of different ways to cope with PTSD, and it’s important that patients find tools that works best for them. If you’re struggling with symptoms of PTSD and haven’t found relief from over the counter or prescription medications, talk to your doctor about alternative treatments such as therapy, meditation or yoga. The Blanchard Institute, located in the Charlotte Metro area, is here to help you throughout your journey to recovery and healthy living. Contact us today at 704-288-1097 for more information on how you can improve your mental health by seeking PTSD treatment.
PTSD Treatment FAQ’s
It is important to remember that not everyone who lives through a dangerous event develops PTSD. In fact, most people will not develop the disorder.
Many factors play a part in whether a person will develop PTSD. Some examples are listed below. Risk factors make a person more likely to develop PTSD. Other factors, called resilience factors, can help reduce the risk of the disorder.
There are four types of PTSD symptoms: reliving the event (nightmares, flashbacks, or triggers), avoiding situations that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and feeling keyed up (hyperarousal). Symptoms may not be exactly the same for everyone. PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If your symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your everyday life, you might require some type of professional treatment.
Contact your provider today for more information. All insurances can be different and work for you in various ways.
At The Blanchard Institute, we are in-network with a variety of insurance providers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Aetna, Cigna, and more. Verify your insurance with us or give us a call at 704-288-1097 to find out if your insurance will cover treatment.