Post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic or terrifying event. Recovering from the lasting effects of this disorder can be difficult, but there are many treatment options available that will help you to regain a sense of control over your life. Often, a combination of treatments is the best approach to improving the symptoms of PTSD. This approach teaches you the skills to handle your symptoms and helps you to feel better about yourself in general.
Psychotherapy
This is the most common and effective treatment for PTSD, but it is often used in conjunction with medications. There are several different types of psychotherapy, including:
- Cognitive therapy: This is a type of talk therapy that helps you to realize the kinds of cognitive patterns (trains of thought) that are provoking your symptoms.
- Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy is often used along with cognitive therapy for best results. This type of behavioral therapy works by helping you to safely face what is frightening you so you can overcome the fear and learn how to cope with it effectively. One example of exposure therapy would be to use virtual reality programs that allow you to virtually re-enter the setting where you first experienced the trauma.
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing): This type of therapy combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that will help you to process the traumatic memories in a healthy way and change the way that you react to remembering or being reminded of the traumatic event.
Any of these therapies can be immensely helpful for treating PTSD. You and your doctor will be able to decide which therapy (or therapies) will work best for your personal needs. Though most therapies are offered in an individual setting, group therapy is another way to connect with others who share similar experiences.
Medications
Medications work well with psychotherapy to improve some of the symptoms of PTSD. Commonly prescribed medications include:
- Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine) are both approved by the FDA for treatment of PTSD. These medications can help to improve any symptoms of anxiety or depression, as well as improve sleep problems and troubles concentrating.
- Anti-anxiety medications: These medications also work for relieving feelings of stress and anxiety. However, since most anti-anxiety medications have the potential for abuse, they are usually not taken for very long.
- Prazosin: If you are experiencing symptoms such as insomnia and recurrent nightmares, then a medication such as prazosin (Minipress) may be helpful.
Make sure to let your doctor know if you begin to experience any side effects with any of your medications. It may take some trial and error to determine which medication best treats your symptoms and has the fewest side effects. However, you may be able to see improvements in your mood and other symptoms in just a few weeks.
