Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapy

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by severe anxiety caused by a short-term psychological drama or physical trauma. The causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include rape, a car accident, a single battle at war and other short-lived traumas with emotional implication. Symptoms include flashbacks or feelings of deja vu, nightmares, bouts of insomnia, feelings of loneliness or abandonment, outbursts of anger and feelings of fear, guilt and sadness. It is important that the symptoms are taken seriously and the problem is promptly treated for the best outcome.

The purpose of treatment

The purpose of treatment is to alter the way an individual thinks and feels about his or her trauma in order to move past it. During therapy, a person suffering from PTSD works through his or her thoughts and feelings about the traumas. The person also processes feelings of guilt, distrust or self-devaluation. They learn to cope with the lasting impact of the trauma and how to control intrusive memories. Finally, he or she must deal with any lasting damage or issues which the PTSD has caused in his or her life or relationships with other people.

Treatment practices

Individual therapy is typically the first step in the therapy process. Trauma-focused therapy, and therapy focused on cognitive behaviors, is useful in expressing and exposing people's thoughts about themselves and their victimization. In some cases, medication is appropriate in treating secondary symptoms of the PTSD, including anxieties and depression. Group and family therapy are used to help people resolve social issues created by PTSD and to develop a new identity that separates them from what happened to them.

Getting prompt treatment of PTSD is essential to the healing process. Getting one's life back on track after suffering a traumatic event is the only way to fully heal.