Looking for relief from the hidden wounds of PTSD? Here's a tool to help.
PTSD - The Pain of Memory
The recent statistics on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are startling. In America, over 12 million people are suffering from PTSD at any given time. That means that 1 in 6 Americans will experience PTSD in their lifetime…making the disorder one of the most widespread mental health threats in the country. These numbers also mean that most of us will be affected by PTSD, directly or indirectly, at some point in our lives.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
This therapy re-engages the patient with his or her trauma, but in healthy, thoughtful ways that will reframe their perspective, relieve them of overwhelming guilt, and enable them to think about their trauma without debilitation.
You’ve probably heard of PTSD, but what does it really mean? We’ve all seen movies or tv shows where a character is wracked by painful memories that keep them from sleeping or engaging in normal life. Perhaps you’ve known someone who escaped a natural disaster and experienced debilitating anxiety afterwards. Or maybe you even have flashbacks of difficult memories that stir up overwhelming emotions. PTSD symptoms present themselves in various ways including intrusive thoughts, nightmares about the event, avoidance of conversation about the event or the location of the event, and even physical effects like sweating and nausea. The symptoms are varied but the results are similar: patients with PTSD have troubling leading a healthy lifestyle. They may live in a paranoid state, be easily terrified, irritable, negative about the future, and feel hopeless about themselves. Their natural processes towards healing from trauma have been thwarted and they are caught in a cycle of guilt and fear. There are ways out of the cycle, however, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the best.
An Effective Tool: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used practices for addressing patients with PTSD and helping them find lasting respite from their symptoms. This therapy re-engages the patient with his or her trauma, but in healthy, thoughtful ways that will reframe their perspective, relieve them of overwhelming guilt, and enable them to think about their trauma without debilitation. CBT focuses on what the patient is initially thinking or feeling about the traumatic event by using a sequence of questions that will determine what guilt or deeper fear lies beneath the surface. By using something like the Socratic method, the therapist gently nudges the patient to reassess the situation before, during, and after the event. He or she will ask the patient about decisions they may associate with guilt and guide them to verbally processing how they did the best they could in moments of stress. Exposing the trauma narrative and walking slowly through it with the therapist will help the patient eventually gain a sense of control and confidence when they reapproach memories of the event. When the memories feel managed, healing can begin to occur.
CBT takes time and commitment. Patients typically go for well over a dozen sessions of CBT but the results can be just as affective as medication. As with most therapeutic methods, understanding how severe your symptoms are is key to getting the help you need. And we are here to help. Contact Us to see how we can help you get back to thriving.
Verified Reliable Sources for the Content in This Article: The American Psychological Association
Put It Into Practice
Think you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD?____
Reaching out to a therapist who has plenty of experience dealing with PTSD patients will be the first step towards healing. Setting goals for therapy may also be important as you begin your journey. Don’t be afraid to ask good questions about your treatment before you even start, like how many sessions does your therapist estimate you’ll need or when do they expect you’ll begin feeling better. No answer may be perfectly accurate but expecting improvement during CBT or any kind of therapy is so important as you seek help. Believing things will get better keeps your perspective positive and expectant. PTSD can be life-altering, but treatment exists and healing is possible.
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