Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common mental health disorder that arises after significantly traumatic experiences. Reports show that about 8 million Americans are currently living with PTSD, and it can be extremely disruptive. Help is available for managing the effects of this condition, and several types of therapy can place its sufferers on the path to recovery.
1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used for PTSD treatment. It focuses on identifying negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause distress and altering them. Different types of CBT have been developed, and many of them can help with PTSD. They’re conducted in safe environments where sufferers can confront their traumatic memories and find new ways of dealing with them.
2) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a relatively new treatment that was designed specifically for addressing trauma-related disorders. In EMDR therapy, those suffering from PTSD revisit the memories that cause them stress. Therapists help them to reprocess those memories using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. That, in turn, reduces the emotional impacts those memories have on people who are living with PTSD. Quite a few people have reported significant reductions in their PTSD symptoms after undergoing EMDR therapy.
3) Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Prolonged exposure therapy entails gradually and repeatedly exposing people to situations or memories that trigger their PTSD. Along the way, therapists help those people confront their triggers and reduce the fears associated with them. This form of therapy is geared toward addressing avoidance behaviors, or the actions people take to escape their triggers. In time, prolonged exposure therapy can help people regain control over the thoughts and emotions that are related to their traumas. That potentially helps them to veer away from avoidance behaviors.
4) Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based therapies can also help address PTSD. Several strategies fall into this category, including mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. These approaches revolve around helping PTSD sufferers be more aware of the present moment. As a result, they react less severely to their traumatic memories, and they’re less likely to regress to them. This can help people to more effectively manage intrusive thoughts and regulate their emotions. It can also increase their tolerance to their triggers.
5) Group Therapy
Group therapy for PTSD involves sessions where people with similar experiences come together under the guidance of a therapist. They can share their experiences and emotions in a supportive environment. That helps to give them a stronger sense of validation and community. It shows them they’re not alone in their struggles, and it provides mutual support from others who understand what they’re going through. Group therapy fosters connections and trust while reducing the feelings of isolation that often come with PTSD.
Finding Effective Treatment for PTSD
PTSD can be addressed in various ways. These five types of therapy have proven effective in helping people deal with PTSD and the symptoms that go along with it. That being said, PTSD doesn’t affect everyone in quite the same way, and these treatments aren’t necessarily effective for everyone who lives with the condition. Some people may benefit from one of these therapies or a combination of them whereas others may require a completely different approach. Addressing PTSD requires an individual approach and tailoring treatment plans to meet the needs of each person who suffers from it.