Tip : Support Ptsd Treatment With A Healthy Lifestyle
The symptoms of PTSD can be hard on your body so its important to take care of yourself and develop some healthy lifestyle habits.
Take time to relax. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, massage, or yoga can activate the bodys relaxation response and ease symptoms of PTSD.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. When youre struggling with difficult emotions and traumatic memories, you may be tempted to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. But substance use worsens many symptoms of PTSD, interferes with treatment, and can add to problems in your relationships.
Eata healthy diet. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day. Omega-3s play a vital role in emotional health so incorporate foods such as fatty fish, flaxseed, and walnuts into your diet. Limit processed food, fried food, refined starches, and sugars, which can exacerbate mood swings and cause fluctuations in your energy.
Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can trigger anger, irritability, and moodiness. Aim for somewhere between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Develop a relaxing bedtime ritual and make your bedroom as quiet, dark, and soothing as possible.
Receive The Ptsd Specialist Support That You Need To Recover
At Palladium Private, our approach to treating PTSD is different. We address your issue with a holistic approach, to ensure youre relieved of your symptoms as soon as possible, and equipped to handle problems that may arise in the future.
Within our peaceful surroundings, youll be able to recover from your traumatic experience with the help of our qualified therapists, passionate chefs, personal trainers, yoga teachers and massage therapists.
Common Internal Ptsd Triggers
- Physical discomfort, such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, sickness, and sexual frustration.
- Any bodily sensation that recalls the trauma, including pain, old wounds and scars, or a similar injury.
- Strong emotions, especially feeling helpless, out of control, or trapped.
- Feelings toward family members, including mixed feelings of love, vulnerability, and resentment.
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The Best Treatments For Ptsd
Many people with PTSD experience intense emotions and intrusive thoughts, especially related to the event they witnessed or experienced. Since a wide range of events can cause it, PTSD treatment options are also varied. Some treatments for PTSD will include medication, while others still rely on talk therapy.
Tip : Anticipate And Manage Triggers
A trigger is anythinga person, place, thing, or situationthat reminds your loved one of the trauma and sets off a PTSD symptom, such as a flashback. Sometimes, triggers are obvious. For example, a military veteran might be triggered by seeing his combat buddies or by the loud noises that sound like gunfire. Others may take some time to identify and understand, such as hearing a song that was playing when the traumatic event happened, for example, so now that song or even others in the same musical genre are triggers. Similarly, triggers dont have to be external. Internal feelings and sensations can also trigger PTSD symptoms.
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Dropout Side Effect And Adverse Effects
One common concern with trauma-focused treatment is dropout and rates of dropout appear to be similar across PE, CPT and trauma-focused CBT . A substantial minority of individuals drop out of PTSD treatment . Imel et al. conducted a meta-analysis of treatment dropout in PTSD treatment. The aggregate proportion of dropout across all active treatments was 18.28%, however, there was a large amount of variability across studies. The dropout rate varied between active interventions for PTSD across studies, but the differences were primarily driven by differences between studies. In addition, an increase in trauma focus did not predict an increase in the dropout rate. Imel et al. did find evidence across three relatively large trials that dropout is lower in present centered therapy compared to trauma specific treatments .
Unfortunately, few studies explicitly report on side effects and adverse effects of PTSD psychotherapy . The American Psychological Association guidelines recommends that research be conducted on side effects. When examining the results of large controlled trials there is no evidence that trauma-focused treatments are associated with a relative increase in adverse side effects . Clearly more research should examine and report on side effects and adverse effects of PTSD treatment.
What Are The Risks
The risks of taking SSRIs and SNRIs are mild to moderate side effects such as upset stomach, sweating, headache, and dizziness. Some people have sexual side effects, such as decreased desire to have sex or difficulty having an orgasm. Some side effects are short-term, though others may last as long as you are taking the medication.
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What Treatment Was Like For Me
- Helps you process and make sense of your trauma. It involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound .
There are other types of trauma-focused psychotherapy that are also recommended for people with PTSD. These include:
- Written Narrative ExposureInvolves writing about the trauma during sessions. Your provider gives instructions on the writing assignment, allows you to complete the writing alone, and then returns at the end of the session to briefly discuss any reactions to the writing assignment. The most well studied written narrative exposure therapy is called .
- Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy A therapy in which you practice relaxation skills, recall details of the traumatic memory, reframe negative thoughts about the trauma, write a letter about the traumatic event, and hold a farewell ritual to leave trauma in the past.
- Narrative Exposure Therapy Developed for people who have experienced trauma from ongoing war, conflict, and organized violence. You talk through stressful life events in order and put them together into a story.
- Specific cognitive behavioral therapies for PTSDInclude a limited number of psychotherapies shown to work for PTSD where the provider helps you learn how to change unhelpful behaviors or thoughts.
Antidepressants
There are four antidepressant medications that are recommended for PTSD:
- Sertraline
- Fluoxetine
- Venlafaxine
NOTE: Medications have two names: a brand name and a generic name
Residential Inpatient Ptsd Treatment Centers
If you or a loved one is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and wants to seek treatment, residential or inpatient PTSD treatment centers are a solid option. These centers are staffed by trained specialists who can assess your condition and formulate the best treatment plan for you in an atmosphere that is as stress-free as possible.
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Helping Someone With Ptsd Tip : Provide Social Support
Its common for people with PTSD to withdraw from family and friends. They may feel ashamed, not want to burden others, or believe that other people wont understand what theyre going through. While its important to respect your loved ones boundaries, your comfort and support can help them overcome feelings of helplessness, grief, and despair. In fact, trauma experts believe that face-to-face support from others is the most important factor in PTSD recovery.
Knowing how to best demonstrate your love and support for someone with PTSD isnt always easy. You cant force your loved one to get better, but you can play a major role in the healing process by simply spending time together.
Dont pressure your loved one into talking. It can be very difficult for people with PTSD to talk about their traumatic experiences. For some, it can even make them feel worse. Instead, let them know youre willing to listen when they want to talk, or just hang out when they dont. Comfort for someone with PTSD comes from feeling engaged and accepted by you, not necessarily from talking.
Do normal things with your loved one, things that have nothing to do with PTSD or the traumatic experience. Encourage your loved one to seek out friends, pursue hobbies that bring them pleasure, and participate in rhythmic exercise such as walking, running, swimming, or rock climbing. Take a fitness class together, go dancing, or set a regular lunch date with friends and family.
Affordable Online Therapy
Where To Find Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options available, with new and innovative techniques emerging and being researched for their effectiveness. The key to accessing treatment is to acknowledge that these resources could be helpful to you or your loved one. People who struggle with PTSD often experience feelings of shame and fear, finding it difficult to initiate seeking help. Many struggle in isolation with hope that the symptoms they are experiencing will go away on their own.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
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Talking Treatments For Ptsd
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence the organisation that produces guidelines on best practice in health care currently recommends two types of talking treatment for PTSD:
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy . This is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy specifically adapted for PTSD. NICE recommends that you are offered 812 regular sessions of around 6090 minutes, seeing the same therapist at least once a week. See our pages on for more information about this therapy.
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing . This is a fairly new treatment that can reduce PTSD symptoms such as being easily startled. It involves making rhythmic eye movements while recalling the traumatic event. The rapid eye movements are intended to create a similar effect to the way your brain processes memories and experiences while you’re sleeping. EMDR Association UK – a professional association of EMDR clinicians and researchers – provides lots more information about EMDR on its website. They also have a search function to find EMDR-accredited therapists in your area.
NICE may recommend other talking treatments in future if they are found to help with PTSD, but more research is needed.
“One of the most disturbing things has been the feelings of aggression and anger towards anyone who looks like the person who attacked me… EMDR therapy has been massively helpful.”
What if I don’t feel better?
Holistic Treatment For Ptsd
For some people, the best way to treat PTSD if you dont want to go the medication route might be to try healing from PTSD naturally or using holistic treatment.
Much of the approach involves seeking a re-establishment of a personal balance, both in mind and body. While some critics argue holistic techniques dont measure up to western medical scientific approaches, many people whove gone the holistic route now swear by it for their own stability and recovery.
Some popular holistic PTSD treatments include:
- Yoga
- Reiki
- Journaling
Holistic treatments such as incorporating meditation, yoga, and journaling can be healing when treating PTSD. Working with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist who specializes in trauma can be extremely supportive in your healing journey.
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Exercise And Healthy Diet
The emotional and mental health benefits of regular cardio exercise are well established. PTSD symptoms can be mitigated by adopting a routine for regular workouts, walks, hiking, cycling, runningany physical activity that raises heart rate and releases endorphins. A healthy diet rich in proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains will also benefit brain health.
Communication Pitfalls To Avoid
- Give easy answers or blithely tell your loved one everything is going to be okay.
- Stop your loved one from talking about their feelings or fears.
- Offer unsolicited advice or tell your loved one what they should do.
- Blame all of your relationship or family problems on your loved ones PTSD.
- Invalidate, minimize, or deny your loved ones traumatic experience
- Give ultimatums or make threats or demands.
- Make your loved one feel weak because they arent coping as well as others.
- Tell your loved one they were lucky it wasnt worse.
- Take over with your own personal experiences or feelings.
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Is Complex Ptsd A Separate Condition
ICD-11 complex PTSD as a separate condition, though the DSM-5 currently does not. Some mental health professionals are beginning to distinguish between the two conditions, despite the lack of guidance from the DSM-5.
Research has also supported the validity of a separate diagnosis of complex PTSD. At least 29 studies from more than 15 countries have consistently shown the differences in symptoms between traditional PTSD and its complex variation.
One 2016 study that included more than 1,700 participating mental health professionals from 76 countries showed that clinicians could differentiate between the two diagnoses.
A person with complex PTSD may experience symptoms in addition to those that characterize PTSD.
Common symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD include:
- avoiding situations that remind a person of the trauma
- dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma
- hyperarousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert
- the belief that the world is a dangerous place
- a loss of trust in the self or others
- report complete amnesia of the trauma.
- Preoccupation with an abuser: It is not uncommon to fixate on the abuser, the relationship with the abuser, or getting revenge for the abuse.
Symptoms of complex PTSD can vary, and they may change over time. People with the condition may also experience symptoms other than the above.
How Is Ptsd Treated
A doctor, nurse, or mental health professional who has experience in treating people with PTSD can help you. Treatment may include therapy or counseling, medicine, or both.
- Cognitive processing therapy is a type of talk therapy that was developed specifically to treat PTSD. CPT helps you pay attention to and change your upsetting thoughts.
- Prolongedexposure therapy is another type of talk therapy. A therapist will help you talk about and slowly remember the traumatic event repeatedly over time. Over time, the therapist will guide you through the difficult feelings and memories. By confronting the trauma, you may become less sensitive to the memories and related situations.14
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is another type of therapy used to treat PTSD. During EMDR, you will be asked to remember and talk about the trauma while also focusing on a specific visual item, like the therapists hand, or listening to a specific sound, like beeps.
- Medicines to treat PTSD symptoms may include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine.
Treatments can last weeks, months, or longer. Treatment is not the same for everyone. What works for you might not work for someone else with PTSD. Drinking alcohol or using other drugs will not help PTSD go away and may even make it worse.
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Psychological Treatment Setting And Duration
Psychological treatment should be regular and continuous. The trauma-focussed component of treatment is best delivered at least once a week. Eight to twelve weeks of trauma-focussed treatment is usually sufficient when the PTSD results from a single event. Veterans can expect treatment sessions in which the trauma is discussed to last for about 90 minutes. It may be necessary to extend the duration of trauma-focussed treatment beyond 12 sessions for more complex cases, such as veterans with:
- chronic disability resulting from trauma
- significant comorbid disorders
- a history of multiple traumatic events
How Do You Treat Ptsd
PTSD can be treated successfully. The sooner you seek and get effective treatment, the faster you may recover and feel better. Although your memories wont go away, you can learn how to manage your response to these memories and the feelings they bring up. You can also reduce the frequency and intensity of your reactions. There are treatment options. The following information may be of help to you in deciding how you want to begin.
Psychotherapy. Although it may seem painful to face the trauma you went through, doing so with the help of a mental health professional can help you get better. There are different types of therapy you can ask about. If one doesnt work for you, you can try a different one.
Medicine, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, is used to treat the symptoms of PTSD. It lowers anxiety and depression and helps with other symptoms. Sedatives can help with sleep problems. Anti-anxiety medicine may also help.
Support groups. This form of therapy, led by a mental health professional, involves groups of four to 12 people with similar issues to talk about. Talking to other survivors of trauma can be a helpful step in your recovery. You can share your thoughts to help resolve your feelings, gain confidence in coping with your memories and symptoms and find comfort in knowing youre not alone. For a list of support groups in your area, contact your local Mental Health America organization. Find their information here.
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Ensure Your Client They Are Not To Blame
Clients who have gone through trauma and may be experiencing PTSD often feel they are to blame . This usually leaves them with tremendous guilt, especially survivor guilt and blame .
It is important to state to the client explicitly that they are not to blame, and the therapy will help them eventually see that.
How To Find The Best Ptsd Treatment Facility
When it comes to finding a PTSD treatment facility for yourself or a loved one, you understandably want the best. Many great treatment facilities are filled with knowledgeable mental health professionals who are waiting to help you meet your treatment goals. It is possible to live a normal life with PTSD by managing the symptoms and finding a strong network of support. Some programs are better than others though, and the sheer variety of information on the Internet can be overwhelming at times.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a challenging condition, and recovery is a long-term goal rather than something that can be achieved immediately. Fortunately, support is one of the most effective tools available when it comes to treating the causes and symptoms of PTSD. A strong network of family and friends is crucial to the recovery process, but it is also necessary to work closely with a mental health professional who can monitor your progress and well-being. Its important to find help on treating Post-traumatic stress disorder for you or your loved one. Call us today for more information.
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