How is PTSD Treated in Today’s Society?

Approaches to Treating PTSD

Many of us undergo experiences that could be considered traumatic. Maybe we experience the loss of a beloved pet, or we get our pants pulled down in the cafeteria in elementary school. Most of these traumatic experiences leave a lasting impression and make a major impact, but we can cope with them, and over time the residual sadness or shame begins to dissipate. Men and women who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, more commonly known as PTSD, are unable to cope with the residual symptoms of the trauma they have experienced. Going through a traumatic experience of some severity is not uncommon.

Recovery from PTSD is Possible

According to the National Center for PTSD, roughly 5 out of every 10 women and roughly 6 out of every 10 men experience at least one traumatic event throughout their lives.  It is important to understand that PTSD can happen to a person of any age or personal background – if you are currently suffering from symptoms related to post-traumatic stress, you are certainly far from alone. The same report suggests that roughly 8 out of every 100 Americans will be diagnosed with PTSD at some point during their lives. If you have been experiencing related symptoms and they have been severely disrupting your quality of life, treatment is available – and recovery is entirely possible. For more information reach out to Voices of Mental Health today.

Symptoms of PTSD

The symptoms most commonly associated with PTSD include:

• Experiencing invasive, disruptive, and recurring memories of the traumatic event
• Having recurring flashbacks/reliving the traumatic event over and over again
• Avoiding people, places, or things that might remind the sufferer of the traumatic event
• Experiencing related nightmares and night terrors
• Avoiding having conversations about the event, specifically in therapy
• Persistent feelings of hopelessness about the world and the future
• Mood swings and violent outbursts
• The onset of other psychological issues, like anxiety or depression

PTSD Treatment Options

The way that PTSD is treated has changed significantly over the years. World War One was the first introduction that society had to the lasting effects of prolonged trauma, though back then the symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress were simply referred to as “shell shock.” Back in the early 1900s, there were multiple methods of mental health treatment that are frowned upon now – more than frowned upon, really… looked back on with nothing short of shock and dismay. For example, electroshock therapy was used among veterans suffering from “shell shock.” Back then, very few individuals admitted to struggling with mental illness, because there was still such a widespread stigma surrounding it. Nowadays, however, it is widely understood and accepted that mental illness can happen to men or women in any demographic at any point in time.

Current treatment options for post-traumatic stress vary on a person-to-person, and include the following:

• Trauma-focused therapy.
• Cognitive processing therapy.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
• Prolonged exposure therapy.
• Trauma-informed talk therapy.
• In some cases, psychotropic medications treat related psychological symptoms.

If an individual has been suffering from a combination of PTSD and substance abuse, the best course of action is entering into a dual diagnosis treatment facility. To learn more about dual diagnosis treatment options, reach out to Voices of Mental Health today.

Voices of Mental Health and PTSD

At Voices of Mental Health, our mental health specialists have combined decades of experience treating men and women of all ages who suffer from post-traumatic stress. To learn more about PTSD and all available treatment methods, reach out to our team of professionals today. We can answer any mental health-related questions you may have, and help you get started on your journey of PTSD recovery.