PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that is diagnosed in people who have experienced a traumatic event or series of events and live with long-term debilitating symptoms as a result. Traumatic events that lead to the development of PTSD can vary but some examples include surviving a natural disaster, war combat, and abuse. While PTSD is a common diagnosis, it can be very challenging to live with as the symptoms can keep a person from living the life they desire and can make everyday tasks and managing relationships difficult. However, there is help for people who are living with this condition through mental health treatment that offers therapy for PTSD. But, what role does therapy play in the treatment of PTSD and what benefits of therapy can people with PTSD expect?
Some of the roles of therapy for PTSD in the treatment of this condition can include:
Evidence-based approaches to therapy are those that are clinically proven to show results. The types of therapies that are proven to help to ease symptoms of PTSD include EMDR, behavioral (CBT and DBT), and processing therapies. Some of these approaches allow individuals to dive into behaviors they portray to identify why they may respond to trauma the way they do. As a result, they can better identify the thought processes and emotions that result in these unwanted behaviors and symptoms and better manage them. Another way evidence-based therapies work for PTSD is to address traumatic experiences head-on as a way to process the intense emotions attached to trauma in order to take control of the impact they have on a person’s life. In any case, using evidence-based approaches to therapy is more likely to help a person who is living with PTSD as they are proven to be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of unwanted PTSD symptoms.
Not every person living with PTSD will deal with the same symptoms. Some common symptoms of PTSD include mood swings, irritability, avoidance behaviors, nightmares, and flashbacks. All of these symptoms can be debilitating as they can keep a person from doing the things that they love like being around loved ones or enjoying the things they like to do. Therapy can help people identify the specific symptoms they’re dealing with and provide them with helpful coping skills to address these symptoms. This way, people living with PTSD can have a more fulfilling life as they learn ways to better manage the symptoms of PTSD that are negatively impacting their lives.
People living with the impacts of PTSD may not feel like themselves and can feel guilty as their symptoms impact their daily lives and the lives of their loved ones. But, using therapy as a tool can give them the tools they need to better manage symptoms, allowing them to take back parts of their lives that they lost to PTSD. Thus, giving them more control of their lives and boosting their self-confidence.
Are you struggling with the impacts that PTSD has on your life? Therapy may be a great option for you to utilize on an outpatient basis. Find out more about outpatient therapy sessions for people living with PTSD at Delray Beach Psychiatrist on our website.
