Relationship Between Ptsd And Trauma
PTSD and trauma are closely related and often discussed relative to each other .
Like other mental health conditions, PTSD does not discriminate between age, gender, ethnicity, or culture. Nevertheless, higher rates have been found in some populations and lower rates in others .
PTSD comes with a complex set of symptoms, including somatic, cognitive, affective, and behavioral, that are the effects of psychological trauma .
Rape Or Sexual Trauma
The trauma of being raped or sexually assaulted can be shattering, leaving you feeling scared, ashamed, and alone, or plagued by nightmares, flashbacks, and other unpleasant memories. But no matter how bad you feel right now, it’s important to remember that you weren’t to blame for what happened, and you can regain your sense of safety, trust, and self-worth.
How Is Ptsd Treated
Experts have long disagreed on optimal treatment approaches. Current standards of care for treatment may include
- medications, such as antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , and alpha-1 blockers such as prazosin
- certain forms of psychotherapy, such as prolonged exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing .
However, recommendations made by different expert panels vary substantially on the order in which to try these treatments. For example, the American Psychological Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies recommend antidepressants known as SSRIs as possible first-line treatment. Most other guidelines, including those from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence and National Health and Medical Research Council, recommend using SSRIs only if initial attempts at psychotherapy are unsuccessful.
Don’t Miss: How To Check On Disability Claim
Pct In Clinical Practice Guidelines
PCT is recommended as a second-line treatment for PTSD in the Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD, and has a standard recommendation by the International Society for the Study of Traumatic Stress . PCT is not mentioned in the American Psychological Association, NICE, or Australian guidelines .
Tip : Support Ptsd Treatment With A Healthy Lifestyle
The symptoms of PTSD can be hard on your body so it’s 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 body’s relaxation response and ease symptoms of PTSD.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. When you’re 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.
Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Narcolepsy
How Cbt Can Help With Ptsd
Several theories specific to trauma explain how CBT can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of PTSD.
For example, emotional processing theory suggests that those who have experienced a traumatic event can develop associations among objectively safe reminders of the event , meaning and responses . Changing these associations that lead to unhealthy functioning is the core of emotional processing.
Social cognitive theory suggests that those who try to incorporate the experience of trauma into existing beliefs about oneself, others, and the world often wind up with unhelpful understandings of their experience and perceptions of control of self or the environment . For instance, if someone believes that bad things happen to bad people, being raped confirms that one is bad, not that one was unjustly violated.
Understanding these theories helps the therapist more effectively use cognitive behavioral treatment strategies.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
EMDR therapy doesnt necessarily involve talking with your therapist in the traditional way you may think about therapy. Yes, youll still focus on the specifics of your past trauma, but during EMDR sessions, youll recall your experience while your therapist performs some mechanical action like flashing a light, moving the hands, or creating sound. The goal is to reprocess how you think about your experience so it can become less painful and a more doable act. EMDR therapy typically requires 3 months of weekly 60 to 90-minute sessions.
Don’t Miss: How Many People Are On Social Security Disability
Inpatient Versus Outpatient Treatment For Ptsd
Residential or inpatient treatment for PTSD can provide you with an intensive supportive environment. This may be especially valuable if youre facing difficulties at home that might interfere with your recovery, or if you have symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder .
In some inpatient facilities, besides psychotherapy, you may also have the chance to engage in other techniques, from support groups to yoga, art therapy, and meditation. This could help you focus all your energy on feeling better and healing from trauma.
You may also have access to a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers.
You might spend between 30 and 90 days in inpatient care.
Outpatient care may look different from inpatient, and within outpatient care facilities, what they offer may vary.
In some cases, you may have partial hospitalization care. This means that you might spend 4 to 6 hours per day in a specialized clinic, and then return home.
In other cases, you might go about your daily activities and visit a facility a few times a day for specific activities and therapy sessions. You may also be able to bring your loved ones with you for some of these sessions and activities.
Telehealth and online therapy where you consult a mental health pro or doctor via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone has boomed in the past years. But is it effective for someone living with PTSD?
Torn believes so, and has conducted online sessions of EMDR successfully.
How Does Therapy Help Ptsd
Home / News / How Does Therapy Help PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that can develop after one has been exposed to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.
It is commonly seen in war veterans but can happen to anyone who has been through a scary or dangerous situation such as sexual abuse, terrorist attack, accidents, etc.
A person suffering from PTSD can show various symptoms after the event. They may have trouble sleeping and concentrating.
They often feel emotionally numb or have angry outbursts, feel detached from their own body, be constantly on guard for danger, or experience flashbacks of the original event. These symptoms can make it hard to hold down a job or enjoy once-pleasurable activities.
Thankfully, PTSD is a treatable disorder. Various therapies have shown successful results in treating PTSD and its symptoms.
After completing therapy, patients have been able to go back to their happy life. If you too are suffering from PTSD or know someone who needs help, here are the top benefits of various therapies that help PTSD.
Also Check: Is Social Security Disability Insurance Taxable
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Ptsd
Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used as a well-respected tool in trauma healing, making it an appropriate therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
CBT can help to shift a persons dysfunctional patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions. The overarching idea of CBT is that if one of these areas is improved, there will also be beneficial changes to the whole person. For instance, if our thought process is changed for the better, it impacts both our emotions and our behaviors. A healthy mindset generally leads to better life choices, and so on.
Getting Professional Help For Ptsd
If you suspect that you or a loved one has post-traumatic stress disorder, it’s important to seek help right away. The sooner PTSD is treated, the easier it is to overcome. If you’re reluctant to seek help, keep in mind that PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and the only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and learn to accept it as a part of your past. This process is much easier with the guidance and support of an experienced therapist or doctor.
It’s only natural to want to avoid painful memories and feelings. But if you try to numb yourself and push your memories away, PTSD will only get worse. You can’t escape your emotions completelythey emerge under stress or whenever you let down your guardand trying to do so is exhausting. The avoidance will ultimately harm your relationships, your ability to function, and the quality of your life.
Why you should seek help for PTSD
Early treatment is better. Symptoms of PTSD may get worse. Dealing with them now might help stop them from getting worse in the future. Finding out more about what treatments work, where to look for help, and what kind of questions to ask can make it easier to get help and lead to better outcomes.
PTSD symptoms can change family life. PTSD symptoms can get in the way of your family life. You may find that you pull away from loved ones, are not able to get along with people, or that you are angry or even violent. Getting help for your PTSD can help improve your family life.
Read Also: How Long Does It Take To Recover From Ptsd
Symptoms Associated With Ptsd
There are many signs and symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder . Its important to keep in mind that these can vary from individual to individual based on their personal history and the nature of their traumatic experiences.
Symptoms associated with PTSD include:
- Distressing thoughts associated with the experience
- Physical signs of stress
Having good resilience or learning to develop and improve resilience is essential for recovering from PTSD. Learning positive coping mechanisms like those clients work on with a counselor in EMDR therapy can be life-changing. In EMDR therapy for trauma recovery, clients learn coping strategies that help them recover from symptoms of trauma by rewiring the brain and changes thought and behavior patterns. Learning new ways to respond to difficult and upsetting life events can help prevent PTSD from occurring and help clients move forward from their traumatic past.
Ptsd In Modern Veterans
Due to the nature of modern warfare, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are especially likely to face trauma. The U.S. Department estimates 10-18% of veterans develop PTSD after they return. A soldiers risk of PTSD depends on their demographics and their experiences in combat.
Soldiers who are unmarried and have lower levels of education are more likely to have PTSD. Female service members also have higher risks of PTSD. According to a 2015 study, 5% of female soldiers reported sexual assault. In the military, women are five times more likely to experience sexual assault than men.
Soldiers who face more combat stressors are more likely to develop PTSD. Combat stressors include seeing corpses, having a comrade killed, being ambushed, and getting injured in battle. Soldiers with longer deployment periods also had higher rates of posttraumatic stress.
Don’t Miss: Why Is My Va Disability Check Less
Ptsd The Body And Art Therapy
PTSD recovery also involves reclaiming the safety of your body. Many who live with PTSD find themselves disconnected or dissociated from their bodies. This is often the result of having felt threatened and physically unsafe during traumatic events. Learning to have a relationship with the body, however, is critical for recovering from PTSD.
Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies, writes Bessel van der Kolk, MD, in The Body Keeps the Score. In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way that their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past.
Art therapy excels for body work because clients manipulate artwork outside themselves. By externalizing difficult pieces of their trauma stories, clients begin to safely access their physical experiences and relearn that their bodies are a safe place.
Art therapists in particular are trained to use media in all kinds of different ways and that might even be helping getting somebody more in their body, Curtis says. Just like art can bridge feelings and words, it can also be a bridge back into feeling grounded and safe in ones body.
Final Thoughts On Selecting Group Therapy Activities For Your Clients With Past Trauma
Group therapy activities for PTSD provide counselors with an opportunity to have an engaging and educational group session. As an example, if you recognize that group members are struggling to cope with distress, establish or maintain healthy boundaries, or engage in self-care practices, you can tailor your group activities to focus on these topics.
For counselors who prefer to use handouts to guide their group activities, online resources such as our Trauma Worksheets can provide you with informational handouts that can support you while you facilitate your PTSD group therapy activities.
While individual therapy is commonly used for clients who struggle with PTSD, it can be beneficial for clients to engage in group therapy. Together, group members can establish a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment where they can grow together as they work towards living their best life.
TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health pros with clients in need. If youre a mental health professional, you can Join our community and add your practice listing here. We have assessments, practice forms, and worksheet templates mental health professionals can use to streamline their practice. View all of ourmental health forms, worksheet, and assessments here.
- Sale!Rated 5.00 out of 5$129.99
- Rated 5.00 out of 5$152.99
Read Also: How To Get 100 Percent Disability Va
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.
How Can Therapy Help People Overcome Ptsd
People who have gone through traumatic events may experience some mental and emotional disturbances. They may not be able to perceive things positively and live life as they did before.
There might be flashbacks, anxieties, and fears that may continue to affect their ability to function daily, which are common signs of post-traumatic stress disorder .
This psychological and physiological condition can affect people from different backgrounds. Fortunately, psychotherapy interventions can help. The therapies discussed below have an extensive evidence base and are trauma-focused, which means they directly address memories of the traumatic event.
Also Check: How To Get Disability For Anxiety
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy is a newer model of CBT. It focuses on acknowledging and accepting ones thoughts and emotions surrounding the stress-related stimuli and memories of the traumas instead of necessarily controlling or challenging ones thoughts.
While it does involve CBT techniques, ACT reduces the power that the trauma event has on the individual. ACT is an offshoot of mindfulness-based and CBT-based specific treatments that continues to be developed. Mindfulness techniques help to provide coping skills to reduce anxiety related to PTSD.1,3,6,9
Help For Trauma / PTSD
Talk Therapy Get help recovering from trauma from a licensed therapist. Betterhelp offers online therapy starting at $60 per week. Get matched With A Therapist
Medication Find out if PTSD medication is a good fit for you. Brightside offers a free assessment. Treatments start at $95 per month. Free Assessment
Guided Psychedelic Journeys Ketamine is a prescription medication that clinicians can prescribe off-label to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health diagnoses. Mindbloom pairs ketamine with clinician support. Find out if youre a good candidate: Learn More
Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Brightside, and Mindbloom.
Can I Do Art Therapy At Home
Yes although true art therapy should be undertaken with a trained art therapist but there is nothing to stop you making art at home.
You might find it useful to have a focus, or task with your art, such as any of the following suggested by FellowShip Hall:
- Draw a place where you feel safe. In this project youll create a place, draw, painted or sculpted, that makes you feel safe.
- Make art that is ephemeral. Sometimes we have a hard time letting go, but this project will teach you that its ok if something doesnt last. Use materials like sand, chalk, paper or water to create art that you will destroy when its done.
- Make a drawing related to a quote you like. Take the words of wisdom from someone else and turn them into something visually inspiring.
- Make a zentangle. These fun little drawings are a great tool for letting go and helping reduce stress.
- Create a calming collage. Choose images that you find soothing, calming or even meditative and combine them to create an attractive collage that can help you to relax.
- Draw yourself as an animal. Is there an animal that you have a special interest in or feel like is a kindred spirit?
- Draw yourself as a tree. Your roots will be loaded with descriptions of things that give you strength and your good qualities, while your leaves can be the things that youre trying to change.
- Sculpt your hand in plaster. Once its dry, write all the good things you can do with it right onto the hand.
Read Also: How To Apply For Disability In Kansas