PTSD Treatment Programs
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a serious anxiety disorder that people develop after they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. PTSD can occur with members of the military, particularly those involved on the front lines of battle. PTSD can occur in victims of rape or other crimes, victims of a serious car crash or someone who witnessed a traumatic event such as another person being seriously injured or killed. A person can suffer from PTSD after a natural disaster or terrorist attack. PTSD treatment programs help people work through the PTSD as well as any co-occurring disorders.
Defining and understanding PTSD
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that although it is normal to feel frightened or afraid when in danger, “People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger.” While PTSD is commonly associated with war veterans, anyone can suffer from PTSD. There is not always a specific traumatic event such as war or sexual assault that causes the PTSD, according to the NIMH. The NIMH says that even the death of a loved one can trigger PTSD.
While many people recover from the event over time, a person with PTSD does not come out of the psychological shock of the event(s) that caused the PTSD to develop. Adults and children both can suffer from PTSD. There are several symptoms of PTSD, which are grouped into four different types according to the Mayo Clinic: Intrusive memories, avoidance, negative thinking and mood, changes in emotional reactions.
Intrusive memories
Symptoms of intrusive memories includes recurrent, unwanted memories of the event, reliving or experiencing “flashbacks” of the traumatic event or events as if it is happening right now. Nightmares related to the traumatic event that led up to the development of the PTSD might occur as well as feelings of intense distress or physical reactions when reminded of the event(s).
Avoidance
Avoidance involves refusing to talk about the event and trying not to think about it, even though the PTSD is affecting your daily functioning and keeping you feeling stuck. Avoidance also involves staying away from people, places or activities that remind you of what happened.
Negative thinking and mood
Negative thinking and mood affects PTSD sufferers through an inability to experience positive emotions or suffering from numbness of emotions. It also includes memory problems regarding some important aspects of what happened, the inability to develop or maintain positive relationships with others, lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable and feeling hopeless about the future.
Changes in emotional reactions
Also called arousal symptoms, this symptom involves difficulty concentrating or sleeping, aggressive behavior, angry outbursts, and destructive behaviors such as substance abuse or excessive speeding. Changes in emotional reactions also include being startled easily or always on guard for danger.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health says, “PTSD starts at different times for different people.” While some people develop PTSD soon after the traumatic event occurs, others may not display symptoms until months or even years later.
Women and PTSD
While people usually think of men when the issue of PTSD is brought up, the fact is that many women suffer from PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD explains that “ Women’s experiences of trauma have been linked to a variety of negative mental health consequences, including especially PTSD,” and that “community studies suggest that women experience PTSD at two to three times the rate that men do.” Statistics from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication indicated that approximately 50 per cent of women in the United States experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime.
With this information, research is focusing more on the occurrence of PTSD in women and the effects that it has on women. Researchers have also learned a great deal regarding gender-specific PTSD treatment outcomes.
PTSD treatment programs
Symptoms of PTSD can worsen over time, leading to the necessity for treatment. The VA points out that the stigma of having PTSD should not be a barrier to seeking treatment. The belief that you will get better on your own is another barrier to treatment. You will not just get over the PTSD on your own; treatment is imperative for dealing with the disorder and overcoming the effects it has on your body, your mind, your loved ones and the overall quality of your life. The VA says that in addition to treating the disorder itself, when you are in PTSD treatment, you can:
- Make sense of the trauma
- Learn skills to better handle negative thoughts and feelings
- Reconnect with people you care about
- Set goals for activities, like work or school, that you can handle
PTSD treatment programs do not necessarily just end after a set period. Some people will respond differently in treatment, meaning that some people spend a longer or shorter period in PTSD treatment centers than others. While one individual may complete treatment in 60 days, the next person needs 120 days in treatment. Staff at trauma-related treatment centers understand the nature of the effects that PTSD has on those who suffer from the condition and provide comprehensive treatment to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of the PTSD.
Selecting the best PTSD treatment center
The right treatment program for you may not be the right treatment program for someone else. If you abuse alcohol or other drugs, which often goes hand-in-hand with PTSD, or if you suffer from other co-occurring mental health disorders, those issues are addressed in PTSD treatment. There are PTSD treatment programs that are gender-specific as well as sexual abuse trauma treatment centers. PTSD treatment centers feature a variety of treatment methods including behavioral therapies, medications, sessions in group and individual counseling, as well as other types of therapy.
Finding a PTSD treatment program near you is easy when you utilize our virtual directory that is the largest, most comprehensive directory available for PTSD treatment centers. We are the premier, go-to source for your treatment needs.
Do not worry about the dreaded discussion with the insurance company over whether some of your PTSD treatment is covered. We feature a free, confidential insurance benefits check to enable you to get the best PTSD treatment with the insurance you have.
[Source: NIH, Womenshealth.gov, VA.gov]