Treat PTSD as Early and as Natural

PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, as most people know, affects people who have been through traumatic experiences. Approximately 7.7 million American adults experience PTSD every year. If you have had a traumatic experience in the past, you are most likely to be frightened or anxious when you remember that experience. But when that trauma becomes a recurring nightmare and refuses to go, then you may have PTSD

According to the National Center for PSTD, experiences like sexual assault, natural disaster, an accident, or war are major causes of post-traumatic stress disorder. Military combats are usually associated with this condition. While many of them return and recover in good time, a smaller percentage of them live with PTSD for a long time. Interestingly, PTSD affects anyone without regard to age. In other words, children may experience PTSD as well. Unlike adults, children have a higher chance of living a vibrant life if the condition is discovered and addressed on time. Child PTSD treatment, therefore, is an effective strategy for treating PTSD. PTSD is painful and can significantly impact sufferers' social lives, hence the need to begin treatment on time.

Being able to treat post-traumatic stress disorder depends on the doctor's diagnosis. Since there are many sides to PTSD, it is best to understand the prevailing symptoms to recommend an effective treatment plan.

Symptoms of PTSD

The symptoms of PTSD include Flashbacks, lots of painful emotions, separation from people, overreacting, anger bouts, emotional numbness, nightmares, inability to sleep well, depression, suicidal thoughts, and irritability. On a broader scale, the National Institute of Mental Health groups the signs and symptoms of PTSD into four categories.

Re-experiencing Symptoms

As the name implies, re-experiencing symptoms involves having flashbacks to the traumatic event, causing the sufferer to relive the trauma repeatedly. This may come with a racing heartbeat, sweating, bad dreams, and frightening thoughts.

Avoidance Symptoms

In this case, the person tries to stay away from persons, places, and events that serve as a trigger of that memory. They naturally avoid reminders of the traumatic experience, including thoughts and social events.

Cognitive and Mood Symptoms

This has to do with having trouble remembering the traumatic experience's main events, lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy, and having low self-esteem. This symptom often indicates gross disinterest in life in general and can seriously affect the individual's ability to live happily.

Hyperarousal Symptoms

These symptoms put the person on edge. They are easily startled and may show outbursts when they feel tense. Sufferers are highly irritable and have heightened emotions.

Treatment

Therapy for PTSD is usually aimed at three things; improving the symptoms, teaching the patient skills that will help him lead a more enjoyable life, and restoring their self-esteem. Studies also suggest that people recover from PTSD if treatment is administered early. However, not everyone who receives early treatment goes on to live a symptom-free life. Below are the most recommended therapies for treating PTSD.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is designed to get the patient to talk about the traumatic event, touching as many details as possible. It is a 12-week therapy session of 60-90 mins each. This therapy helps the patient better understand how he/she has been thinking about the trauma and how best to move on with life.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

In this case, the therapist helps the patient face the events of the experience one after the other to help him/her understand that avoiding the trauma is not the best way to deal with it.

PTSD Natural Treatment

Unlike the use of medications, natural treatment is the use of natural interventions to deal with the symptoms of PTSD. Today, a lot of people are beginning to study and tilt towards PTSD natural treatment.

Holistic Treatments

Massage therapy and yoga are very effective in reducing stress and anxiety in PTSD patients. For instance, yoga helps create a mentally-relaxed disposition, thereby helping to suppress hyperarousal symptoms such as anger and irritability. Massage therapy also reduces cortisol and increases serotonin and dopamine in the brain of patients.

Complementing And Alternative Medicine

Other traditional methods of treating PTSD include acupuncture, tai chi, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, reiki, and guided imagery. Although they are not exhaustive as a therapy, they have long been a go-to method for treating PTSD. They rarely require any form of medication but can be used in conjunction with psychotherapies.