Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Options

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June 11, 2019
Edward Smith

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Options

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has the potential to devastate families. Fortunately, there are some treatment options available. Finding the right treatment starts with making the proper diagnosis. Some of the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include:

  • Having persistent flashbacks to the scene of the accident, particularly while trying to fall asleep at night.
  • Rapid breathing, rising body temperature, anxiety attacks, sweating, and a fast heart rate during these flashbacks.
  • Emotional lability and mood swings that move an individual from sadness to anger and happiness quickly.
  • Going out of one’s ways to avoid certain situations or locations that remind that individual of the traumatic event.

Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms needs to make sure that they seek help from a trained medical professional. PTSD can prevent people from returning to work or school, straining relationships among family members and friends. Fortunately, support is available.

Counseling is the Backbone of Treatment

The most crucial aspect of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment is counseling. Counseling can take many forms. Some of these include:

  • Working with mental health professionals who specialize in the treatment of PTSD.
  • Meeting with others who are suffering from PTSD, discussing experiences, and reviewing treatment strategies.
  • Family therapy, particularly options that involve loved ones.

While it can be hard for people to talk about the accidents, their emotional struggles, and the complications that follow, this is the first step in the recovery process. Counselors know how to talk about these issues productively, getting the recovery started in the right way.

Specialized Therapy

As the treatment process continues, there might be other specialized therapies that are recommended by medical and mental health professionals. Some of these include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This form of treatment focuses on the root of the problems, helping people identify the cause of their symptoms. By treating the cause, the recovery process will move forward.
  • Exposure and Response Therapy: This therapy is conducted by gradually reintroducing the individual to locations and situations that are related to the traumatic accident. This gradual exposure helps the brain process what is happening without triggering an anxiety attack.

These are only two forms of specialized therapy that might be incorporated in the treatment of PTSD.

Watch YouTube Video: Dr. Patricia Resick on Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.  In this video, Dr. Patricia Resick discusses how individual therapy can help relieve PTSD symptoms quicker and better than group therapy.

Medical Management

PTSD is often accompanied by other mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. Often, medications are used to treat these secondary mental health problems. This treatment allows the individual to focus on the treatment of their PTSD. Some of the medicines that could be recommended include Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression, and Benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety. These substances are tightly regulated and should only be used with the guidance of a trained medical professional.

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

When a loved one is suffering from PTSD, this places stress on not only that individual but also their family members and friends. Because of this, it is vital for everyone to ask for help. After seeking appropriate medical care, it is also a good idea to reach out to a compassionate personal injury lawyer in Stockton. Many benefits come with enlisting the help of a legal professional. No family should ever feel as though they need to face these challenging situations alone. Support is available. You and your family might be owed significant financial compensation.

Stockton Personal Injury Attorneys

I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton Personal Injury Lawyer. For those families with a loved one suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is essential to ask for help. Treatment options are available. If you or a family member is suffering from PTSD that developed following a severe traumatic accident, please give me a call at (800) 404-5400 or (209) 227-1931 for free, friendly legal advice.

I am honored to be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and of the Top One Percent, a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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