What is PTSD/trauma therapy?
At Thriveworks, PTSD/trauma therapy involves dedicated efforts to address and navigate through past and/or recent traumatic events. Therapists specializing in trauma create a secure environment to process and heal from these experiences, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
How does PTSD/trauma therapy work?
Our Thriveworks providers use PTSD/trauma therapy treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, CBT, and exposure therapy with the goal of helping clients process the traumatic events they have experienced so that they can to start feeling safe and secure again.
Symptoms of PTSD
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary but often include:
- Flashbacks and distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Nightmares and sleep disturbances
- Intense anxiety and irritability
- Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
- Negative changes in mood and thought patterns
- Increased arousal, like difficulty concentrating or exaggerated startle response
How do you overcome PTSD triggers?
The best way to overcome PTSD triggers is to seek the assistance of a professional therapist, such as those at Thriveworks, who can help you to understand and treat your PTSD triggers.
What type of therapist is best for PTSD?
In most cases, a therapist who specializes in PTSD/trauma therapy is the best type of mental health professional to address the symptoms of PTSD.
Is PTSD/trauma therapy conducted in person or online?
PTSD/trauma therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
How long should you go to therapy for PTSD?
If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
How successful is therapy for PTSD?
The success rate of therapy for PTSD depends entirely on the individual's symptoms, commitment to attending sessions, and personal abilities.
Need more help deciding?
The PTSD Misconception
Post-traumatic stress syndrome is a serious illness that develops in individuals after experiencing a traumatic event. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Being afraid triggers many split-second reactions in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. Many describe this response as “fight-or-flight” which is how the body reacts in effort to guard against danger. Everyone will experience a range of reactions if they encounter trauma, however, most individuals can deal with the emotions on their own. Individuals who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. These symptoms can be triggered in non-threatening situations and can induce stress outside of harm or danger.
Misconception
PTSD has been associated with many who are discharged from the military who have experienced some time in combat. However, PTSD can occur in individuals who have never been in the military and have experienced traumatic events such as death, car accidents, divorce, or rape.
PTSD symptoms
- Re-experiencing
- Avoidance
- Arousal and reactivity
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Fearful thoughts
PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you’re stressed in general, or when you come across reminders of what you went through. These reminders are often referred to as triggers and they can occur at any given time and be difficult to manage for those who encounter them. Triggers can be mild to severe, but certainly play a role in the method of treatment that is needed to make sure the disorder remains under control. It is not uncommon for PTSD patients to suffer from other mental health disorders. Medical professionals aren’t sure why some people get PTSD. As with most mental health problems, PTSD is probably caused by a complex mix of: Stressful experiences or Genetic mental health risks, such as a family history of anxiety and depression.
Risk factors:
- Experiencing intense or long-lasting trauma
- Childhood abuse
- Military Personnel
- Anxiety or depression
- Substance or alcohol abuse
- Poor support system
- Combat exposure
- Childhood physical abuse
- Sexual violence
- Physical assault
- Being threatened with a weapon
- An accident
- Natural Disaster
- Experiencing death
PTSD can disrupt your entire life. It can alter the relationships with those around and impede your ability to live life in a peaceful manner. If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.
While treatment may vary depending on the individual, the most prevalent treatments for people with PTSD are medications, psychotherapy or both. PTSD impacts people differently so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. PTSD should always be treated by a professional. It may take time to find a solution, but help is available. If you or anyone you know suffers from the above symptoms, please seek help as soon as possible from your nearest mental health professional.