Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur in anyone who had been the victim of a crime, been in an accident, been to war, lost a loved one, witnessed something traumatizing, been kidnapped, assaulted, raped, or any number of things. Instead of being able to go on with life as it was, they are flooded with images, nightmares, flashbacks , and re-living the event over and over.

It is important to get help rather than try to avoid these feelings because it will just get worse. If you let your guard down while trying to suppress these feelings, it will exhaust you and ruin all your relations and your ability to live a functional life. Without help, your family life and relationships will suffer, and you may become angry and violent. PTSD can also affect your heart.

This article on how to treat post-traumatic stress disorder will discuss finding the right therapist, treatments that are available, and how the Army is dealing with this problem. For more information on symptoms and diagnosis please read How to Diagnose Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

It is important to find a therapist that is trained in treating trauma victims and PTSD. Your family doctor may know someone he can refer you to. If not, call the local mental health facility, psychiatric hospital, or counseling center in your area. It is important for you to be comfortable with your therapist. It is important to find someone who will respect and understand what you are going through. If you have any doubts, find another therapist.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/treatment-ptsd.asp

Once you have found a therapist, you will be screened and evaluated for PTSD. The therapist needs to probe for symptoms that you might not voluntarily offer. It is important for the therapist to have empathy and interest, as well as a nonjudgmental approach. A short trauma history should be taken, as well as information on any childhood trauma you might have experienced. It is important for the therapist to find out if you are emotionally numb and if you are re-experiencing the event by having nightmares, recollections or flashbacks. He also needs to know if you are avoiding places or activities that remind you of the event and if you have been suffering from these symptoms for a period of longer than one month. He needs to know your sleeping habits, if you are able to concentrate, and if you are irritable. All these questions will help him in determining the best treatment for you.http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

Remember, if you are a veteran, your local V.A. Hospital or V.A. Center has free counseling for both you and your family. You can call the V.A. Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-VETS. They can also help you find the V.A. Hospital nearest you.

The most important part of therapy is to let things out and not try to suppress them. It is important for you to get those emotions out and deal with them so you can regain some control over your life and not let memories control it.

Treatments

- Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) exposes your thoughts and feelings and helps you deal with upsetting thoughts and replace them with thoughts that are more balanced.

- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) combines CBT with eye movements to help unfreeze the information processing system in the brain which causes these traumatic events to continue repeating themselves. Once they are broken down they can be processed in a more normal manner. See more about freezing in How to Diagnose Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

- Family therapy helps family members understand what you are experiencing and open up communications.

- Comorbidity with other disorders occurs in approximately 80% of PTSD patients. Sometimes it is necessary to get treatment for other disorders before the PTSD can be treated. Some of the most common comorbid disorders are: clinical depression, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, substance abuse, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias and dissociative disorders. http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

Medication

- SSRIs like Zoloft (which lessens alcohol consumption) and Luvox (reduces obsessional thoughts) are the most effective and help treat not only the PTSD but some of the comorbid disorders as well;

- Trazodone blocks serotonins, reverses insomnia from the SSRIs, promotes sleep, suppresses REM sleep reducing nightmares;

- Tricyclic Antidepressants lessen re-experiencing slightly, but overall show little improvement with use;

- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOs) inhibit monoamine oxidase which is responsible for the degradation of serotonin, but is seldom used because it has dangerous side effects;

- Antiadrenergic Agents such as clonidine and propranolol help to reduce nightmares, startle reactions, hypervigilance and rage;

- Benzodiazepines like Xanax and Klonopin help with anxiety, insomnia and irritability, but do not work that well on the major symptoms of PTSD. They are also highly addictive so caution must be used when prescribing these drugs plus the risk of withdrawals with abrupt cessation.http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

Self Help

It takes time to recover from PTSD, but there are many things you can do to heal yourself:

- Establish a support system with family and friends;

- Join an outside support group with others suffering for PTSD to give you a platform to discuss your experiences and to learn ways to cope with your symptoms;

- Do not drink or abuse substances because they hinder treatment;

- Learn your strengths and coping skills to overcome your sense of helplessness; and,

- Reclaim your power by volunteering to help others.http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm Helping a Loved One with PTSD:

- Take care of yourself because dealing with a loved one with PTSD can take a toll on you;

- Do not let them dominate your life or you will soon burn out;

- Educate yourself about the disorder so you can be more helpful;

- Be patient and understanding;

- Be sympathetic and listen to the rehashing of the events because your loved one needs to talk about them;

- Learn what triggers upset your loved one and be there to offer support to help them calm down;

- Do not take the symptoms personally or let them ruin your relationship;

- Don’t pressure your loved one into talking, but be there if and when they want to talk.http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

The Army has determined that PTSD may not occur immediately but occurs gradually over a 5 to 10 year period. Fourteen percent of the troops have problems with stress after the first tour of duty, 18% after the second tour of duty, and 31% after the third tour of duty. That figure goes up after five years in combat to 24% first tour, 39% two tours, and 64% for three tours of duty. Presently many of the NCOs and officers are on their third and fourth tours of duty in Iraqand Afghanistan and are approaching a danger point in their mental health if they do not reassign to non-combat jobs. They cannot be treated for their PTSD in a combat zone and are no longer fit for duty if they have PTSD. In some cases there is no recovery.http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20100414.aspx

Some of the things the Army is doing to delay or avoid PTSD are providing the troops with air conditioned room for sleeping, access to the internet and video games, good food, and other amenities. Exercise facilities also help. Having these “luxuries” help with attitude, morale and effectiveness in combat.http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20100414.aspx

PTSD is not something new. Even back in World War II it was determined that troops could survive about 200 days before PTSD set in. By giving them more breaks, better living conditions while in combat, and prompt treatment for PTSD, this length of time has been greatly extended. There is no way to make anyone immune to PTSD, but some people have a natural immunity.http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20100414.aspx

The Army requires a mental health evaluation for everyone. Even non-combat jobs can cause PTSD. Troops are encouraged not to hide symptoms and inform them that PTSD is just an occupational hazard and should be treated immediately. Screening is done during checkups to try and detect and treat cases immediately. Monitoring and anti-stress medication may be prescribed for a brief time as part of regular care which reduces the stigma of PTSD. PTSD has also been found to occur in some troops that received concussions from being exposed to explosions or roadside bombs. Treating symptoms immediately can reverse them, and perhaps delay the onset of PTSD for a long period of time.http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20100414.aspx

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have PTSD, please consult your doctor.