Psychotherapy and medications, both short-term and long-term, can be highly effective when used together. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most common form of therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This type of therapy works to change the thought patterns that are disrupting your life. It can be done through talking about the trauma or focusing on the source of your fears.
Depending on your situation, group or family therapy may be a better option than individual sessions. Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) is a multi-family intervention that focuses on trauma and skills development. It provides therapeutic and trauma treatment strategies to help families cope with ongoing stress and potential re-exposure. Research has shown that writing about the traumatic event in several short sessions can help reduce PTSD symptoms.
Additionally, combining writing with other therapies can help shorten treatment time. In one session, you will tell your therapist about the traumatic experience and then go home and listen to a recording of yourself. This helps you to talk about the details of your trauma and to deal with safe situations that you may have been avoiding. Alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, and acupuncture are increasingly accepted approaches to treating PTSD.
It is important to remember that PTSD is a mental health condition that develops in response to a severely traumatic event or experience and can have varied responses to treatment. At first, you will talk about the traumatic event with your therapist and how your thoughts related to it have affected your life. Long-term exposure therapy is another approach that addresses unhealthy thinking patterns after a traumatic event. In a series of 4 to 10 sessions, a trained therapist can teach you how to play certain rhythms in your hands, head, face, and clavicles while actively reformulating your memories of a traumatic event.
Parent-Child Psychotherapy (CPP) is a form of psychotherapy for children up to 5 years old who have experienced traumatic events or who have traumatic symptoms, difficulties in establishing bonds, or behavioral problems. A recent study has shown that women with a history of exposure to trauma may be at greater risk of experiencing early cognitive decline that can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing any symptoms of PTSD so that you can get the best treatment for your individual needs.
