Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of anxiety disorder that may develop after a seriously frightening or terrifying occurrence. Even if you were not personally engaged, you might still find it challenging to lead a regular life due to the shock of what happened. Fortunately, with the help of a San Diego psychiatrist, you can overcome symptoms of PTSD and regain your life back.
Here are some treatments for PTSD;
1. Therapy
PTSD therapy aims to help you improve your symptoms, teach you how to handle them, and regain your self-confidence.
The goal is to alter the negative mental processes that interfere with your life. You may accomplish this by discussing your trauma or focusing on the source of your anxieties.
Depending on your circumstances, group or family therapy may be better than individual counseling.
2. Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is a 12-week treatment program that entails weekly sessions that last 60 to 90 minutes. In the beginning, you will discuss with your therapist the traumatic occurrence and how it has affected your life. After that, you will describe what happened in great detail. This method assists you in examining the mental models of your trauma and developing new coping mechanisms.
For example, maybe you have been blaming yourself for something. Your therapist will assist you in considering all the circumstances that were out of your control so you may go on while knowing and accepting that, regardless of what you did or did not do, it was not your fault.
3. Prolonged Exposure Therapy
PE will assist you in facing things that have made you think of the traumatic experience. It involves eight to fifteen sessions, with most lasting 90 minutes.
Your therapist will teach you breathing exercises early in treatment to reduce your anxiety as you reflect on what happened. You will later compile a list of the things you have been putting off and learn how to confront them one at a time. You will tell your therapist about the traumatic event at a subsequent appointment, after which you will go home and listen to a tape of yourself.
Over time, carrying out this “homework” may make your symptoms go away.
4. Stress Inoculation Training
SIT is a type of CBT. You may complete it alone or with others. You won’t need to describe what happened in great detail. The emphasis is mainly on altering how you approach event-related stress.
You will learn massage, breathing, and other relaxation methods to help you eliminate worrying thoughts. You should be able to discharge the extra tension from your life after around three months.
5. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
With EMDR, you may not need to discuss your experience with your therapist. Instead, you focus on it while observing or hearing whatever they are doing, such as moving their hand, creating a sound, or flashing a light. The idea is to be able to think positively while recalling your tragedy. You will need a commitment of three months with weekly sessions.
If you have PTSD, it may seem like you may not get your life back. However, with the proper treatment and support from your loved ones, you can easily overcome PTSD and return to your happy, normal life.
If you are battling PTSD, it is time to look for help to find relief. Call MindSet to schedule an appointment for PTSD treatment.

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