Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After enduring a traumatic event, you may develop a serious anxiety disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Occurrences such as military/combat service, serious accidents, physical or sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood, and natural disasters can all trigger the onset of PTSD.
Fortunately, there are PTSD treatment options available designed to help you work through and overcome your anxiety. These PTSD treatments include:
Cognitive Therapy
In cognitive therapy, you are taken into the traumatic event mentally with your therapist and shown how to examine the situation logically. The purpose is to help you learn to understand what it is about the event that causes you stress and triggers your symptoms. With the help of your therapist, you will closely scrutinize your own thoughts about the world and learn to replace fearful thoughts with accurate, less distressing ones.
Exposure Therapy
With exposure therapy, you and your therapist will repeatedly discuss the traumatic event that brought on your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The continued exposure to the thoughts that bring you fear are supposed to help you to overcome them, desensitize yourself to them, and gain control of your feelings.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is another PTSD treatment that utilizes discussing and thinking about the traumatic event in order to overcome your fear. However, this method incorporates eye movements, hand taps, and/or sounds to distract your focus and reduce your PTSD symptoms.
Medication
Certain medications can be used to offset the symptoms of your PTSD such as depression or anxiety. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that help relieve your sadness and worries. Chemicals such as these should only be taken as directed by a physician, so it is essential that you speak with your doctor about which medication is right for you.
Group Therapy
In one-on-one therapy sessions with your doctor, it may seem overwhelming to discuss your trauma. For this reason, many individuals prefer attending group therapy sessions with others who have endured traumatic situations and are coping with the effects of PTSD. Group therapy helps some people feel more relaxed when discussing their trauma and find ways to deal with their symptoms.
Family Therapy
After a traumatic event, your family may not be able to understand your feelings and emotions. Family therapy is a way to help establish open lines of communication, express your feelings more easily, and maintain your family dynamic. This treatment is designed to enable you to discuss your symptoms, emotions, and treatments so your family can better understand your situation and aid in your recovery.
Contact Our Albuquerque PTSD Attorneys
Veterans are especially susceptible to the development of PTSD and deserve disability benefits for their trauma. If you are a veteran, been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and been denied your disability benefits, contact our Albuquerque, NM veteran’s benefits lawyers at The Standridge Law Firm, P.C. We will help you gather necessary medical evidence for your claim and work diligently to fight for your best interests. Contact us to discuss your PTSD case.