Treatment Methods for PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder which is characterized by an intense reaction persisting as a reminder of stressful and sorrowful events. These traumatic events are capable of altering one’s neural physiology so intensely that those alterations can be passed from one generation to another. It is also characterized by mood alteration, a sense of impending threats, disturbed slumber, and hypervigilance (Carr-DeRamus 79). The syndromes of PTSD are categorized as a typical example of anxiety disorders. This follows several symptoms which are observed in patient succumbing to PTSD; these include, distress and recurring recollection of traumatic events, evading of any stimuli which might be closely associated with the distress, and a series of symptoms of higher physiological excitement. Post-traumatic stress disorder has a chronic anxiety malady which occurs mostly to persons who are directly exposed to a distressing occurrence. However, this disorder is likely to be related to certain adversative health conditions and perhaps skyrocketed exploitation of healthcare facilities. A large number of PTSD patients require the right diagnosis because the symptoms often overlap leading to complications such as intense nightmares, being jumpy, aggression, irritability, and self-destructive behaviors; hence it is the source of terror and horror to people for many years. This paper will discuss some of the treatment methods for PTSD.

Treatments for PTSD

As a result of the biological impacts of PTSD to the hormonal, genetic system, and brain, the initial treatment ought to be medication which can stabilize the dopamine or serotonin system of the patient. Due to the symptoms, suitable medications that can be used are anti-depressants, anti-anxiolytics, and anti-psychotics. In case psychiatric symbols have been soothed, treatment should just begin as soon as possible; that is when the patient is able to stand psychological interventions.

The favorite treatment to patients succumbing to PTSD should be trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. This treatment method entails 12 to16 sessions in a week where patients are taught PTSD, trauma and their side effects. Other teachings include; feelings, parenting, processing of thoughts, moods regulation, coping of skills, and developing a tale about trauma. Moreover, they are also taught how to manage sensations and salvage traumatic memories, which can change a neurological component of their brain and later regulates their emotion. Therefore, this method is good as it reduces negative emotions and allowing patients to control their emotions more efficiently.

Yoga as a treatment for PTSD

People who are diagnosed with PTSD frequently experiences extreme hyperarousal and fear, majorly of certain inner sensation, like thoughts and feelings. On this regard, research shows that Yoga can help these individuals to cope up with their PTSD conditions. To recapitulate, yoga as a treatment method emphasizes creating an equal balance to the body by developing flexibility and strength. Equally, mindful awareness of how the body works and breathing as a physiological process, are vital constituents of yoga. Therefore, yoga becomes a very useful means of treating major symptoms of stress disorders like panicking.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy has been tested as another better way which can to help patients to recuperate from trauma and PTSD. Majorly, VRET is successfully used as a treatment method to curb anxiety disorders and trauma. The exposure cure is deliberated to be a behavioral cure for a post-traumatic stress disorder. The therapy bulls-eye’s some of the most noted behaviors people engage in (commonly avoidance) to respond to situations and major thoughts or memoirs which are believed to be frightening and provoking anxiety. For instances, a tragic accident survivor is likely to begin avoiding traffic or they may attempt to use their own vehicles on various occasions for the panic that they can be involved in an accident once again. Comparatively, when such disorders are not addressed early enough, the avoidance behavior will become more dangerous and affect the person’s value of life.

The objective of an exposure cure is mainly to curb a victim’s panic and anxiety feelings. The main goal is to eliminate the so-called avoidance behavior. Majorly, many scholars postulate that exposure therapy is best done by enthusiastically antagonizing major things which individual fears mostly. Having confronted most feared circumstances such as thoughts, and feelings, an individual can later learn that apprehension and distress can diminish on their own. However, for the treatment to be effectively applied, it is prudent if an individual fights situations that will closely map onto anything they are most afraid of. Conversely, it may never seem to be possible for people succumbing to PTSD. In this case, take for an example, a military officer who has developed PTSD due to bomb and gun-shot exposure; it would never be easy for them to fight any terror situation in the future. In fact, they consider it unsafe for them. Thus in such a situation, we bring in virtual reality technology into use.

Virtual Reality Exposure

Virtual Reality Exposure is another way to treat PTSD.  In this case, a person must be engrossed in a cybernetic-virtual environment (Yehuda 110). It can either be through use of a device which can bring images in the form of head-mounted display. The individual may appear as to be immersed into a computer-automated chamber and their images are presented all around the room. This virtual environment must be programmed so as to help the individual to directly antagonize any feared situation or location which may seem to be unsafe to encounter in their real-life situation. Evidently, VRET is very useful in treating people suffering from PTSD and some fear-related issues such as acrophobia, the fear to drive, fly, arachnophobia, and majorly social anxiety. Ideally, several types of research have shown that the use of VRET as a treatment method can best curb the PTSD and trauma.

Tele-Health Treatment Methods

Telehealth treatment methods are also used widely to treat PTSD. Actually, this method majorly incorporates telecommunication technologies in delivering treatments to patients. This includes the use of telephone and internet. According to Javidi and Yadollahie, “recently, the world of communication technology has seen incredible advancement, as well as for unrestricted access to use the recent technology” (230). In this case, health practitioners are increasingly identifying some of the best ways to utilize technology majorly to reach patients suffering from PTSD and those who may be in need of other services but may not be having close access to therapists.

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Cure

Another treatment method is an Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral cure (iCBT). Resources that are always availed for use in the internet- delivered cognitive behavioral treatment are in monitor form and exposed in hierarchies. They must be conveyed through encrypted websites. Here, clients will have direct and regular contact with their therapist via phones, emails, and webcam. So this method works well for patients.

Imagery Rehearsal

Lastly, the use of imagery rehearsal treatment method for PTSD patients also works best. Among the most commonly reported case of PTSD, bad dreams are always considered to be at the notch of the list. These nightmares greatly affect the amount and eminence of siesta one is likely to have, thus causing a high level of anxiety. Due to this, a specified treatment has been developed to help curb nightmares. One of such treatments is Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT). Actually, it is time-limited and specialized curative measure which seems similar to exposing the therapy directly to target the nightmares. It lessens the cruelty of nightmare among individuals succumbing to PTSD (Shalev and Charles 2462).

In conclusion, PTSD affects an individual neurologically especially in the areas of the brain leading to negative impacts on the dopamine system. It affects the anterior lobe as well causing one to experience trauma as one may develop the tendency of bad emotional regulation. It is clear that there are sufficient treatment methods to control PTSD in individuals. So it’s better if they are randomized for control purposes. Moreover, the clear pointers are the use of exposure theory and behavior processing theory as curative plans.

Works cited

Carr-DeRamus, Denise. ”Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.“ The Alabama Counseling Association Journal (2018): 79.

Javidi, Hojjatollah, and M. Yadollahie. ”Post-traumatic stress disorder.“ The international journal of occupational and environmental medicine 3.1 January (2012).

Shalev, Arieh, Israel Liberzon, and Charles Marmar. ”Post-traumatic stress disorder.“ New England Journal of Medicine376.25 (2017): 2459-2469.

Yehuda, Rachel. ”Post-traumatic stress disorder.“ New England journal of medicine 346.2 (2002): 108-114.