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Help for Individuals and Families
 What Treatments
Are Available for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
There are many treatment options for traumatic stress. Research
has demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy,
group therapy, exposure therapy and medication therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is used to treat other anxiety
disorders, is often employed to help modify patient's troublesome
beliefs, such as feeling responsible for causing their own injuries.
Group therapy with other PTSD sufferers often decreases survivors'
sense of loneliness and despair. Exposure therapy works by having
the patient repeatedly recount the frightening experience under
controlled conditions to help him/her process the trauma. Medications
have also been shown to help ease the symptoms of depression
and anxiety and help promote sleep.
No single treatment has been shown to be effective for everyone.
It may take time and trial and error to find the right treatment.
Therefore, it is important to find a trained mental health clinician,
preferably one with experience treating individuals with traumatic
stress, who can properly assess and find the right treatment
approach for you.
PTSD and
the Family
All family members are deeply affected when someone in their
family is touched by a traumatic event. Family members who live
together can experience "vicarious" or "secondary" trauma and
thus may also experience shock, fear, anger and pain because
of their connection to the survivor. It is important for all
members of the family to educate themselves about the effects
of trauma.
Seek professional assistance for yourself and the family member
directly affected if symptoms are on-going and affect your ability
to cope. Family therapy is used to help spouses and children
of such patients to understand the disorder, teach techniques
to respond effectively to their loved one's distress and learn
how to meet their own needs. If physical (domestic) violence
occurs, family members such as spouses, children or the elderly
should take action to protect themselves from further harm.
Where to
go for Help
If you would like more information about the effects of trauma
or where you can get help in the New York City area, please
contact 1-800-LifeNet (1-800-543-3638).
Additional
web site links:
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