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:
Help for Children and Adolescents
Children sense the anxiety and tension in the adults around them
and can experience the same feelings of helplessness and lack of
control that traumatic events evoke in adults. Unlike adults,
however, children have little experience to help them place their
feelings and problems in perspective. Each child responds
differently to disasters, depending on his or her emotional
maturity and experiences.
It is important to reassure children that they're safe, to
discuss the disaster with them and explore their particular fears
and concerns. Explain that adults will always work very hard to
keep children safe and secure. Do not give false reassurances.
Allow your children to express themselves through play or drawing
and closely monitor their television viewing.
While adolescents may try to down-play their worries, it is
important to encourage your child to talk about their concerns
regarding the disaster. Keep the lines of communication open and
remain honest about the financial, physical and emotional impact of
the disaster on your family. When adolescents are frightened, they
may express their fears through acting out or regressing to younger
habits. Encourage friends and families to get together and discuss
the event to allay their fears.
Quick Tips for Parents
- Children need comforting and frequent reassurance that they're
safe.
- Be honest and open about the disaster, but keep information
age-appropriate.
- Encourage children to express their feelings through talking,
drawing or playing.
- Try to maintain your daily routines as much as possible.
- Monitor children's media viewing.
If you would like more information about the effects of trauma
or where you can get help, please contact LifeNet, 1-800-LIFENET (1-800-543-3638).
Additional web site links:
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (aacap.org)