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Treatment for PTSD
Treatment for PTSD aims to reduce symptoms by encouraging the affected person
to recall the event, to express feelings, and to gain some sense of mastery over the experience. Recovery seems to be quicker when the survivor feels safe or can get a feeling that there is a possibility that they can be safe.
There are different treatments for PTSD and the most common and most effective of these PTSD treatment options will be explained below.
Medications for PTSD – most common conventional treatment for PTSD
Medications are one of the treatments for PTSD that help you stop thinking about and reacting to what happened, including having nightmares and flashbacks. They can also help you have a more positive outlook on life and feel more “normal” again.
The one thing to consider with any medication is that side effects are often associated with their use and dependency can also become an issue. Working closely with your doctor should help you find the right medications and manage any side effects that are experienced. Ideally, medication will help out in the short term and provide a route into more sustainable and natural treatments.
When it comes to someone who has PTSD, it is important to validate their experience and show them that the effects of the suffering would be both mental and physical on them. Support is very important and allows someone to express their feelings.
Remember that a person with post-traumatic stress disorder can feel hopeless and alone. Decision-making and day-to-day functioning can be seriously affected. With guidance and a good support system, a person can feel more comfortable again and overcome the trauma.
Therapy for PTSD – popular natural treatment for PTSD
Psychotherapy is another natural treatment for PTSD that has been proven to be effective. Psychotherapy is one of the most effective ways to tackle PTSD. Some types of therapy used in PTSD treatment include:
- Cognitive therapy. This type of talk therapy helps you identify thought patterns (cognitive patterns) that are preventing you from having positive beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic events, for example, cognitive therapy is often used in conjunction with exposure therapy.
Talking about self-destructive thoughts and what causes them can help you develop strategies to change these notions.
- Exposure therapy. his behavior therapy will help you confidently deal with situations and memories that you find scary so that you can learn to deal with them effectively.
Exposure therapy can be especially helpful with flashbacks and nightmares. This is a behavioral therapy technique to help you face up to the things that you find upsetting so you can learn to deal with them.
This seems like an unusual approach, but combining Exposure Therapy with a program of guided eye movements can help sufferers deal with traumatic memories. This is because there is a strong connection between eye movement and the function of memory.
A combination of these approaches will likely be the best route, and working with your healthcare professional should allow you to find the best approach for you. Just remember that there’s no need to deal with the symptoms of PTSD on your own and effective treatment can have a massive difference in the quality of your life.
PTSD hypnotherapy
People with PTSD are advised to undergo PTSD hypnosis therapy as it has positive results in several ways.
Many of the symptoms that people with PTSD experience are similar to those that occur during hypnotherapy. People suffering from PTSD illness respond to hypnosis within months of treatment and access painful memories under the guidance of the therapist. Hypnosis can reorganize these memories to prevent future symptoms of PTSD.
When you are hypnotized, you are in a trance state. Although this state may seem similar to sleep, you are fully awake and know what is going on around you. You can relax and shut out of the everyday world.
In this trance state, the therapist help to safely access the patient memories to better understand the emotions surrounding the trauma. Under the guidance of a therapist, patients will identify triggers and become familiar with reactions or feelings.
Hypnosis treatment for PTSD helps prevent or reduce dissociation after exposure to a traumatic event, reduces symptoms of anxiety, and helps people come into contact with memories and feelings associated with their traumatic experience.
PTSD treatment is complicated and challenging. The traditional school uses a wide spectrum of sedative and anti-depression drugs, while holistic medicine prefers the use of natural approaches including acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs essential oils, reiki, and even Yoga/Meditation. Hypnosis for PTSD is topping the list of holistic strategies.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. In this article, we’ll discuss how PTSD is treated and what is the most effective natural treatment for PTSD. There are many treatment therapies for PTSD, one of which is hypnosis. Is PTSD hypnosis an effective way to overcome PTSD? What does a PTSD hypnosis offer? All of these are answered at the end of this article.
What is PTSD?
According to the official PTSD definition, post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that’s initiated by a terrifying incident, occurrence, or happening — either undergoing it or observing it.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that could develop following a life-threatening, frightening, or dangerous experience or encounter. The trauma could be related to varied situations like kidnapping, physical attack, sexual or physical abuse, death, war, accidents, natural disasters, and even medical procedures. It can affect those who personally suffered the horrific ordeal or those who were just witnesses to the unpleasantness.
There is a basic assumption in psychology that people are primarily motivated to reduce tensions and maintain an internal state of equilibrium or balance. Stressful situations are everyday occurrences. They are part of daily living. However, there are tensions and stressful situations that are just too much to handle for some individuals. Experiencing or witnessing an event that triggers acute fear, horror or helplessness may be related to PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – the condition that has many faces can be successfully treated with PTSD hypnotherapy.
PTSD is the onset of a specific collection of symptoms in response to an extremely traumatic event in one’s life. It is not necessary for the traumatic event to be perceived as extremely traumatic for everybody. It basically means that as we have different tolerance to pain, cold, heat, and hunger we have different tolerance for extreme traumatic events. The disease is gender-independent, affecting both men and women of all ages.
The cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the events leading to it, are varied. PTSD in children and adults can result from trauma during childhood, such as children in abusive homes. Victims of rape, assault, or abuse can develop PTSD due to their traumatic experiences. Social workers, emergency service workers, members of their military, and many other occupations also exposed to such traumatic events.
Psychology has made great strides in recent years in the treatment of PTSD. Recent powerful psychology technique such as hypnotherapy, Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), TFT, and EMDR has proven to be particularly effective in treating this disorder.
Post Trauma Stress Disorder is a common phrase for complex disorders. It is not always easy to identify this disorder because those who have it may do one of all of these actions:
- Flashbacks, nightmares, or hallucinations occur without notice as events unfold during sleep.
- Avoid people or places that are reminders of the original trauma.
- Isolate themselves from other people.
- Have trouble sleeping, poor concentration, and irritability.
Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder was named in the 1980 Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. It is an anxiety disorder caused by a traumatic experience. Before it was officially entered in the DSM manual, people had other terms for this disease, such as a severe stress response. PTSD has caused an event or series of events in a person’s life that provokes a state of negative emotions.
War was one of the contexts in which this was discussed, and it is estimated that one in six soldiers returning from Iraq has PTSD. Other events include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and the death of a loved one. The person in adverse conditions may not immediately realize that the circumstances have overwhelmed them and this may not manifest itself until years later. For example, a person may not have flashbacks of their child abuse until they are in their twenties and trying to build a healthy romantic relationship. Nightmares can arise, and a person can feel very withdrawn socially.
In the context of war, Soldier’s Heart was a term used to describe those who experienced emotional difficulties after the Civil War. The term Shell Shock was used during the First World War. After World War II, the term was often referred to as battle fatigue. Unfortunately, some people who suffered from this illness were viewed as cowards and were simply asked to use more willpower to overcome it.
Anxiety and PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the top six anxiety disorders. The list of those conditions includes:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Phobia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
PTSD has no genes or educational components. You cannot catch it from someone else. This disorder grows over time with constant exposure to a violent event. PTSD first came to the attention of the public when war veterans who were engaged in active combat duty came home. The sign of PTSD is apparent. The symptoms are somewhat slower to evolve. PTSD individuals have a startling effect that works overtime. Emotional signs of the presence of PTSD include
- Loss of interest in favorite things
- Difficulty expressing affection
- Increase in irritability
- Aggression and violence
If the trigger was a single event, the anniversary of that situation may become a dread-filled day. Civilians are at risk to develop PTSD too. Victims of rape, domestic abuse, torture, kidnapping, auto accidents, plane crashes, train wrecks, bombing, and natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes) are likely to develop signs and symptoms of PTSD.
Children who have serious injuries or experience fighting can develop headaches, night terrors, and even some flashbacks of the episode. For example, serious injury might involve falling from a high place, a dog bite, or a car accident.
Causes of PTSD
As with other mental illnesses, various factors contribute to an individual’s propensity for it. Genetics plays a central role in a person’s predisposition to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and a person’s temperament. Once a person’s inherited traits are skewed in favor of those traits, PTSD is more likely to develop. The totality of an individual’s good or bad life experiences also explains his susceptibility to it. After all, the way a person’s brain regulates hormones and chemicals released by their body in stressful situations affects their predisposition to the condition.
The other factors that cause PTSD are:
- War
- Natural disasters
- A car or airplane accident
- Violent attack
- Sexual or physical abuse
- Medical procedures (especially in children)
Triggers for PTSD
The individual can control the symptoms of PTSD to a certain degree. If s trigger presents itself, you can be sure that a flood of thoughts and the symptoms are not far behind. A trigger is any sight, sound, or smell that links back to the original traumatic event. Triggers might include firecrackers, screeching car wheels, cracking wood sound from the fireplace, or the fire itself. Any triggers have a possibility of causing the symptoms of PTSD to surface. When a door slams and the startle effect become evident, symptoms will follow. Mild triggers (door slamming, crackling wood) may bring a lesser intensity to this disorder. However, if the trigger bears a close resemblance to the original event, a flashback could occur.
The flashback comes to believe that the original event is happening again. PTSD does not affect every person who witnesses a horrific incident or becomes the victim of a violent act. Within three months of the event, PTSD symptoms usually appear. However, there are incidents where PTSD erupted years into the future. Medications along with certain counseling techniques are very effective in treating the symptoms of PTSD. A flare of PTSD may introduce other problems such as depression, alcohol, or drug abuse. It could also introduce signs and symptoms associated with another/several of the principal anxiety disorders. This illness runs a course that varies widely among those affected.
Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can include feelings of depression, self-isolation, anger at certain triggers, and extreme calm. When children lose a parent, counseling is important to help them manage their emotions. Other children their age have not experienced this tragedy and can feel very alienated in school and their world. There can be physical symptoms, insomnia, and emotional confusion.
Almost everyone experiences some form of post-traumatic stress syndrome after a highly traumatic episode. The symptoms of PTSD occur from three months to even years after the disturbing event. The symptoms of PTSD may be classified as:
- Intrusive memory – where flashbacks and nightmares occur
- Avoidance and emotional numbing – where one avoids talking about the issue and a feeling of hopelessness is evident
- Anxiety and intensified emotional arousal – where anger or shame and self-destructive acts are manifested.
There are cases where suicidal tendencies are evident, too. The symptoms can come and go depending on the circumstances that triggered them.
Symptoms of PTSD in children
Many people will experience traumatic events in their lives, including children and teens. Some researchers estimate that as many as 40 to 45% of children and adolescents experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.
Children with PTSD feel that they are unable to escape the impact of the trauma. They try to avoid people or situations that remind them of the event. Sometimes they will experience memories or “flashbacks” of the event, or they may have nightmares about it that feel very real. Listed below are symptoms of PTSD in children
- Avoiding situations that make them recall the traumatic event
- Experiencing nightmares or flashbacks about the trauma
- Playing in a way that repeats or recalls the trauma
- Acting impulsively or aggressively
- Feeling nervous or anxious frequently
- Experiencing emotional numbness
- Having trouble focusing at school
Symptoms of PTSD in women
In recent research carried out, mental health experts agree that women can sometimes experience PTSD in different ways than men. Some of the symptoms of PTSD in women are more likely to feel depressed and anxious, as well as have trouble feeling or dealing with their emotions. They also tend to avoid activities and things that remind them of whatever traumatic event they suffered through. And while men with PTSD have a higher probability of turning to alcohol or drugs to mask their trauma, women are less likely to do so.
Listed below are symptoms of PTSD in women
- Easily startled
- Have more trouble feeling emotions or feel numb
- Avoid things that remind them of the trauma
- Feel depressed and anxious
Symptoms of PTSD in men
Often, men do not realize that they have PTSD. They internalize their symptoms and assume that something is wrong with them. Once men understand that their symptoms are from an external experience or trauma, they can get help for it.
Listed below are symptoms of PTSD in men
- Irritability
- Impulsivity
- Comorbid substance use disorders
- Paranoia
- Exaggerated startle response
How people cope with post-traumatic stress can also be based on society. Men mostly turn to substances or become irritable, angry at others to try to cope.
Symptoms of PTSD in veterans
More than 60,000 U.S. military veterans died by suicide between 2008 and 2017. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a higher risk of thinking about and attempting suicide.
Estimates indicate 12 to 20% of veterans have PTSD. The rate of PTSD is higher among service members than civilians because, in addition to exposure to life-threatening situations related to combat, there is a high rate of sexual trauma in the military.
Note: PTSD develops differently in each veteran, listed below are symptoms of PTSD in veterans
- Avoiding people, places, and activities that are reminders of the trauma
- Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories related to the traumatic event
- Feelings of sadness, fear, and anger
- Hyper-vigilance of surroundings
- Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
The History and Causes of PTSD
This disorder was formally recognized in the field of medicine and given the name “post-traumatic stress disorder” in the year 1980, however, this disorder has been recognized throughout history – particularly in the military – and given many different names which include “soldier’s heart”, “combat fatigue”, “battle fatigue”, “gross stress reaction”, and “post-Vietnam syndrome”.
The highest percentages of individuals who suffer from PTSD are veterans of war who have been involved in active combat and victims of the violent crime of rape. Researchers have not been able to definitively determine the cause of PTSD. Experts believe that the cause of PTSD is most likely a complex combination of factors including, genetics, life experiences, and personality or character.
Genetics plays a pivotal role in predisposition to mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, and a person’s temperament. Once a person’s inherited traits are biased towards these, then PTSD is more likely to develop. The totality of an individual’s life experiences, good or bad is also one of the causes of PTSD. Lastly, the way a person’s brain regulates the hormones and chemicals released by his body in stressful situations affects his predisposition to this condition.
Natural treatment for PTSD
Natural treatment for PTSD is another form of treatment for PTSD that has been proven by experts to be effective without causing any side effects.
Natural treatment for PTSD is holistic and relies heavily on eastern healing practices. It seeks to reunite the broken pieces of your body and spirit. It includes acupuncture, herbs, and Eastern movement practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, and meditation. Natural remedies for PTSD tend to be gentler and less invasive than traditional. It is also slower. A prescription from your MD may show results in a few days, herbal remedies typically show results in a few weeks or even months.
Natural treatment for PTSD allows the sufferer to repair both their body and mind to help them live a happier, healthier life. Listed below are natural remedies for PTSD
Herbs for PTSD – home-based natural treatment for PTSD
Herbs for PTSD and anxiety is one of the natural treatment for PTSD that helps to support emotional healing gently and powerfully. They can be used to ease the associated numbness and pain that accompanies PTSD and to restore strength, helping to calm the nerves and lift the spirits. Listed below are herbs for PTSD
- This is a herb for PTSD that is emotionally uplifting, strengthening, and has a mildly sedative action. Infuse 2–6 teaspoons rose petals in 14 fluid ounces to 1 pint (400–600ml) boiling water. Add to a warm bath, with some rosebuds floating on the water.
Oat straw
- This herb for PTSD is a nutritious and restorative nerve tonic, ideal for long-term convalescence. Avoid taking with gluten sensitivity. Infuse 1 each oat straw and hawthorn with a few rose petals in 6 fluid ounces (175ml) boiling water. Drink 3 times daily.
- Rooibos tea (also known as a red bush) causes a drop in cortisol levels –fantastic news for PTSD sufferers. A great additional benefit is that rooibos is not from a tea bush so does not contain caffeine or tannin.
- Valerian Root is thought to be one of the best teas for calming down. Hippocrates prescribed it as the cure for insomnia in the 4th century, but it’s also used in the 21st century to treat anxiety and stress.
- Chamomile tea has long been used for its calming properties (it’s a very mild sedative). As such, a cup of chamomile tea before bed can help you get to sleep.
- Not only is Lavender said to be an anti-inflammatory (good for your gut, which is good for your mind) but it’s also supposed to reduce anxiety, especially in ladies.
- This is a herb for PTSD and anxiety that is Known for its relaxing and calming properties, Lemon Balm is good for insomnia and reducing anxiety.
Acupuncture for PTSD – traditional oriental natural treatment for PTSD
Acupuncture is a type of complementary medicine in which fine needles are inserted into the skin along what are thought to be lines of energy. The treatment is derived from ancient Chinese practice and is still widely used today, including many NHS general practices.
Many natural remedies are used to treat PTSD disorders in affected individuals. However, out of all these remedies acupuncture for PTSD is among the most effective for treatment.
Acupuncture for PTSD is a natural remedy for PTSD that helps to stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and within muscles, which then causes the body to produce natural substances, including pain-relieving endorphins. This is what is thought to be responsible for the beneficial results of acupuncture. When used as a course of treatment, it has better results than a single one-off treatment.
Along with helping to relieve PTSD symptoms, acupuncture for PTSD is also often used as a treatment for those suffering from migraines and chronic tension-type headaches, anxiety, joint pain, dental pain, chronic pain, infertility, and post-operative pain.
Yoga for PTSD – ancient Indian exercise-based natural treatment for PTSD
Yoga for PTSD is a natural remedy for PTSD that involves exercises designed to promote mind and body control, as well as enhance one’s overall well-being. There are many different yoga styles, and they come in such a variety that you can find yoga options available for individuals of all ages and fitness levels.
In a 2015 study of 80 individuals diagnosed with PTSD, researchers found that Yoga for PTSD may help reduce PTSD symptoms. Researchers in the aforementioned study also noted that yoga may provide an adjunctive or alternative treatment for PTSD.
Benefits of Yoga for PTSD
- It helps with social re-integration.
- It brings you back to your body
- It calms the nervous system
- It helps therapists begin treatment.
Guided meditation for PTSD – popular natural treatment for PTSD
The first type of guided meditation for PTSD is visualization meditation which walks one through a series of imagery that can ease and relax someone, especially if they’re currently suffering from one of the many symptoms of PTSD such as intense anxiety and restlessness.
The other form of guided meditation for PTSD uses mindfulness, which helps one observe their thoughts and emotions non-judgmentally. This can help a sufferer distance themselves from their suffering and look at it objectively, instead of allowing the suffering to consume their thoughts and actions.
The best treatment for PTSD
The best treatment for PTSD is hypnotherapy – one of the natural remedies that are very effective and can be performed individually or by group sessions.
There many Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment choices. Practitioners offering post-traumatic stress disorder treatments range from medical doctors to snake oil salesmen. In the last few years, PTSD has gained attention, and thus con artists offering cures for it are increasing. But until recently, PTSD was ignored by established medicine, so medical doctors are still learning what works and what doesn’t. To make things more complicated, there is no particular cure that fixes everyone’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This leaves you with symptoms you cannot tolerate, but little evidence to help you separate the scams from the treatment that might actually work for you.
There are two approaches to the treatment of your physical symptoms and it includes traditional and western medicine and it is all about fixing what is broken. It treats you for pain, for sleep, and for bringing the chemistry of your brain to the normal stage.
Hypnosis for PTSD – the most effective treatment for PTSD comes in two types- individual and group.
By far, the most common and best treatment for PTSD is hypnotherapy. Individual hypnosis for PTSD is all about you. It is one on one with a practitioner. Group hypnotherapy is a group of trauma survivors, workgroups, family groups.
Hypnotherapy for PTSD is more than just words. During the PTSD hypnosis session, the hypnotist will place you in a deep trance and while you are open to the suggestion you will describe to the hypnotherapist the initial event that caused the current medical and emotional conditions.
The complex treatment for Post-traumatic stress disorder includes different options like PTSD hypnosis, exposure therapy (to desensitize you), somatic experiencing (to release the trauma stored in your muscles), EMDR (to reset your traumatized brain).
Also Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(to change your behavior patterns) and tapping or EFT (to reset your emotions).
Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of PTSD hypnosis therapy
In 2005, a study was conducted to compare hypnotherapy with other treatments commonly used to improve symptoms of PTSD. Sixty-seven volunteers with PTSD agreed to participate in the study. The methods of treating these patients included hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and counseling.
The results showed that people treated with as well as cognitive behavioral therapy had fewer symptoms of PTSD six months after the sessions. People who received only one counseling had higher levels of PTSD-related lifestyle problems.
People who had undergone PTSD hypnotherapy also reported fewer cases of reliving the traumatic event.
According to research carried out under Psychotherapy, people with PTSD can achieve up to 93 percent recovery after six hypnotherapy sessions.
In cognitive-behavioral therapy, the figure is 72% after 22 sessions and 38% after 600 sessions in psychotherapy.
The studies and figures carried out show that hypnosis can be used to improve the quality of life of people who have experienced traumatic events in the past and are unable to recover.
People with PTSD are generally easier to hypnotize than other people, further adding to the importance of this treatment option for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
How do I find a therapist for PTSD treatment?
Hypnotherapy is a complex and controversial technique and may not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor or therapist can help you determine whether hypnotherapy is the right treatment option for your specific needs. If you are currently seeing a therapist who is not trained in hypnosis, you can ask for their advice.
For more information about treatment providers in your area who may offer hypnotherapy, google for hypnosis near me or hypnotists near me or check with professional organizations such as the American Guild of Hypnotists.
Recovery from PTSD after successful completion of treatment for PTSD
Recovery from PTSD can take as little as six months. However, in some cases, the disorder lasts for a lifetime. PTSD can become a chronic illness.
If you suffer from PTSD and need help contact Philadelphia Hypnotherapy Clinic. Since our clinic is a department of Philadelphia Holistic Clinic you will receive here a complex treatment for PTSD that if necessary will include acupuncture, homeopathic prescriptions, reiki, yoga, etc. To schedule an appointment for an initial consultation contact our clinic or book it online
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