Understanding the Importance of PTSD Treatment and Support
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric condition triggered by a traumatic event during which great physical harm occurs or is threatened. While almost everyone experiences trauma at one time or another, for most people the feelings of terror and helplessness subside over time. For patients with PTSD, symptoms may appear later, last longer, and be much more severe than for the average person, making PTSD treatment and support an important step toward recovery. There are many reasons an individual may develop PTSD, none of them under the individual's control.
How PTSD Develops: Causes, Risk Factors, and Diagnosis
Symptoms of PTSD
There are many disturbing symptoms of PTSD that often interfere with everyday life. Such symptoms are grouped into three basic types:
Why PTSD Symptoms Fluctuate Over Time?
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are not constant. Symptoms may fade into the background for a period of time but recur under stress, particularly when a reminder of the traumatic event is experienced. A sensory trigger — a noise, a scent, a visual cue, an unexpected touch — may precipitate serious symptoms, making PTSD treatment and support essential for managing these sudden responses.
Types of PTSD Treatment and Support Available
There are two approaches to treating PTSD and they are frequently used in combination:
Recovery from PTSD
Recovery from PTSD is a slow, often painful process. Though the disorder is rarely completely cured, PTSD treatment and support can vastly improve the patient's quality of life. Through the use of psychotherapy and medications, symptoms may become much less frequent and less severe, and the patient may develop strong coping skills to deal with the feelings related to the trauma.