Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health condition that can affect anyone. It is characterized by persistent anxiety and fear following a traumatic event such as a car crash, natural disaster, childhood abuse, sexual assault, or military combat. PTSD can have a devastating impact on your life and relationships if not appropriately treated. But with quality mental health treatment programs, like those at Promises Brazos Valley, you can get through PTSD by learning how to manage your symptoms and minimize the frequency or severity of anxiety.
What Can You Expect from a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Program?
Your treatment will begin with an intake assessment so your care team can work to create a unique plan based on your needs and goals for recovery. Complete and personalized assessments are conducted to determine the best options for treatment. During the evaluation, your team will determine the following:
- If you have post-traumatic stress disorder
- What type of PTSD you have
- If you have co-occurring mental health issues contributing to PTSD or making symptoms worse
- Which therapies would be most suitable
- Whether you would benefit from medication and which types
A PTSD treatment program consists of several components, including individual, group, and family therapy sessions. Trained therapists will help you explore the root causes of your trauma and develop coping skills that will support you through challenging situations in the future. The overall goal is for you to feel empowered, safe, and ready to live a full life again.
You may also receive medication as part of a PTSD therapy program to help manage anxiety symptoms. You can use fast-acting anxiety medications like Xanax or Ativan to help alleviate anxiety or panic attacks. Other medications, like Paxil or Celexa, may be prescribed to address anxiety and nervousness over the long term.
Some people may be concerned about being on medication permanently, but for PTSD, this may just be needed temporarily to help you get through the most challenging times. As your treatment progresses, you may no longer need anxiety medications, or your provider may gradually lower your dosage.
How Does a PTSD Treatment Program Work?
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can be overwhelming and debilitating. People with PTSD may struggle with the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Flashbacks
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
Enrolling in a program that provides PTSD counseling can help you regain control of panic and anxiety. A PTSD therapy program uses therapies specifically designed for people struggling with trauma, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – This teaches you how to think about your experience differently so that you can reduce the sense of overwhelm you feel.
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) – This helps you process traumatic memories to move forward in life without the trauma continuing to affect you.
- Exposure therapy – This allows you to confront your fears, starting with situations that produce low anxiety levels. Under your therapist’s guidance, you gradually move toward situations that trigger higher anxiety levels while practicing stress reduction techniques. Over time, this method helps reduce your sensitivity to the stimuli.
The above therapies are evidence-based and proven to help people with PTSD decrease their symptoms and return to a sense of normalcy.
Find PTSD Counseling at Promises Brazos Valley
PTSD can rob you of your health and happiness. Promises Brazos Valley is here to help you regain your life with our post-traumatic stress disorder treatment program. Our therapies have been proven effective in treating the symptoms associated with this challenging condition. We offer individualized care to meet your needs and address specific symptoms and issues. Reach out to us at 979.426.0086 to schedule an assessment if you have experienced past trauma that continues to affect your life today.