Many people experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. This could be warfare, a physical or sexual assault, a major accident, a sudden death in the family, or a natural disaster. Sometimes, such a situation can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, which makes it difficult for the patient to move on. Here at Lopez-Larson & Associates in Park City, UT, we offer a variety of treatments for PTSD.
Unfortunately, the condition doesn’t usually go away on its own, and most patients can benefit from working with a professional. Because post-traumatic stress is a serious mental health issue, several treatments might be needed. These could include talking therapy, medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and EMDR. Read on to find out more about the condition and to discover whether you could benefit from treatment at the clinic.
Can You Get Rid of PTSD Without Treatment?
Recovering from post-traumatic stress is a long-term process, and it may take you several months or even years to regain your mental health. The condition is complex, and it usually isn’t possible to get better without professional assistance. To make sure you don’t suffer from ongoing symptoms, you should speak to an experienced professional as soon as possible. The earlier your issue is addressed, the easier it is to treat.
However, just because you can’t fully recover on your own doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do all you can to take care of your mental health. Some things you can try at home to support your recovery are connecting with family and friends, taking enough time to relax and pursue your favorite activities, exercising on a regular basis, and limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake.
What Are the Symptoms?
Sometimes, it can be challenging to know whether you are suffering from post-traumatic stress or another type of mental health disorder. Generally, patients who have gone through a traumatic event experience flashbacks, nightmares, negative beliefs about themselves and the world, feelings of alienation, and mood swings. They may be irritable or engage in self-destructive behavior.
Additionally, many people who have post-traumatic stress disorder avoid anything that could remind them of what happened. For instance, they might not visit certain places, engage in certain activities, or associate with people related to the trauma. If you think you might be suffering from post-traumatic stress, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional who can diagnose you and help you recover.
Why You Must Address Post-Traumatic Stress
People experiencing the above-named symptoms often feel that there is little point in going on. They might no longer enjoy activities they loved before, and they often have trouble completing their regular tasks. At work, this can lead to subpar performance, and in the patient’s personal life, it can cause a deterioration of the most important relationships.
To prevent further issues such as job loss and a lack of social connection, post-traumatic stress must be addressed. By working with a qualified professional, you can regain control over your life and move forward. Although it’s ideal if the issue is dealt with quickly, you can get help at any point. Even if you were traumatized many years ago, you can benefit from working with a mental health specialist.
The Best Treatment Options
Now you know that you can’t recover from PTSD without treatment, you might wonder what a session at the clinic will look like. What methods are used on people with post-traumatic stress, and how do they work? Here at Lopez-Larson & Associates, we use five main forms of therapy. We might begin by speaking to you about your trauma and finding out why you are suffering from stress disorder.
Then, we can decide whether you would benefit from taking some medication. Sometimes, calming down the body’s trauma response system and regulating the patient’s brain chemicals is the best way forward. Additionally, we can offer you support groups and innovative methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and EMDR. Because post-traumatic stress is a serious condition that can threaten your life, we often combine two or more of these treatments.
Talking Therapy
If you’ve never spoken to a specialist about your post-traumatic stress, you shouldn’t delay contacting Dr. Melissa. She will invite you to an initial consultation at the clinic, during which you can tell her what happened and how the event has influenced your life. Because she has many years of experience in this field, she will be able to assess your symptoms and come up with a customized and highly effective treatment plan.
Often, this includes speaking to a mental health specialist on a regular basis. Therapy is a great way of healing from trauma because it allows you to be open and vulnerable and work through your emotions. Your therapist is a neutral person you can speak to. They will treat your situation with compassion and equip you with important coping strategies. What’s more, every session is confidential, so you can open up without worrying about any consequences.
Medication
Talking therapy on its own isn’t always enough to help patients heal from serious post-traumatic stress. Going through something very traumatic can alter the way the brain works. While you know that the situation isn’t likely to recur, your body is constantly trying to protect you from danger. Sometimes, the use of medication is the only way to calm down your system and help you get rid of your symptoms.
Mental health professionals can prescribe several types of medications. SSRIs and SNRIs are the most commonly used options. They are antidepressants that increase the levels of serotonin, a chemical that improves mood, in the brain, and they are often used on patients who experience anxiety or depression. Since up to 50% of people suffering from post-traumatic stress also have severe depression, SSRIs and SNRIs are often a good solution.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates nerve cells in the brain through magnetic stimulation. It was cleared by the FDA in 2013 and has helped countless people struggling with severe depression and related issues. Initially, it was only used when other treatments weren’t effective, but in recent years, it has become more and more popular.
Since no surgery is involved, you won’t need to stay at the clinic after your appointment. In fact, your TMS session will last between 5 and 45 minutes. When you speak to Dr. Melissa, she can let you know how often you need to be treated. Most patients benefit from having TMS four to five times a week for approximately six weeks. After this initial course of treatment, we can reevaluate your situation and determine whether you need further appointments.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a type of therapy that can help people to recover from trauma and PTSD. At first glance, it may seem unorthodox, but it has been well researched over many years. The underlying concept is that our physical state is interwoven with our emotional well-being. During your session, your doctor will move their finger in front of your face and ask you to follow it with your eyes.
At the same time, they will ask you to recall a traumatic event in your life. Once you’ve visualized your trauma, they will slowly bring your mind back to more pleasant thoughts. This technique can weaken the effect negative emotions have on your wellbeing and therefore reduce your symptoms.
Support Groups
Recovering from trauma is a long and hard process. But fortunately, you’re not alone. Thousands of people in your area are going through the same process. Connecting with some of them and sharing your experiences could be a great way to facilitate healing. Dr. Melissa runs several groups and would be happy to include you in her Monday Mental Wellness session or her Confident Parenting Program.
Get Rid of Post-Traumatic Stress for Good
If you don’t get treated, it’s unlikely that you will fully recover from your post-traumatic stress disorder. Most patients require several different treatments like talking therapy, medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and EMDR. When used in combination, these methods can permanently reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of PTSD.
The best way to find out which type of treatment you can benefit from is to speak to an experienced professional. Get in touch with us today at Lopez-Larson & Associates in Park City, UT, and book an initial consultation with Dr. Melissa. She has more than 15 years of experience working with adult patients and will be able to assess your situation quickly and accurately. When working with her, you have the best chance of recovery.