Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
There are many misconceptions about PTSD. First and foremost PTSD is not a mental illness. Consider this:
An emotional or physical trauma has happened (Post), which was horrible to experience or witness (Traumatic), which caused significant anxiety (Stress) and reduced functionality to the point where it became debilitating (Disorder).
Symptoms include:
The person may experience various types of guilt (including survivor's guilt) as well as anxiety, stress, and tension.
There are some excellent treatment modalities for PTSD. These are used by trained professionals. When looking for treatment, seek out professionals who, in addition to practicing in the behavioral health field, specialize in one or more of the following modalities. Check out the websites for these treatments to explore lists of professionals with expertise in these areas.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
Founded by Francine Shapiro, EMDR was the first of the newer treatment modalities to be recognized by the Veterans Administration for the treatment of PTSD.
EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique
Founded by Gary Craig, EFT is effective for a wide variety of situations including stress and trauma reduction. Gary Craig has devoted many years to research and treatment of veterans experiencing PTSD including in VA hospitals.
Picking up where Gary Craig left off when he retired to concentrate on PTSD and TMI (Traumatic Brain Injury), Nick Ortner and Dawson Church furthered research and treatment options using EFT.
SE: Somatic Experience
Founded by Peter Levine, SE is a psychobiological method for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress.
An emotional or physical trauma has happened (Post), which was horrible to experience or witness (Traumatic), which caused significant anxiety (Stress) and reduced functionality to the point where it became debilitating (Disorder).
Symptoms include:
- Reliving the event: This disturbs day-to-day activity. It shows up as flashbacks and nightmares which feel like the event is happening again. This creates strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind the person of the event.
- Avoidance: This appears as emotional numbing, feeling detached and lack of interest in normal activities. A person may avoid people and places that are reminiscent of the event and feel like they have no future.
- Hyperarousal: Individuals constantly scan surroundings for signs of danger (hypervigilance). They are unable to concentrate, feel irritable, experience outbursts of anger and have trouble sleeping.
The person may experience various types of guilt (including survivor's guilt) as well as anxiety, stress, and tension.
There are some excellent treatment modalities for PTSD. These are used by trained professionals. When looking for treatment, seek out professionals who, in addition to practicing in the behavioral health field, specialize in one or more of the following modalities. Check out the websites for these treatments to explore lists of professionals with expertise in these areas.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
Founded by Francine Shapiro, EMDR was the first of the newer treatment modalities to be recognized by the Veterans Administration for the treatment of PTSD.
EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique
Founded by Gary Craig, EFT is effective for a wide variety of situations including stress and trauma reduction. Gary Craig has devoted many years to research and treatment of veterans experiencing PTSD including in VA hospitals.
Picking up where Gary Craig left off when he retired to concentrate on PTSD and TMI (Traumatic Brain Injury), Nick Ortner and Dawson Church furthered research and treatment options using EFT.
SE: Somatic Experience
Founded by Peter Levine, SE is a psychobiological method for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress.