Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Options

by Beth McHugh | More from this Blogger

19 May 2006 05:20 PM

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an emotional disorder which occurs after the experience of a physical trauma: commonly war, physical assault (particularly rape), car accidents, natural catastrophes, and even the unexpected death of a loved one. For the disorder to manifest the victim of the event must feel intense fear and helplessness, coupled with an expectancy of dying or being seriously injured themselves.

Sufferers of this debilitating condition will do anything to avoid places, people, or circumstances that remind them of the original traumatic event. Loss of memory surrounding many of the details of the actual event may also occur, and there may also be a numbing of the emotions in general, as if the person is in a perpetual state of shock, which in fact they are.

As previously discussed in PTSD: What causes it? and PTSD: Diagnostic Criteria, personal circumstances play a large role in determining whether or not a person who experiences a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD. Numerous studies have shown that the presence of a strong and supportive network of family and friends will limit the chances of the condition developing.

In a 1996 study of elementary school children who experienced Hurricane Andrew when it tore through Florida, more than 55% of students were deemed to be suffering moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD. When family structures were included as part of the study, those students who receive support and encouragement from parents and teachers were far less likely to report or exhibit symptoms of distress. One of the most likely reasons for the high levels of PTSD in Vietnam veterans is the absence of social support that these soldiers received on their return from active duty. Currently, the incidence of PTSD in those countries most affected by the 2004 Tsunami is very high, due to a lack of counseling resources.

Hence, the first line of treatment for a victim of a traumatic event is to establish a strong and supportive network of friends and professionals. This will effectively minimize the likelihood of PTSD developing. The medical fraternity is well aware of the necessity for early counseling, and news coverage of traumatic events such as school shootings and natural disasters are often accompanied by the words "witnesses to the accident have been offered counseling".

In cases where PTSD is established, counseling is again useful as a means of unlocking the repressed images and thoughts the person is experiencing daily on a subconscious basis in an attempt to bring them into conscious awareness. Unlike treatment for phobias, it is almost impossible for the sufferer to undergo gradual exposure therapy to the event that traumatized them; therefore other ways have to be found to help the sufferer gradually re-experience the event in a controlled manner.

Drug therapy can also be helpful in alleviating the severe anxiety and panic attacks which accompany PTSD. Currently, medications such as the SSRI family of antidepressants are the drug treatment of choice for this disorder.

Contact Beth McHugh for further information or assistance regarding this issue.

Learn more about Beth McHugh

Beth McHugh began her career as a geologist and worked both in industry and as a university researcher.

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Lucky7 (190) 22 May 2006 12:38 AM

I have a friend with PTSD. These articles have helped me to understand the condition.

beachpua (5) 01 Oct 2007 06:27 PM

I have PTSD, and it is awful. I was in a major car wreck where as a suicidal man on a lethal dose of morphine decides to cross the Soth bound median of I-95 and hit me and another car head in the N. bound lanes. I was the only suvivor. I am divorced with three kids of the ages 5,7 and 10. This whole ordeal had left me with two broken femurs a broken knee cap, tib/fib broken and ankle shattered and foot twisted unitl it broke and a broken left arm. I thank God for being alive but I wonder why I was spared and I wonder if in my next surgery if that's when I will die. I am so scared for my children as they are for me. The wreck was in May and life goes on for others, none of my friend help anymore, very few call. I's awful and I am on anxiety meds and I am starting counseling in my home tomorrow. This PTSD can cause your emotions to flip like a light switch and it is so hard to be strong for the kids. I don't wish this feeling on anyone. Hopefully things will get better butit is a rough ride. If you know someone with PTSD please keep intouch with them, it is so easy for us to slip into a deep depression, I got so bad one time that I didn't realize I wasn't eating or drinking enough, all and got dehydrated which sent me into a panic attack.

Beth McHugh (13186) 02 Oct 2007 02:55 AM

Hi Beachpua, PTSD is not only an extremely painful condition, but the misunderstanding of others can be an even greater burden to bear. Can I ask if you have become housebound on account of the panic attacks? This is so common with PTSD, as is memory loss about some of the details surrounding the original trauma. I am so sorry this happened to you, but more sorry that your friends have abandoned you. I hope your counseling goes well, if not you are welcome to contact me for counseling. Try to find a support group nearby, as you will get excellent help from fellow sufferers. I hope things soon get better for you. Beth

lucy sposaro (63) 06 Mar 2008 11:15 PM

hi everyone im 22 and i just found out that i have PTSD i suffer from panic attacks everyday i have had a lot go on in my life witch has made me think to much at once so i dont know wat im thinking anymore sometimes i dont know what i feel i feel like i dont have a life i have 2 kids under 2 and i must say they put me into stress mode alot to so its harder for me to relax anyone got ideas on wat i should do to deal with this i do see a pyscholgist but dosent really help or make a diffrence

Beth McHugh (13186) 06 Mar 2008 11:53 PM

To help you I would really need to know the nature of the trauma that set off the symptoms, the nature of the symptoms, ie. what triggers the panic, how long you have suffered from PTSD, etc. You can contact me for assistance at http://youronlinecounselor.com if you feel you are getting nowhere with your present therapist. You need both strategies to assist with the panic attacks, plus examining the belief systems underlying the trauma you have suffered. Best wishes, Beth