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If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, treatment can turn your life around. PTSD treatment allows you to take control of your life. It can improve sleep and relationships, reduce substance use, and help you learn coping skills. No matter how PTSD is affecting your life, treatment can help you get back to doing the things you enjoy.
“The great thing about mental health treatment is that we work with patients to individualize their care so that they can return to the life they want,” says Dr. Lisa-Ann Cuccurullo, a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD.
“We know that trauma-focused psychotherapies, or talk therapy that focuses on the memory of a traumatic event or its meaning, are the most effective treatments for PTSD, but within those treatments there is room to focus on the individual's needs and wants. There is life after PTSD treatment.”
A Return to Activities and Routines
One of the most common symptoms of PTSD is avoidance. This may mean avoiding people or places that remind you of trauma. It could mean using drugs or alcohol to avoid memories, or to try and relax. Sometimes it means avoiding crowds, traffic, unfamiliar situations, or any number of things that may interfere with your day-to-day life.
Through PTSD treatment, it is possible to address and resolve avoidance, allowing you to return to your routines or activities that you enjoy, or start new ones. Treatments like:
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Prolonged Exposure (PE) help you safely approach the things you’ve been avoiding since your trauma.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps you examine and challenge your beliefs—about the trauma, yourself, or your surroundings—and balance them in a positive, realistic way.
Effective therapy is not one size fits all; you can work with your health care team to find the best treatment for you. Every VA medical center in the country will have a provider trained in at least one of the most recommended treatment programs for PTSD, including PE and CPT. Find a program or mental health care professional near you.
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