Research indicates, 7 to 12 percent of people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person experiences a traumatic event such as combat or military experience, sexual or physical abuse or assault, a serious accident, or a natural disaster such as a fire, tornado, flood, or earthquake. Some people develop PTSD after seeing someone else experience a traumatic event (Epidemiology of trauma, PTSD, and other posttrauma disorders).
Levels of PTSD
Persons with PTSD are at increased risk for other psychiatric disorders; PTSD has stronger associations with anxiety and affective disorders than with substance abuse or dependence (Jama Psychiatry).
Five types of reactions to a traumatic event are recognized by Psychologists, not all five are actual forms or types of PTSD. These reactions include a normal stress response, acute stress disorder, uncomplicated PTSD, comorbid PTSD, and complex PTSD. Each reaction is based upon an older understanding of humans’ reactions to trauma and may no longer be used by many researchers and clinicians. For this reason, it is important for your medical physician and you understand the definitions and diagnosis used.
How to treat PTSD?
The Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) and the American Psychological Association (APA) each published treatment guidelines for PTSD treatment, which are a set of recommendations for providers who treat individuals with PTSD. Both strongly recommended use of Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Prolonged Exposure:
Exposure is an intervention strategy commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals confront fears. Prolonged exposure is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches individuals to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations. Most people want to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma they experienced, but doing so reinforces their fear. By facing what has been avoided, a person can decrease symptoms of PTSD by actively learning that the trauma-related memories and cues are not dangerous and do not need to be avoided (APA) (Family Practice).
Hypnotics generally should be prescribed for short periods only, with the frequency and duration of use customized to each patient\’s circumstances. Routine use of over-the-counter drugs containing antihistamines should be discouraged. Alcohol has the potential for abuse and should not be used as a sleep aid. Opiates are valuable in pain-associated insomnia.
Cognitive Processing Therapy:
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events including child abuse, combat, rape, and natural disasters. CPT is generally delivered over 12 sessions and helps patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. In so doing, the patient creates a new understanding and conceptualization of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on current life (APA).
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the relationship among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and notes how changes in any one domain can improve functioning in the other domains. For example, altering a person’s unhelpful thinking can lead to healthier behaviors and improved emotion regulation. CBT targets current problems and symptoms and is typically delivered over 12-16 sessions in either individual or group format (APA).
Balance depression and mental health challenges:
In Behavioral Sleep Medicine, insomnia was consistently predictive of depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, alcohol abuse or dependence, drug abuse or dependence, and suicide, indicating insomnia is a risk factor for these difficulties. Additionally, insomnia was related to decreased immune functioning. The data regarding PTSD and insomnia consists of overlapping data. If you want to improve your quality of overall health and overcome PTSD, please set up a virtual appointment with Zen’s Medicine Staff CLICK HERE.
Supportive Links:
“Trauma and PTSD in the WHO world mental health surveys.” European journal of psychotraumatology 8.sup5 (2017): 1353383.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20008198.2017.1353383
“PTSD in children and adolescents.” National Center for PTSD, in www. ncptsd. org (2016).http://www.georgiadisaster.info/Schools/fs%207%20school/PTSD%20in%20Children%20&%20Adolescents.pdf
“PTSD symptoms, response to intrusive memories and coping in ambulance service workers.” British journal of clinical psychology 38.3 (1999): 251-265.
https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1348/014466599162836
“The epidemiology of trauma, PTSD, and other posttrauma disorders.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 10.3 (2009): 198-210.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1524838009334448
“PTSD symptoms and suicide risk in veterans: Serial indirect effects via depression and anger.” Journal of affective disorders 214 (2017):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716318043
Note: “Western Pharmaceutical” is defined as a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Quote from National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov

Holistic Health: is mindfulness of one’s mind, body, emotions, spirit, environment & social group.
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