Different types of therapy try to achieve this aim in different ways.Įvery situation is different and depending on each person’s particular circumstances, the type/s of trauma experienced and the ages at which this happened therapy will require different lengths of time to be able to achieve this aim.
This enables new understanding and meaning to be gained, the trauma/s to be integrated as part of the person’s life experiences and dissociation to be resolved.
The aim of any type of trauma therapy should be to enable a client to re-visit their traumatic experience/s under specific conditions of safety created in the here-and-now of the therapy so that the full emotional and sensory content of their experiences and its impact on their life can be remembered and relieved. PTSD Treatment Options Finding The Right Type Of TherapyĪt the end of your assessment process your mental health specialist should explain to you what your options are for receiving therapeutic help. NICE guildelines state that if you are still experiencing problems four weeks after your trauma or your symptoms are very troublesome, your medical practitioner (in the UK, your GP) should refer you to a mental health specialist who has sufficient trainig and experience in the assessment of trauma or stress related problems. In England, The Department of Health sponsors NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Because of this, it is important to ensure that you are assessed by a properly qualified mental health professional. Properly diagnosing PTSD requires sufficient time, specialist training and experience in conducting trauma assessments. The problem with this is that depression and anxiety are often treated with medication as a first line of intervention, whereas there is evidence that this should not be the first treatment choice for PTSD. PTSD can in many cases be mistaken for depression or anxiety as some of the syptoms are very similar. This process will help to ensure that you receive the most appropriate help for your specific problem. By undergoing this assessment you will be able to find out more accurately the extent to which you may have been affected by a traumatic event and what trauma or stressor-related condition you may be suffering from.
They should help you with an assessment or, in the case of a GP, arrange for you to see the right mental health professional in order to carry out an assessment. If you are in any way concerned that your symptoms are not easing after the period of watchful waiting it is advised that you contact your GP or a registered mental health professional. If your symptoms are severe or they persist beyond the four week period of watchful waiting, it is recommended to seek professional help to decide on the best way to address your trauma. This is usually the case if your initial symptoms are relatively mild you feel that although the trauma was horrific it was just a one off event and you are safe again now you have a good support network of family, friends or work colleagues and it feels that there are no longer-term consequences arising from the trauma.
This can be useful as sometimes people who develop problems after a traumatic experience get better within a few weeks without treatment. This involves carefully monitoring your symptoms to see whether they improve or get worse. If you have mild symptoms of PTSD, or you have had symptoms for less than 4 weeks, an approach called watchful waiting may be helpful. Even long after a traumatic event, the right kind of help can allow you to work through, process, and ultimately recover from your trauma. The good news is that PTSD is treatable and can be overcome. When you experience the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder it can sometimes feel like you are stuck in your trauma and that there is no way of escaping the negative feelings it has brought to you.