Understanding and Healing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. These events may include combat exposure, natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual assault, or other life-threatening situations. While it is normal to feel afraid during or after a traumatic event, people with PTSD continue to experience intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their trauma long after the event has ended.
Symptoms of PTSD Include:
- Intrusive thoughts such as flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoidance behaviors, such as staying away from reminders of the trauma
- Negative changes in thinking or mood, including guilt, shame, or feeling detached
- Hyperarousal, including irritability, difficulty sleeping, and being easily startled
PTSD can interfere with daily life, relationships, work, and health. The good news is: it is treatable.
Three Proven Methods to Treat or Manage PTSD
1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a structured, short-term psychological treatment that helps individuals process and reframe negative thoughts related to the trauma. One of the most effective forms is Prolonged Exposure Therapy, where patients gradually confront trauma-related memories and situations in a safe and controlled environment, reducing their emotional impact over time.
- Reduces avoidance and fear
- Helps reprocess traumatic memories
- Builds emotional regulation skills
2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is a unique, non-traditional form of therapy that uses rhythmic eye movements or other bilateral stimulation (like tapping or tones) to help the brain process and reframe traumatic memories. The theory is that trauma gets “stuck” in the nervous system, and EMDR helps unstick and reprocess it.
- Often produces results faster than traditional talk therapy
- Requires less verbal detail of the trauma
- Recommended by the World Health Organization and the VA
3. Medication and Holistic Support
Medications such as SSRIs (e.g., sertraline or paroxetine) are FDA-approved for PTSD treatment. When combined with therapy, they can ease symptoms like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. In addition, holistic practices like yoga, mindfulness, nature therapy, and regulated breathing can support long-term healing by calming the nervous system and improving body awareness.
- Addresses neurochemical imbalances
- Improves sleep and mood regulation
- Complements therapy with physical and emotional support
4. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is a proven treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder studies show.
- Safely Discuss Trauma
- Ketamine can create a calm positive feeling while working through difficult experiences
- Ketamine in conjunction with professional therapist can work to unlock and reposition traumatic experiences to alleviate the effects of PTSD.
Conclusion
PTSD is not a life sentence—it is a response to extreme stress, and many people recover with the right treatment and support. If you or someone you know is suffering, professional help is a crucial first step. Healing is possible through therapy, medication, and supportive care that respects both the mind and the body.
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
— Gabor Maté, M.D.
