How To Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Medically reviewed by Kathleen Daly, MDMedically reviewed by Kathleen Daly, MD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop after you experience a traumatic event. People without PTSD usually experience stress after a disturbing event, but they recover. People with PTSD, however, continue to feel prolonged stress after the traumatic event has ended. Their bodies continue to release stress hormones (such as cortisol), which can cause lasting effects.

Living with PTSD can be a challenging or debilitating experience. Fortunately, treatment is available to help you process your trauma, manage stress, and improve your overall well-being. The goal of treatment is not only to make you feel better but to instill a sense of safety in your daily life. Mental healthcare providers (such as psychologists or psychiatrists) may recommend therapy, medications, or a combination of both to help offset symptoms.

It's worth noting that treatment for PTSD doesn't always work overnight. It may take some trial and error, which can be frustrating. However, it's important to be patient with yourself and your journey and continue trying methods that work for you. With proper treatment, you can become better equipped to deal with future stressors, set attainable life goals, and reconnect with the people in your life to build a robust support system.

Therapies

The first line of treatment for PTSD is therapy. These therapy sessions will usually last anywhere from five to 16 weeks, depending on your symptoms and needs. Your healthcare team—which may include your primary care provider, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker—can offer several trauma-focused therapy options, such as:

• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): A type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that teaches you how to re-evaluate your thoughts surrounding your traumatic event. Your mental health provider will work with you to help you consider new ways of thinking. This, in turn, may help you cope with your emotions surrounding the event.

• Prolonged exposure therapy: Another form of CBT that helps you engage with situations or feelings you typically avoid due to previous trauma. Your therapist will discuss real-life and imaginary scenarios to address the fear around the trauma you experienced to re-expose to the situation. Through slow and gradual exposure, you may be able to experience the activities you may have been unable to enjoy since your traumatic experience.

• Writing exposure therapy (WET): This type of trauma therapy lasts for about five sessions, making it shorter than some of the other therapy options. During these sessions, you will write about your feelings surrounding the traumatic event. Then, you will discuss your writing with a mental health provider to help process the information. This may help you become more comfortable with the traumatic memory.

• Present-centered therapy: A type of talk therapy that isn’t based on recounting your traumatic event. Instead, you focus on solving some of the real-life issues that your PTSD may have caused. Your sessions will focus on using your strengths to face daily problems or stressors. This may be more appealing to those who don’t want to recall their traumatic experiences.

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: This talk therapy uses motion or sound to help you process your emotions. While you think about the traumatic event, you will focus on a repetitive sound or movement. Your mental health provider may use a blinking light, beeping tone, or move their finger back and forth for you to focus on. People usually see an improvement in their symptoms after a few sessions.
  

Medications

In some cases, healthcare providers may also recommend medications to help treat PTSD. You may take medications alone, but research suggests that a combination of therapy and medication is most effective.

SSRIs and SNRIs

There are two major classes of medications that can treat PTSD long-term: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). Keep in mind: these medications also require a prescription from a healthcare provider.

Generally, you'll need to take these medications daily, which can take up to six weeks to reach their full effect. It's also essential that you take your medication as prescribed at the same time every day.

While effective, SSRIs and SNRIs may come with some mild to moderate side effects, including:

• Upset stomach

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Decreased libido (sex drive)

• Trouble sleeping

• Nausea and vomiting

• Sweating

• Higher risk of serotonin syndrome (excess serotonin in your body)

Benzodiazepines

Your healthcare provider may opt to prescribe you benzodiazepines—a class of medications that can help calm your mind before going to sleep. Some examples of these medications include:

• Xanax (alprazolam)

• Klonopin (clonazepam)

• Ativan (lorazepam)

Your provider will likely only recommend these medications for a short period because the medication can cause some adverse effects if you use them for too long. These side effects include physical dependence on the drug, irritability, and worsening depression. In some cases, these medications can also affect your breathing, so it's best to ask your provider if the drug is safe for you, especially if you live with conditions like sleep apnea or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Your mental healthcare provider may also recommend alternative options to aid your treatment journey. One of the most common complementary treatments for PTSD is mindfulness. This approach focuses on accepting your emotions and thoughts as they are and being present in the moment.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is the most common mindfulness approach. This treatment involves about eight weeks of group mindfulness sessions and a full-day silent retreat. During the course of this treatment, you may also learn yoga, meditation, and coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.

A Quick Review

PTSD can be a difficult condition to live with, but fortunately, treatment is available to help you improve your quality of life. The first line of treatment for PTSD is therapy that focuses on addressing the traumatic experience. But, your provider may also recommend medications, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, or benzodiazepines. Mindfulness is also an approach you can try to complement your treatment journey.

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