Treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder believed to affect around one in three people after a traumatic experience. The term ‘PTSD’ was originally used to describe symptoms of trauma arising primarily from combat exposure. People in the military are particularly susceptible to this condition due the frequency of their traumatic experiences. However, this has since been extended to encompass any group of people exposed to traumatic events.

This includes:

  • Victims of violent crime (for example, physical and sexual assaults, sexual abuse, bombings, riots)
  • Emergency services personnel
    Victims of war, torture, state sanctioned violence, terrorism and refugees
  • Survivors of industrial or road traffic accidents and disasters
    Women following traumatic childbirth
  • People diagnosed with a life-threatening illness

Can PTSD be treated?

PTSD can be successfully treated, even if your symptoms appear some time after the initial trauma. The type of treatment offered depends on the severity of your symptoms and how soon they’ve appeared after the traumatic event.

You may experience symptoms of PTSD immediately after the distressing event has occurred, although many people have a delay in onset of symptoms for months or even years. When these symptoms do occur, they may happen constantly, and severely affect your ability to function most days, although some people with the condition can go extensive amounts of time without noticing any issues, before symptoms ultimately flare-up.

For many people, these symptoms lead to depression, panic attacks and generalised anxiety. People can also withdraw from work and social activities. If you think you may be struggling with the symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to seek help and manage the condition.

How is PTSD treated?

Systematic reviews suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) are both effective in the treatment of PTSD.

Treatment of PTSD at YMM involves tried and tested therapy techniques, working towards reducing the symptoms of the condition. This enables you to process memories and emotions relating to the event that are stopping you from functioning in everyday life.

TREATMENT

Trauma-focused CBT

People with PTSD find it very difficult talk about the traumatic events that have caused it. Trauma focused CBT helps them to talk about the trauma which is the first step in treatment.

CBT helps you to understand your thought processes and how to change your feelings and reactions to your symptoms. One form of CBT is known as exposure therapy, which is unique to treating trauma seen in conditions such as PTSD.

This involves you imagining the trauma within a safe, controlled environment to help you to face up to your fears. This enables our specialists to examine your reactions to the event and help you to overcome your anger, shame or guilt. This will enable you to deal with traumatic memories and feelings, without becoming overwhelmed or emotionally numb.

EMDR for PTSD

EMDR aims to help sufferers reprocess their traumatic memory. EMDR involves inducing a series of rapid and rhythmic eye movements to facilitate cognitive change and decrease anxiety. Patients are instructed to focus on a trauma-related image and to bring the negative emotions, sensations and thoughts to the forefront of their minds, while visually tracking the therapist’s fingers as they move back and forth in front of the patient’s eyes.

Group therapy for PTSD

By discussing your emotions and trauma with a group of other PTSD sufferers, you’ll achieve greater understanding of your condition and emotions. Group therapy sessions will help you to become more confident and trusting, and enable you to focus on the present rather than the past.

Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy

This focuses on the emotional conflicts caused by the traumatic event, particularly experiences dating back to when you were young. By working with a calm and unbiased therapist, you’ll achieve a greater sense of self-esteem and develop effective methods of thinking and coping with intense emotions.

Watchful waiting

If your symptoms of PTSD are diagnosed as mild during your initial assessment, or your symptoms of the disorder have lasted only a short amount of time, then it may be recommended that you embark on a period known as ‘watchful waiting’.

This is an approach which requires increased focus on whether your symptoms are getting better or worse, with a follow-up appointment allowing assessment of whether treatment to relieve your symptoms is required.

Medication for PTSD

Medication can be prescribed to reduce the anxiety, depression and insomnia often experienced with PTSD. In some cases, medication may help to relieve the distress and emotional numbness caused by traumatic memories, and also helps you to participate in psychotherapy sessions.

Treatment for complex PTSD

CPTSD often requires a tailored and in-depth treatment plan due to the nature of the trauma and the wide-ranging symptoms involved. Therapy plays a central role in recovery, with several evidence-based approaches commonly used to support people with CPTSD. These include:

  • Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT)
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
  • Schema therapy

These therapeutic methods are designed to help with the key challenges of CPTSD, such as difficulties in emotional regulation, problems within relationships, and a negative self-agency.

Long-term profesimage. The goal of treatment is to help improve a sense of safety, identity, and personal sional support can help process trauma, develop healthier coping mechanisms and gradually rebuild a sense of stability. Because complex trauma often stems from prolonged or repeated exposure to distressing events, treatment typically takes place over a longer period. Recovery is not immediate, but with consistency and the right support, positive change is possible.

Panic attacks: symptoms, causes and treatment

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Panic attacks are characterised by sudden, unexpected bouts of acute and debilitating anxiety, often accompanied by distressing physical symptoms.

These physical symptoms can be so severe that first-time sufferers might believe they’re having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Over time, panic attacks can become more frequent, and the fear of having a panic attack becomes embedded, resulting in what can feel like a ‘vicious circle’.

Panic attacks can affect people differently; while some people may be able to overcome a panic attack on their own and without other people noticing, others might need more intensive help.

Symptoms of a panic attack

Panic attack symptoms can vary from person-to-person, and can be categorised into physical, psychological and behavioural/social symptoms. You might not experience all the symptoms when you feel a panic attack coming on, but some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Feelings of dizziness 
  • Chest pains and shortness of breath – tightness of the chest and feeling as though it’s a struggle to breathe
  • A racing or pounding heart
  • Hyperventilating
  • Feeling as though you’re choking
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Muscle spasms and palpitations
  • Excessive sweating
  • Trembling or shaking
  • A feeling of being out of control and disconnected from your surroundings
  • Believing that you’re having a heart attack, or that you’re going to die
  • Having other mental health conditions such as intense anxiety, depression and stress
  • Hopelessness, confusion and frustration
  • Paranoia and low self-esteem
  • Feeling tearful and emotionally tired – finding that you’re crying more than usual and for no apparent reason

How are panic attacks treated?

Panic attacks are one of the characteristic symptoms of panic disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder. To treat panic disorder, you may be advised to try therapy for panic attacks, as well as medications as part of a treatment plan. You might also receive treatment for anxiety if you’re struggling with other anxiety symptoms.

Depending on the severity of your attacks, tried and tested treatment for panic attacks may include:

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – CBT aims to address any dysfunctional thought patterns that may be contributing to your panic attacks, in order to help you re-evaluate these thoughts in a healthier way
  • Medication – certain antidepressant medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or other medications, can be used alongside CBT to further support in the management of panic attacks

Alongside these treatments, you may also be advised to practise mindfulness activities as well as breathing techniques, which can help you during a panic attack.

Panic attack treatment at YMM

While panic attacks can be distressing and difficult to cope with, it’s important to understand that with effective treatment, they can be managed. Getting help for your panic attacks may feel daunting, but it’s a crucial step in helping you to overcome your panic disorder and improve your quality of life.

If you think that you or someone you know is struggling with panic disorder, it’s important to recognise that you’re not alone, and that expert treatment is available. We can deliver comprehensive treatment for panic attacks on an outpatient, day care or inpatient (residential) basis, depending on the severity of your condition and the intensity of the support you need.