You feel on edge. You have trouble sleeping, and when you do sleep you have nightmares. Loud, sudden noises alarm you -- sometimes to the point of panic. You feel angry or irritable, or numb. And lately, you have been staying at home more and more, so that you can avoid crowds and situations that make you feel uncomfortable.
Sadly, this is what daily existence is like for thousands of people who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The sights and sounds of the Fourth of July may have triggered many veterans to be transported back to a harrowing moment during their deployment or another life occurrence.
So...what exactly is PTSD?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.
It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it may be hard to go about normal daily activities, like work, school, or spending time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months.
If it's been longer than a few months and you're still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may be delayed, or they may come and go over time.
The good news is you can get treatment for PTSD -- and it works. The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center offers evidence-based psychotherapy treatment that are proven to help. In addition to the PTSD Clinical Team (pictured) we have many other providers who offer evidence-based treatment to address PTSD - at the main facility and our community clinics.
For some people, treatment can get rid of PTSD altogether. For others, it can make symptoms less intense. Treatment also gives you the tools to manage symptoms so they don't keep you from living your life.
PTSD treatment can turn your life around -- even if you've been struggling for years.
The best treatments for PTSD - Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) - are highly effective talk therapies for PTSD. In each of these talk therapies, you meet with a therapist weekly, for 50 to 90 minutes. You and your therapist will have specific goals and topics to cover during each session. Talk therapy usually lasts for 3 to 4 months. Then, if you still have symptoms, you and your therapist can talk about other ways to manage them. The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center offers CPT and PE through certified and capable professionals who know how to help Veterans.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
After a trauma, it's common to have negative thoughts -- like believing that what happened is your fault or that the world is very dangerous. CPT helps you learn to identify and change these thoughts. Changing how you think about the trauma can help change how you feel.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
People with PTSD often try to avoid things that remind them of the trauma. This can help you feel better in the moment, but in the long term it can keep you from recovering from PTSD. In PE, you expose yourself to the thoughts, feelings, and situations that you've been avoiding. It sounds scary, but facing things you're afraid of in a safe way can help you learn that you don't need to avoid reminders of the trauma.
Researchers at VA and elsewhere have dramatically increased our understanding of post-traumatic stress and how it can be tamed. In fact, VA has been a leader in PTSD care. The award-winning PTSD Coach was the first publicly-available VA app and has been downloaded more than 250,000 times. The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid reflects VA's commitment to patient-centered care. Additional resources are also available from the National Center for PTSD's website: www.ptsd.va.gov. Hundreds of thousands of Veterans have also benefited from therapy, counseling, yoga and exercise programs that have given them life-changing relief from their anguish.
Those suffering from PTSD need to know that suffering in solitude is not the answer. The strong, silent approach does not help. And it certainly does not help your friends and family who love you and who are suffering along with you.
For more information on ways to raise PTSD awareness throughout the year, visit the PTSD Awareness section of the National Center for PTSD website, http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/index.asp