10 Steps to Help Recover from PTSD
There is a growing recognition of PTSD thanks in part to an increase of knowledge and efforts to de-stigmatise mental health challenges. If you are struggling with heightened emotions, and behaviours you regret, do source support from a local therapist who is skilled at The Rewind Technique or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). It is important to note, PTSD is not amenable to talking therapy alone. And how long since your trauma was experienced is unimportant as long as it is around or more than 6-weeks!
Guest author, John Adams, shares his knowledge with us below. John is a paralegal who writes about emotional and physical issues faced by children and adults. He helps his readers overcome personal injuries and traumas, by encouraging them to raise their voice. He aims to reach out to individuals who are unaware of their legal rights, and make the world a better place.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a condition of anxiety caused after experiencing a frightening or traumatic event. PTSD affects a person’s mental and physical health, thereby having a significant impact on their quality of life. PTSD is commonly observed among veterans who have served in war, individuals who incurred car accident injuries, victims of domestic violence/physical assault, and people who are unable to cope with the death of a loved one. Some symptoms of PTSD are similar to that of severe depression or anxiety.
Below are ten ways to regain control of your mind and body to combat this psychological disorder:
1. Gain Emotional Support
Surrounding yourself with people who care about you is vital to recover from any ailment. Share your troubles with friends and family members who are there for you. Do not hesitate from expressing your vulnerability and insecurities. Speaking your mind and crying out your grief is essential to overcome the trauma.
2. Meditate
Meditation is a tool of spiritual healing, which also promotes mindfulness. Meditative exercises, such as yoga and deep breathing will aid in calming your nerves and senses. The mindful approach is all about focusing on the present, as the past and future is out of your control.
3. See a Therapist
Professional therapists possess the skill and knowledge to speed up your recovery through cognitive exercises. They apply a process that shall help take down your walls and penetrate the subconscious. You will face the fears at the back of your mind and eventually conquer them.
4. Give Medication a Go
Your doctor or therapist may prescribe you drugs for treating the symptoms of PTSD. Medication for PTSD may include antidepressants, sleeping pills, and beta blockers. The purpose of medication is to inhibit neurotransmitters that keep the mind racing and surge levels of unwanted hormones.
5. Abstain from Stimulants
As people suffering from PTSD are already on edge, they must avoid consumption of items that contain any sort of stimulant or mind altering substance. Caffeine may promote panic, hypertension, and intrusive thoughts. On the other and, alcohol may alleviate feelings of anxiety and encourage a person to make bad decisions.
6. Try Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy involves immersing oneself into an environment or situation that allows us to face a particular fear or relive a traumatic incident. This method may feel overwhelming at first, though it is quite effective for attaining closure. The therapist may use virtual stimulation or similar techniques for treatment.
7. Keep a Journal
Writing about the traumatic event, acknowledging day to day challenges, and recording your progress is a nice way to make peace with reality. This helps you understand what you are going through, build self-esteem, and ultimately move on. The journal allows you to track your recovery, which is enlightening satisfying to say the least.
8. Rest and Relax
Resting and relaxing is easier said than done for a patient of PTSD. Nonetheless, you must try to calm yourself by indulging in hobbies and pastimes that keep your mind occupied. Avoid activities that may trigger an adrenaline rush or evoke disturbing thoughts.
9. Serve the Community
Giving back to the community and helping others boosts self-confidence, which is a quality useful for combating anxiety disorders. Feeling good about yourself is imperative to forgetting about worries and concerns. Helping others through community service shall inspire you to resolve and overcome your personal conflicts.
10. Exert yourself
PTSD may fill you up with mountains of negative energy that you need to get out of your system. You can accomplish this by exhausting yourself physically. Hiking, jogging, gym workouts, cycling, sports, and any other form of physical exertion are great for the mind and body.
Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).