PTSD TREATMENTS

What is PTSD? 
The American Psychological Association defines PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) as, " a disorder that may result when an individual lives through or witnesses an event in which he or she believes that there is a threat to life or physical integrity and safety and experiences fear, terror, or helplessness. The symptoms are characterized by (a) re-experiencing the trauma in painful recollections, flashbacks, or recurrent dreams or nightmares; (b) avoidance of activities or places that recall the traumatic event, as well as diminished responsiveness (emotional anesthesia or numbing), with disinterest in significant activities and with feelings of detachment and estrangement from others; and (c) chronic physiological arousal, leading to such symptoms as an exaggerated startle response, disturbed sleep, difficulty in concentrating or remembering, and guilt about surviving the trauma when others did not. "



What are the Treatment Options for PTSD?
- Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
- EMDR Therapy
- Brainspotting
- Tapping
- Somatic Therapy
- Medications
- Ketamine Therapy


Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
The American Psychological Association defines Psychotherapy as, " any psychological service provided by a trained professional that primarily uses forms of communication and interaction to assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional reactions, ways of thinking, and behavior patterns." This can include Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, etc. 


EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) Therapy
The American Psychological Association defines EMDR Therapy as, "a treatment methodology used to reduce the emotional impact of trauma-based symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive thought processes. The therapy incorporates simultaneous visualization of the traumatic event while concentrating on the rapid lateral movements of a therapist’s finger."



Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, enhanced with Biolateral sound, which is deep, direct, and powerful yet focused and containing.

How does Brainspotting work?
Brainspotting works with the deep brain and the body through its direct access to the autonomic and limbic systems within the body’s central nervous system. Brainspotting is accordingly a physiological tool/treatment which has profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences.



Tapping

What is Tapping?
The practice consists of tapping with your fingertips on specific meridian points while talking through traumatic memories and a wide range of emotions. Meridian points are certain points that can be mapped throughout the body. 

How does Tapping work?
The basic technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand: a fear or anxiety, a bad memory, an unresolved problem, or anything that’s bothering you. While maintaining your mental focus on this issue, use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times each on 9 of the body’s meridian points. Tapping on these meridian points – while concentrating on accepting and resolving the negative emotion – will access your body’s energy, restoring it to a balanced state.



Somatic Therapy
The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines as, " the treatment of mental disorders by physical methods that directly influence the body, such as the administration of drugs (pharmacotherapy) or the application of a controlled, low-dose electric current." Somatic Therapy, unlike standard therapy, incorporates body-oriented techniques such as breathwork, meditation, visualization, massage, grounding, dance, and sensation awareness work. 

How does Somatic Therapy work? 
Somatic therapy involves being aware in the present moment  and exploring bodily tension, gestures, and body sensations through a combination of awareness dialogue, movement, and/or touch. Through connecting and listening to the messages that are carried in the body, clients are guided to choices that support their moving with more ease and freedom in their lives. which leads to them becoming the fullest version of themselves.



Medications
The National Center for PTSD states there are four medications that are currently recommended to treat PTSD Symptoms. These medications are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) which are types of antidepressant medications. While there are other types of medications that may be prescribed, these four medications are known to be the most effective for those suffering from PTSD. 

The 4 SSRIs/SNRIs that are currently recommended for PTSD are:

1. Sertraline, also known as Zoloft. 
2. Paroxetine, also known as Paxil.
3. Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.
4. Venlafaxine, also known as Effexor.