Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

PTSD - Dynamics & Treatments

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often looked upon as a problem that exclusively effects soldiers returning from combat zones. This is most certainly a mischaracterization of the issue, because PTSD is not at all limited to the trauma experienced in battles. Indeed, PTSD can occur due to spousal emotional abuse, due to the witnessing a horrific incident like the terrorists attacks in New York City, among many other traumatic events. But moreover, what is of concern in this research is the correct identification of PTSD (which often goes misdiagnosed) and also the treatment of PTSD.

An article in Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal (Hoffman, 2002) points out that it is "...incredibly important" for survivors of terribly traumatic experiences to begin the healing process and, in the meantime, to "ride the wave" of their symptoms (435). The article also alludes to the fact that the most commonly experienced traumas that lead to PTSD include: a) witnessing another person dying or being injured; b) being involved in an accident that is life-threatening; c) being swept up in a "natural disaster"; and d) being exposed to war / combat.

Notwithstanding the voluminous research that has hitherto been conducted on PTSD, Hoffman (438) asserts that there "...is not single definitive theory as to how trauma affects the body." That said, there are well-defined explanations for how people behave and react once they have been exposed to a PTSD situation. To wit, people who have been traumatized cannot completely return to their normal lives, because certain new events can trigger a psychological re-playing of that trauma in their minds.

PTSD - Dynamics & Treatments

In terms of how PTSD affects personal and intimate relationships, Hoffman writes (440) that the afflicted individual, "...often oscillate between rampant emotionality and numbness" and there can be a "profound disruption in trust" as well. Traumatized people may well lose their trust in God, in themselves, and in their closest family members and friends. In addition, shame is often involved because the affected individual may feel guilty that he or she survived the trauma, while others didn't. What can be done to help the person suffering from PTSD? An "overarching goal" of the professional who is assisting in the survivor's recovery, Hoffman writes (443), is to "restore a sense of power and control" to the person. Further, it is pivotal that the family members of a PTSD survivor understand the ramifications therein. Warm, supportive family relations with the survivor can help "diminish the symptoms" and by being open to honest feelings shared by the survivor - helping in problem-solving and being playful, spontaneous and cooperative - the trauma can be brought to manageable levels.

Meanwhile, writing in the journal Psychotherapy, two authors (Schwarz, et al., 1991) from Widener University suggest that there are five integrative approaches to treatment for PTSD survivors. They are: a) "ego-supportive interventions" (supporting "adaptive coping skills"), which is to keep the person "...in an optimum range, between excessive denial and excessive intrusiveness of symptoms" (366); b) "normalizing the abnormal" (let the survivor know that it is perfectly normal to react emotionally to triggers that bring the trauma to mind; there is nothing wrong with the person, and indeed, the recurring symptoms are normal and just part of the healing process); c) "decreasing avoidance" (the person should be allowed to and encouraged to be open

PTSD - Dynamics & Treatments about the trauma, not to try to tuck it away or be in denial); d) "altering the attribution of meaning" (change the mindset of the victim from "passive victim" to "active survivor"); and e) "facilitating integration of the self" (371) (this is used primarily in coordination with hypnosis and "dissociation" in a strategy for "reintegrating" parts of the personality into the "self" - the theory being that PTSD tends to split apart components of the self).

Another scholarly research article - published in the Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology (Reed, et al., 2006) weighs in on treatment strategies for spousal psychological abuse. The authors assert that presently there is a dearth of empirical evidence backing up the effectiveness for any existing treatments for the trauma a woman experiences when psychologically abused by her spouse or significant other. That said, the article suggests that "forgiveness therapy" (FT) is a "promising new area" (920) of treatment for this particular form of PTSD. The authors emphasize, however, that forgiveness therapy cannot be confused with "pardoning, forgetting...condoning or excusing" the wrongdoing that led to PTSD. The key concept in presenting FT is to have the woman examine "the injustice of the abuse," then give consideration to forgiveness as one possible option, and through compassion, make a choice to forgive or not to forgive. When a woman embraces FT, it certainly would be in sync with Christian values.