Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, better known as PTSD, is an all-too-common anxiety disorder of the mind. PTSD typically happens to someone after they are involved in a traumatic event or experience. It is very common among military veterans, victims of abuse, and car accident victims. However, PTSD can also occur after a traumatic illness or event, such as cancer or a frightening incident.
PTSD will manifest differently in everyone, and symptoms will vary from person to person. In most cases, however, people with PTSD struggle with insomnia, chronic anxiety, irritability, irrational fear, and more. Because of how debilitating and frightening PTSD can be, it is important to seek treatment for your condition.
Because it is a mental health disorder, medication is often the preferred treatment for PTSD. Surgery and procedures typically will not be effective since PTSD is not a physical illness or condition.
There are several different types and classes of medications used to treat PTSD, including the following.
SSRIs, such as fluoxetine and sertraline, are serotonin reuptake inhibitors, better known as SSRIs. These antidepressant drugs increase serotonin levels in the brain, which helps you feel calm. SSRIs can also keep your mind off of whatever memories trigger your PTSD.
SNRIs, such as duloxetine and milnacipran, are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, better known as SNRIs. These antidepressant drugs increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which help you feel calm and can block PTSD-triggering memories.
While SSRIs and SNRIs are the primary medications used to treat PTSD, tricyclic antidepressants are also an option. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) work very similarly to SNRIs and SSRIs in that they increase serotonin levels in the brain. Currently, imipramine is the only TCA used to treat PTSD.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MOIs) work by preventing certain chemicals in the brain from getting eliminated. These chemicals, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, induce feelings of calmness and can block PTSD-triggering memories. Currently, phenelzine is the primary MOA used to treat PTSD.
The reason that medications are so popular for treating PTSD is that they do not have many side effects. However, that does not mean you will not experience any, and here is what you can expect.
Medications for PTSD are often accompanied by various forms of therapy. The goal of therapy is to teach you how to cope with your PTSD so that you do not have to take medications for the rest of your life. Here are some common forms of therapy for PTSD.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is typically administered by a psychologist. This type of therapy is designed to help you work through the thoughts and memories that trigger your PTSD. The goal is to help you control these thoughts and how they make you feel so that you can work through them without experiencing a PTSD event.
Exposure therapy is when you literally face your fears that are causing PTSD. However, you will face your fears in a safe space and environment with the hope that you will eventually realize that there is nothing to worry about.
EMDR is one of the newer and more interesting treatments for PTSD. EDMR combines guided eye movements with exposure therapy to help you work through painful or frightening memories.
PTSD is a traumatic and often misunderstood mental illness. People who do not have it have trouble understanding how debilitating and frightening it can be. By receiving a professional diagnosis and getting the right medications and therapy, you can overcome your PTSD and start living a fear-free life. In addition to medications and therapy, you will also benefit from having a social support structure formed by people who love you.