PTSD: Treatment Options

Treatment for PTSD can help you feel better.

It can help your symptoms improve or go away over time ... so you can feel more in control of your life and more like yourself.

There are two main types of treatment: therapy, or counseling ... and medicines.

You can work with your doctor to find the treatment that helps you the most.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps you learn to replace negative or upsetting thoughts ... about yourself or your past ... with more accurate, positive thoughts.

Cognitive processing therapy and exposure therapy are two types of CBT.

In cognitive processing therapy, you examine your thoughts about yourself and the world ... and with help, you learn to judge whether they're accurate ... and find ways to have more helpful thoughts.

Exposure therapy helps you reduce your symptoms by talking about memories of the trauma in a safe setting, with a counselor's guidance.

And then, when you're ready, you practice being in situations you've been avoiding.

You learn to cope with feelings that come up, until you start to feel safe again.

[Angie] "We took each session slowly and I got to set the pace ... sitting in the car with my keys one day, then starting the engine ... eventually taking short drives when I felt ready."

EMDR is another type of therapy where you focus on sounds or hand movements while talking about the memory.

Some people also join a support group while they're in treatment.

You can talk about difficult memories with people who've had similar experiences.

[Justin] "The group thing was tough at first.

You're thinking, 'No way am I telling these people my story.' But you start to realize, 'It's not just me ... I'm not alone in this.' That was huge for me."

Some people just do therapy, others try medicines, and some do both.

Medicines for PTSD include antidepressants and medicine that may help with nightmares.

If you use medicine and do therapy for PTSD, you may be able to work with your doctor to stop taking the medicine as you recover.

PTSD treatment may last several weeks, months, or longer, depending on how you're doing.

[Meredith] "It was scary at first. But talking with my counselor ... facing the memories ... actually helped me the most."

Talk to your doctor or a counselor about getting help.

If you're a veteran, you can get help through a veteran's hospital or outpatient center.

With treatment, you can feel better and start to get your life back.

Just talking to someone and knowing your options is an important first step.