Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most difficult mental illnesses to treat. People often have difficulty grasping the fact that they have PTSD since it is frequently associated with the aftereffects of war. In reality, it can result from any traumatic event, such as an abusive relationship, a car accident, the death of a loved one, etc.
PTSD is characterized by a number of symptoms, such as insomnia, memory loss, unpleasant feelings, and flashbacks. These symptoms adversely affect a person’s daily life and can be fatal if left untreated in the long run.
What Causes PTSD?
Traumatic events trigger the fight-or-flight response. It is a psychological reaction to danger in which your nervous system goes into overdrive to save you. However, when stress is high, the sense of fear, disconnection, and anxiety may persist long after the traumatic event is over.
As a result, your mental state is stuck in a fight-or-flight mode, and it cannot naturally free itself. Therefore, an individual must seek treatment at this point to eliminate the pattern of abnormal reactions to everyday situations.
Seeking Treatment for PTSD
Often long-term mental health issues can lead to suicidal thoughts and loss of life. However, despite their complexity, mental illnesses can be treated. People have discovered several ways to achieve a healthier lifestyle with treatment methods that vary in intensity depending on the severity of the condition.
Several have responded positively to cognitive therapy, while others have found the best treatment for them to be EMDR. Patients with severe mental trauma have also shown positive results to ketamine therapy, which is a newly introduced tool to treat profound psychological behavior.
Ketamine is an approved anesthetic that works best when assisted with psychedelic therapy. If you wish to improve your quality of life via ketamine, visit the Ketamine clinic in Chicago’s North Shore, which offers qualified and affordable services. The physicians here provide the best treatment plan tailored to each individual’s needs.
Regardless of which treatment option you choose, the goal of PTSD treatment is to improve self-esteem and teach you how to recognize symptoms and cope with them.
Steps You Can Take Right Now
Consult a mental health professional to determine the most effective treatment for you. Nevertheless, some general tips can help reduce symptoms.
1. Take Up Positive Challenges
PTSD manifests itself as a sense of helplessness and powerlessness. You can take part in activities that help you feel empowered. Volunteer work, donating blood, and supporting charities are all good deeds that serve as a reminder of your strength. Helping others can reduce the feeling of powerlessness, boost confidence, increase resilience to stress, and provide you with a sense of accomplishment.
2. Avoid self – medicating
People try to combat their anxiety through substances like alcohol or drugs. Even though these substitutes provide short-term relief, they can lead to serious issues down the line. In the end, patients worsen their symptoms, create financial hardship, and strain their relationships with family and friends.
3. Ground Yourself Through Exercise
Rhythmic exercises are one of the best ways to combat the disconnection caused by this mental illness. Activities such as yoga, running, swimming and dancing are recommended as they entail full-body motions and engage the limbs fully.
Focusing on sensations of the body can distract one from intrusive thoughts. People often find it easier to channel their stress into activities with controlled risks, such as boxing or martial arts. It is a safe way to express anger and fear without endangering themselves or others.
4. Join a Support Group
Part of overcoming trauma is removing the stigma attached to it. It’s crucial to be able to connect with others and express thoughts when battling a mental illness. The loneliness that comes from one’s symptoms being misunderstood can worsen the ailment.
People in support groups can assist each other in overcoming pain with shared experiences. These group meetings are also a great way to learn from others who have gone further in their recovery.
5. Shift to a Healthier Lifestyle
Involving our bodies in meaningful ways can have a profound effect on our minds. We can reduce the adverse effects of PTSD in our bodies by making simple lifestyle changes. Eating healthier foods, getting enough sleep, engaging in relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, and spending time in nature are all healthy activities.
Final Thoughts
Despite being taken lightly, PTSD is a severe disease. Research has been conducted extensively on the subject, and new treatment options are explored regularly. In conjunction with professional help and personal changes, one can overcome the stress disorder and return to a higher quality of life.
It may take some time to find the exact treatment and lifestyle that work best for you. But you can succeed if you are determined to beat the mental illness.
