Traumatic experiences from our life can be damaging mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Events that are considered traumatic come in many different forms. The range of trauma is wide and highly personal. This means that the healing process will be unique from person to person. Treatments and therapies for those who are suffering from PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, vary depending on the type of trauma, the effects it had on the person, and especially the individual themselves. A type of treatment that is effective for one person may not be as helpful for someone else. Even though working through our trauma might be a work in progress and take time and patience, it is possible to heal. Numerous types of therapy and other treatments are available and being used to provide a wide variety of ways to recover from PTSD.
One-On-One and Group Therapy
One of the most beneficial ways to start healing from trauma is to attend therapy with a professional who specializes in PTSD. Speaking with your therapist can be the first step in your recovery. Together, you can address the trauma in a safe space and create a plan of action that is comfortable and appropriate for your needs. There are many different styles of therapy that your therapist can employ to help you find ways to manage trauma symptoms and to learn coping skills.
Cognitive processing therapy is a process that focuses on the events in your life that hold trauma for you and the thoughts related to those events that prevent you from moving forward. This style of therapy is geared towards strengthening your coping skills and working through painful emotions as well. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a slightly different method that focuses more on the negative patterns in your life that stem trauma. Many of us who suffer from PTSD feel that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are out of control, and cognitive behavioral therapy aims to connect these elements to help you understand them and regain control. DBT, or dialectical behavioral therapy, is another valuable model of therapy. The center focus of DBT is to teach skills that can enhance all areas of your life, including emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and even interpersonal relationships.
In sessions with your therapist, you can discover the type of therapy that would best suit your experiences and needs. Individual therapy is beneficial for personalized work with your therapist, and group therapy can be helpful in seeing how others work through trauma and encourage one another. Many people find the most relief by attending both one-on-one and group therapy.
Alternative Therapies
In addition to the more standard models of therapies that treat PTSD, there is an array of others that can also be useful in processing trauma and healing from it. Among these are therapies that tune into our creative sides, our bodies, and our spirituality. For example, art therapy and music therapy can help us find creative ways to address and deal with trauma. In these models, you can explore your self-awareness, positive and negative emotions, anxiety and depression, and how you perceive yourself and others. Adding a physical element to your healing can also be significant. Massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, and reflexology are all wonderful types of complementary or alternative therapies that can help you find peace and tranquility within yourself.
For a more spiritual approach, energy healing, reiki, and even meditation are designed to help you balance the mind, body, and spirit. There are so many different healing methods to explore, and more being discovered and implemented continually. Finding a complementary or alternative therapy style might help you feel greater comfort in processing and treating PTSD, and can be even more advantageous when added in conjunction with individual therapy.
EMDR
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an incredible method for processing trauma. It’s a style of therapy that has proven to be especially helpful to those who suffer from PTSD. It’s interactive and is most progressive through multiple sessions. The process includes revisiting traumatic events and experiences in small doses, in order to adjust the effect that they have on your emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. A therapist will divert your attention by diverting eye movement, implementing sounds, and other distractions. In this way, you are safely revisiting the events and able to discuss and process them. Although exposure to these memories can be scary and stressful, EMDR allows you to work through them without an intense or damaging psychological response. There are 8 phases involved in EMDR and they work up slowly to create a safe space for you to successfully treat your PTSD symptoms in both a direct and indirect way. While EMDR is used to treat all types of mental health disorders, psychologists find that those with PTSD benefit from this technique the most.
It is so important to remember that while healing from trauma can be a difficult and long process, recovery is possible. You are deserving of a life that isn’t inhibited by distress and trauma, and there are so many available methods of healing. Finding the therapies that work for you can change your life for the better, and help you find relief and peace. Remember that your healing is specific to you. What works for someone might not be the right choice for you. The best first step is to meet with a medical professional and discuss what will be the most effective methods for you. Be patient, and don’t give up. You are worth it.
The Guest House Ocala is a treatment center for mental health, addiction and self-defeating behaviors that manifest due to trauma. Our range of proven therapies and renowned team of experts make us uniquely qualified to help our guests heal with highly individualized care that goes above and beyond.
Call 855-483-7800 today for more information on our treatment programs.