719-622-6522While there is no cure for PTSD, there are ways you can manage it and all the symptoms that come along with this mental health disorder. We review four available treatment methods here.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatizing event. Symptoms include flashbacks and nightmares, along with feelings of anxiety, anger, and guilt.
When you have PTSD, you often have recurrent thoughts about the traumatic event that triggers your body’s “fight-or-flight” response, leaving you constantly worried and on edge. According to some studies, PTSD is often treatment-resistant, meaning many people didn’t see results or any difference in symptoms after trying at least one treatment. There is no cure for PTSD, but there are several treatments that you can try until you find one that’s right for you. Ashley Johnson, DO, and our team at Colorado Recovery Solutions wants you to know what treatments are available to you and how they can help you manage the symptoms of your PTSD.
1. Medications
Typically, the first line of treatment used for PTSD is medication, which can include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. These medications can help you sleep at night, deal with night terrors, or help better control the fear or worry you have from your trauma. Dr. Johnson and her team have expertise in medication management and help you determine which medications are best for you and your specific needs, especially if you’ve already tried several.
2. Ketamine
Another viable treatment method is ketamine, which has shown promising results for those with treatment-resistant PTSD. Ketamine is a potent medication used for decades as an anesthetic. However, when prescribed and supervised by a psychiatrist, taken in conjunction with antidepressants and/or trauma-focused psychotherapy, ketamine can help relieve the symptoms of your PTSD by allowing you the opportunity to gain new perspective on your life’s traumas. Our Colorado Recovery Solutions team offers ketamine IV infusions under the supervision of our psychiatrist and treatment specialists, as an advanced way of helping you manage your PTSD long-term.
3. Spravato®
Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray that contains ketamine. Spravato is another medication often used to treat severe mental health conditions resistant to other kinds of treatment. Typically, you can see the results of the nasal spray within hours. Spravato is another treatment that can assist in recovery from PTSD. Colorado Recovery Solutions is the only psychiatrist-run Spravato Treatment Center in Colorado Springs. You do not need an outside referral to request this treatment. Simply request an appointment to get started.
4. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a treatment method that involves you talking through your fears and worries to figure out what specifically triggers them and how to work through them. Some common psychotherapy approaches include:
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): This type of talk therapy walks you through specific negative thought patterns – like worries that the event will happen again.
- Prolonged Exposure (PE) : Exposure therapy is a behavioral therapy that helps you face triggering events and work through how to cope with them.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy is exposure therapy while also going through a series of eye movements that changes how you react to triggers.
- Somatic Experiencing (SE): This therapy uses a framework known as SIBAM (Sensation, Imagery, Behavior, Affect, and Meaning) to help clients incorporate their bodies in processing trauma.
These therapy approaches work best while used in conjunction with medications and ketamine.
If you’d like more information on how to manage your PTSD with these treatment methods, contact our team at Colorado Recovery Solutions located in Colorado Springs and Monument, Colorado. Give us a call at 719-622-6522 or use our online booking tool.
