Traumatic experiences could leave a deep and lasting mark on those who went through the ordeal, and many people will seek help with their symptoms at one stage or another during their recovery. The road to recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone, but there are specific treatment options that could help them cope with the symptoms of PTSD.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a diagnosis given to a person that went through a significant traumatic time. Usually, these patients will have symptoms related to anxiety and depression, but their responses may be more severe than those of generalized anxiety and depression.
Psychologists and psychiatrists have long been using a method known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to assist these individuals. Still, there is another more specialized option to treat the disorder: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Below are some convincing reasons for choosing this kind of therapy:
Instills A Sense Of Safety
One of the symptoms that profoundly impacts people with PTSD is that they don’t feel safe in the world around them. Due to the massive trauma they endured, it hardwires their brains and bodies for a fight-or-flight response, making them feel unsafe all the time.
Their brain could perceive a normal situation as something to be cautious of, and this misalignment of beliefs and truth causes the person to withdraw from positive experiences. With cognitive processing therapy, the person can gradually unlearn these beliefs and calm their brain-body systems to have a more enjoyable life.
The therapy provides the person a safe space to explore their feelings and process them without fear of judgment from the therapist. Taking it one crucial step at a time, the patient will start to feel safe in the world again.
Develops Trust With Others
Therapists receive training to build rapport with their patients, which could be a significant step toward their progress. Because their traumatic experiences often include being hurt by others, these patients find it very difficult to trust others.
Building trust could take years without the helpful CPT program that guides the patient to form a trusting bond with family, friends, or other loved ones.
It Is An Empowering Experience
People with PTSD often struggle to regain their power, and they may feel helpless and hopeless for no reason, or so it seems. The horrifying fact is that they were hurt so deeply by another that they feel worthless, and many don’t see the value of living anymore.
Their recovery process could be an empowering experience with the skillful techniques of cognitive processing therapy that make them see how much they still have to offer the world. The patients also learn that they can control some of their emotions’ responses, making them feel like they have restored their power.
Grows Self-Esteem
Once people feel better, they may gain more confidence to look others in the eye and be self-assertive. They realize that they still have a voice, are allowed to make their own choices, and refuse to be disrespected by others.
As the therapy progresses, so will their self-esteem, and they begin to take on challenges they would have avoided before doing CPT. When these patients realize they are making progress, they may see their accomplishment, which could be something they never thought possible.
During distressing times, they may easily see no way out and lose their self-esteem. A skilled therapist will acknowledge these feelings and help them see all the opportunities they can create for themselves.
Releases Fears Of Intimacy
Trauma is a highly complex condition to treat, and no two patients are alike. It means that the therapy should adapt to the person’s individual needs to get the best results. Luckily, CPT is not a one-size-fits-all type of therapy, and it addresses the specific intimacy issues of each patient.
With their trust issues and brains running on high alert to detect any potential threats around them, these patients will struggle with fears of having intimate or close relationships with others. They also fear their judgment and want to protect themselves from another traumatic experience.
They will overcome their fears of intimacy by attending regular therapy sessions with the therapist’s guidance. Therapists will do their best to assist their patients through all their feelings and emotions surrounding intimacy to engage in healthy relationships with others.
The Takeaway
Not all therapies will have equally good outcomes for all patients, but CPT is well worth the try for a person with PTSD. The specially designed program addresses many of the issues these patients struggle with daily. Once they complete their therapy sessions with a qualified and reputable therapist, they step back into society feeling more empowered than ever.