Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 3.5% of adults in the US each year, and it is estimated that one in every 11 people will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. PTSD is characterized as a type of anxiety disorder. It typically occurs after a deeply traumatic event in an individual’s life which can also include witnessing a traumatic event, even if the individual had no direct involvement in it.
PTSD typically occurs within three months of an event, although it can sometimes take a little longer to develop. The symptoms of PTSD often include insomnia and unpleasant and even painful emotions. It can also cause individuals to constantly relive the event that took place, leading to severe anxiety and depression. For many, it may feel like a never-ending state of being.
Fortunately, it can be treated, usually by using both short- and long-term psychotherapy and medications. These types of treatments are most successful when used together, and the medical and psychiatric communities are developing new methods of treatment all the time.
Let’s take a look at the different treatment options for PTSD and what’s to come: