Coping With Chronic PTSD Symptoms: Therapy And Strategies For Recovery
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause distressing symptoms and challenges to arise after a traumatic event or multiple traumatic experiences. In some cases, symptoms may persist for significant periods. Understanding chronic PTSD can be a step toward finding treatment and support for recovery.
What is chronic PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that may develop after a person has experienced a traumatic event. Traumatic events and risk factors can be varied and may include witnessing violence, natural disasters, war, car accidents, childhood abuse, and other events. Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder may experience symptoms like intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, changes in reaction to events, and negative changes in thinking and mood.
In some cases, individuals with PTSD may experience extended or chronic PTSD symptoms, which may continue, even with treatment, for a longer time. Chronic PTSD is not the same as complex PTSD; complex PTSD involves trauma over an extended period, while chronic PTSD causes symptoms to extend for longer than expected. Treatment can be effective at managing and treating PTSD symptoms and may improve patient outcomes over time. Managing symptoms may begin by seeing a doctor or mental health professional who can provide you with a treatment plan and coping strategies.
Understanding chronic PTSD symptoms
Although different people may develop PTSD symptoms in different ways, symptoms of PTSD may include those from the following categories.
Avoidance symptoms
Individuals with PTSD may experience traumatic event avoidance symptoms in which they attempt to avoid certain areas, people, items, or situations associated with a traumatic memory. For example, a person who has PTSD due to a car crash may avoid getting into a car to avoid anxiety and stress.
Cognitive and mood symptoms
PTSD may cause a person to experience difficulty in feeling positive emotions. They may have ongoing negative emotions outside of their typical range of feelings, such as guilt or shame, as well as negative thoughts about the world as a whole. A person with PTSD may also experience difficulty remembering key facts related to their trauma.
Intrusive thoughts
A person with PTSD may experience unwanted, distressing thoughts, memories, or images that repeatedly enter the mind. These thoughts can be vivid and contain scary imagery, often causing distress and anxiety.
Re-experiencing
Re-experiencing is a specific type of intrusive thought in which a person mentally experiences the trauma that occurred repeatedly. Re-experiencing symptoms can make it challenging to move on and may increase overall anxiety.
Hyperarousal
Individuals with chronic PTSD may experience agitation, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and an exaggerated startle response. For people with PTSD, hyperarousal may stem from believing one is at risk of experiencing trauma again, which impacts how they interact with the world.
What is the difference between PTSD and chronic PTSD?
While the symptoms of chronic PTSD are the same as traditional or acute PTSD, a key difference lies in the duration and persistence of symptoms. Chronic PTSD symptoms can last for years or even a lifetime if left untreated, whereas acute PTSD symptoms may lessen or resolve within a few months for some individuals.
Chronic PTSD symptoms may impact a person’s interpersonal relationships at home, school, or work. Symptoms like emotional numbing, irritability, and difficulty trusting others can strain relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. Some individuals with chronic PTSD may withdraw from social interactions and isolate themselves, potentially leading to loneliness and further impacting relationships.
The long-term nature of certain symptoms can impact physical health. For some with chronic PTSD, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, and PTSD may be associated with an increased risk of chronic health concerns like cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues, and autoimmune disorders. PTSD may also be associated with the risk of substance use disorders, which can have a negative impact on various physical health-related conditions.
Developing coping strategies
Although chronic PTSD may negatively impact a person’s life, there are coping strategies and support available that can reduce or eliminate symptoms over time. For individuals with PTSD, it may be helpful to develop a strong support network that can include friends and family.
This support network can be a group of people that a person with PTSD can lean on or discuss symptoms with. They may be able to spot changes over time that someone living with traumatic memories struggles to notice. PTSD-specific support groups may also be available, which can allow individuals with PTSD to discuss strategies and feelings in a safe space.
Managing chronic PTSD symptoms
In addition to developing a strong support network, it may be beneficial to learn effective post-traumatic stress disorder management techniques, which may include the following:
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness techniques may reduce stress and the impact of PTSD symptoms.
Healthy lifestyle choices: Eating nutritious foods and getting daily exercise have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety related to PTSD.
Avoidance of triggers: Although avoidance of symptoms may not be a long-term solution, initially identifying and avoiding triggers that worsen PTSD symptoms may prevent re-traumatization. For example, an individual may avoid certain places, people, or activities that are reminders of the traumatic event.
Routine: Developing a daily routine can provide a sense of stability and predictability, which may be comforting for individuals with PTSD.
Boundaries: A person with PTSD may find benefit in saying no to activities or events that may be overwhelming. Boundaries may defend one’s mental well-being and ensure others are aware of limits.
Education: Understanding mental health may help an individual make healthy choices related to recovery. This confidence may reduce stress and help a person have a greater sense of control over the impacts of their condition.
When trying new coping strategies or techniques, note that what works for one person may not work for another. Consider trying different approaches and adjusting them based on individual symptoms. Work with a mental health professional when developing a treatment and recovery plan. A therapist or other mental health professional may have specialized training in identifying triggers.
Seeking professional help for your chronic PTSD symptoms
Chronic PTSD symptoms may be resistant to various treatment methods. Seeking professional help may allow a person with PTSD to try various treatment methods, potentially including medication or therapy options like narrative exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or brief eclectic therapy.
Effective therapy methods for PTSD treatment
While a therapist may use any of these therapy techniques, the most commonly recommended treatments are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and prolonged exposure therapy. Each of these treatments involves identifying and overcoming various triggers related to a person’s PTSD. Below is an overview of each method:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely used and often effective treatment for various mental health conditions, including PTSD. This modality helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that might contribute to their symptoms.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
CPT is a specific type of CBT that is often considered effective in treating PTSD. It focuses on helping individuals understand how traumatic events have affected their thoughts and beliefs and how these thoughts and beliefs may contribute to their symptoms of PTSD.
Prolonged exposure therapy (PET)
PET is a type of CBT that is used to treat PTSD. It is based on the principle that confronting and processing traumatic memories and situations may reduce the symptoms of PTSD.
Alternative support options
In some cases, it may be challenging to access in-person support for PTSD. Online therapy may offer clients flexibility without sacrificing the quality of treatment. Through online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp, a person with PTSD can meet with a therapist from any place with an internet connection, whether that is at home, work, or on vacation. In addition, clients can connect with as many different therapists as needed before finding a match.
Online therapy may be an effective way to treat PTSD symptoms. Studies have shown that using various internet-based therapy methods, such as CBT or CPT, to treat PTSD may improve client outcomes over time. An online therapist can discuss the same triggers and treatment options as an in-person therapist and work with their client to create an individualized treatment plan.
Takeaway
What is considered chronic PTSD?
When an individual has experienced trauma, it is normal to experience distress and heightened anxiety or fear. Some may develop a mental health condition known as acute stress disorder, which shares symptoms with PTSD, but resolves within a month. When symptoms continue for more than a month, the individual may be experiencing PTSD. A mental health professional can diagnose PTSD and offer treatment options.
What does living with complex PTSD feel like?
A person living with c-PTSD often deals with a rollercoaster of emotions, with feelings of guilt, sadness, fear, and guilt changing quickly. This can be interspersed with periods of emotional numbness as the body reacts to emotional burnout. Other symptoms may include things like disturbing thoughts and intrusive memories, and trouble sleeping. They often feel lonely, but also undeserving of love.
What does complex PTSD look like day to day?
The day to day impact of c-PTSD can create barriers between a person and those they care about. One of the core symptoms of PTSD is avoidance, and some will avoid friends, family, and situations that trigger symptoms. They may also engage in impulsive behaviors that aren’t easy for others to understand. Feeling emotionally numb is also a common symptom.
Some may struggle with self-harm and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, reach out to the suicide crisis lifeline, or seek professional treatment immediately.
What is the difference between PTSD and c-PTSD?
PTSD is caused by a singular traumatic event. While any traumatic experience can precipitate symptoms of PTSD, some common causes may include:
Natural disaster
Sexual assault
Physical assault
Serious injury or illness
Death of a loved one
Complex PTSD is caused by ongoing trauma that may have lasted months, or even years. Some traumatic situations that can lead to c-PTSD include:
Childhood trauma such as witnessing ongoing domestic violence
Physical assault or aggressive behavior from parents or other family members
Being tortured or kidnapped
Living through war and/or displacement
Those with PTSD and c-PTSD can experience similar symptoms, such as re-experiencing distressing memories, avoidance, and negative emotions. However, those with c-PTSD may also experience distorted negative feelings about themselves, persistent feelings of hopelessness about the world in general, and severe trust issues.
Can chronic PTSD be cured?
Some people with chronic PTSD may require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms. With talk therapy, such as trauma-focused CBT, many people may experience a resolution of symptoms, while others may have recurring symptoms from time to time. Those with a family history of mental disorders or co-occurring mental health problems such as severe anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, or depression, may be at higher risk for recurring issues.
What is the highest form of PTSD?
The most difficult to treat form of PTSD is complex PTSD, because it develops not from one traumatic moment, but a series of persistent and ongoing traumas.
What makes PTSD worse?
Various factors can exacerbate PTSD symptoms. Stress can worsen symptoms, as can any number of personal situational triggers. One of the biggest factors in the worsening of PTSD symptoms is not seeking and receiving treatment. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse is one of the most common side effects of untreated PTSD. Untreated PTSD leads to greater emotional and psychological problems, which in turn can exacerbate symptoms and lead to physical issues as well.
Who suffers from complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD can develop in individuals who have experience ongoing trauma, including victims of child abuse, people who have been kidnapped, individuals displaced by war, or those who experienced severe poverty.
What are some warning signs of PTSD?
Those with PTSD can experience symptoms that fall into four different categories. Intrusion or re-experiencing symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. Avoidance symptoms are when a person avoids any people, places, or situations that remind them of their trauma. Arousal symptoms include hypervigilance, irritability, and trouble sleeping. Cognition and mood symptoms may look like ongoing feelings of fear, guilt, shame, or other negative emotions, isolating from others, or having persistent negative views about yourself or the world at large.
What is the best medication for PTSD?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are four medications that are currently recommended to treat PTSD. Three of these are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine. The other is venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). A doctor will decide which one is right for the patient after completing a physical exam and a medical history. In addition, it may take some trial and error to find the best match.
- Previous Article
- Next Article