Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a serious challenge that many individuals in this country face. By psychological and psychiatric standards, it is considered an “anxiety disorder.” People who suffer from PTSD have been exposed to a traumatic and terrifying event. Physical harm may have occurred, been threatened or witnessed. Events such as accidents; personal assaults; military combat and duty; natural disasters or a national attack can trigger PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD include anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, sleeping problems and difficulty being around or close to other people.
Instructions
See a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist to Confirm a Diagnosis
1. Select a psychologist or therapist, preferably one who specializes in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is customary for either a psychiatrist or a psychologist to officially diagnose a patient with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can use the Internet to search for psychiatrists and psychotherapists. Some websites also indicate what particular specialty a health care provider possesses. If you do not have insurance, you may also want to search for a provider who works with individuals on a sliding scale.
2. Call Your Insurance Company to Verify Your Mental Health Benefits. Many health insurance companies offer excellent coverage; others do not. Some companies limit your number of visits with a mental health care practitioner; others cap your benefits at a certain dollar amount. Call ahead of time to verify your coverage so that you know what to expect. If you do not have insurance, you have likely already selected a practitioner or group of practitioners who will work with you on a sliding scale basis.
3. Agree on a regular schedule of appointments with both your psychologist and psychiatrist. If you are seeing a psychiatrist as part of your treatment and recovery, he or she will probably want to see you on a regular basis to regulate your medication. A psychologist or therapist will also want to have consistent visits with you to delve into your PTSD symptoms, the traumatic experience(s) which prompted it as well as alleviation methods.
Follow the Treatment Plan of Your Health Care Providers
4. Attend all of your regularly scheduled appointments with your psychiatrist or primary health care physician, if you have one or both involved. You may need medical care, checkups and prescriptions to treat your particular case of PTSD. Even if you have flashbacks and nightmares the day before your appointment and do not feel like going to a health care practitioner's office as scheduled, go anyways. Do not let PTSD itself interfere with your recovery.
5. Take any medication that you have been prescribed as part of your treatment for PTSD, after you have researched it, jointly determined with your doctor that you accept the potential side effects and decided that these effects will outweigh the benefits. If you have issues or challenges with your medication after you start to take it, talk to your health care provider.
6. Attend all of your regularly scheduled appointments with your psychologist or therapist. Again, there will be times that you do not feel you need or want to go to your appointment. You may also be afraid to go to the office of your psychologist. Many people who suffer from PTSD live in constant fear of attack. Take it from someone who sought treatment and went through recovery for PTSD: You must have faith that your psychologist or therapist is there to help you, will not attack you and that you must go to your appointments, so that he or she can help you.
Enlist the Help of Your Family, Friends, and Support Groups
7. Inform your Family about your PTSD challenges. Discuss your treatment plan with them, if you feel comfortable doing so and if you have a good relationship with your family. If your family caused the traumatic event(s) which triggered your PTSD, do not enlist their help. You may want to consider terminating communication with them. Your psychologist or therapist can help you decide that. Otherwise, if you have good familial relationships, ask for help and support.
8. to your close friends about your PTSD experiences and treatment. Discuss your treatment plan with them, if you so desire. Again, people want to help; they often just do not know how. If people ask what they can do for you; try to think of a few errands they could run for you or an appointment or two to which they could accompany you.
9. Consider whether or not you would like to search for and join a PTSD recovery group. You can use the phone book or Internet to search for groups in your local community. If it feels to stressful to go out and meet new people and participate in a support group, do not do so unless one of your health care providers insists that it would benefit you. Be aware that support groups do exist, though, and use them if you deem it helpful.
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