How do you overcome post-traumatic stress?

These are the strategies that work when it comes to combating post-traumatic stress.

Post-traumatic stress is a phenomenon that is behind some of the most damaging forms of psychopathology, and that is why psychologists emphasize the need to treat these complications as early as possible, when the symptoms associated with it begin to emerge.

Now then... how do you overcome post-traumatic stress? We will address this and other related questions throughout this article.

• Related article, "What are trauma-related disorders and stressors?"

What is post-traumatic stress?

The concept of post-traumatic stress refers to the main component of a psychopathological disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). (PTSD).

This phenomenon, which is often described in diagnostic manuals under the category "Disorders related to trauma and stress factors", encompasses a series of symptoms related to stress crises linked to psychological trauma, which can persist (appearing regularly in the person's daily life) for years or decades.

Post-traumatic stress appears as a consequence of the after-effects of a traumatic event; the latter is usually an event in which the person witnesses or suffers something extremely catastrophic or hurtful, either psychologically or physically.

For example, a car accident, a case of sexual abuse, an attack in the context of bullying, the unexpected death of a family member, or the death of a friend or relative.the unexpected death of a family member, etc. However, it should be noted that going through one of these experiences does not imply the development of post-traumatic stress; in fact, such cases are in the minority.

On the other hand, another characteristic of post-traumatic stress is that it does not necessarily arise within minutes of the traumatic experience.

Symptoms

The main symptoms that characterize post-traumatic stress are the following, although not all of them need to be present in the person.

1. Flashbacks

Flashbacks are experiences in which memories related to the traumatic event are "relived" as if they were part of the present as if they were part of the present, so that the person's consciousness is focused on that part of the memory, including also the emotional charge (aversive and stressful) of that experience in the past.

On the other hand, the person cannot prevent the appearance of these mental "flashes", nor can he or she make them stop at will. They usually last a few seconds.

2. Dissociative symptoms

Beyond flashbacks, there are other psychotic symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress. The most common of these are depersonalization and derealizationin which the person experiences his or her body or the environment he or she is in as if it were something from which he or she is emotionally disconnected: as if they were sets from a play.

3. Sleeping problems and nightmares

Sleep disturbances are also part of the common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These sleep complications can manifest themselves in the following ways problems in trying to fall asleep, nightmares, and/or difficulties in maintaining deep sleep.and/or difficulties in maintaining a deep and consistent sleep.

4. Mood disturbances

The person with post-traumatic stress goes through many situations in which his mood is altered by the influence of stress. They are easily irritable and suffer outbursts of anger..

5. Avoidance tendency

The person with post-traumatic stress spends time avoiding places and contexts where they feel they may experience a crisis.

How is post-traumatic stress treated?

As we have seen, post-traumatic stress is a psychological disorder with great potential to damage people's quality of life. Fortunately, it can be treated; in this sense, psychological and medical assistance is recommended.

Here we will focus on what can be done to overcome post-traumatic stress from the psychological side, i.e., intervention through psychotherapy..

1. Controlled exposure or systematic desensitization

These two procedures are widely used to promote the loss of sensitivity towards the mental contents whose remembrance produces stress.. During therapy sessions, psychologists create a context in which the patient learns to cope with these anxiogenic experiences and, little by little, adapts to them, instead of trying to avoid them at all costs.

2. Cognitive restructuring

By means of cognitive restructuring, psychologists help the patient to detect beliefs to which he/she has been clinging and which in reality are not only unrealistic, but also reinforce post-traumatic stress.

3. Establishment of new habits

Psychologists help the person to develop new habits that are not based on habits that are not based on avoidance and that allow him/her to return to normality as soon as possible.

Looking for treatment for PTSD?

If you think you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and are looking for professional help, contact me. In my psychology center I can offer you the necessary tools to overcome this disorder, based on more than 15 years of experience treating patients. To see more information about my services, or my contact details, please access this page.