“Does CBT help with PTSD?”
I was diagnosed with PTSD. Does CBT help with PTSD?
4 Answers
Hi, Thank you for your question. PTSD can be resolved through different therapeutic approaches, including Somatic Experiencing (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Within CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) are recommended. Medications have also been found to be helpful in relieving symptoms of PTSD, particularly antidepressants with the strongest evidence supporting Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Some of the most common symptoms of trauma targeted by psychotherapy and pharmacological interventions include: reliving the traumatic experience through flashbacks, avoidance of people and places that trigger the trauma, intrusive memories or nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, numbness, loss of interest, and depression. I hope this information has been helpful! Best, Jenna Torres, PsyD LifeStance Health
Cognitive behavioral therapy is positive and effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).2 CBT helps those with PTSD by challenging the unhealthy thought processes and emotions connected to someone’s trauma. Challenging these thought processes allows the patient to acknowledge the reality of the trauma. In addition, CBT can help by increasing someone’s emotional insight through exploring responses to reminders of the trauma.
By increasing insight into the connection between someone’s responses and emotions, CBT can help people with PTSD reduce the negative impacts of their panic responses in their daily life and reduce the severity of these responses. CBT can also help to reduce avoidance behaviors. This aspect of CBT can reduce isolation and withdrawal as well as trigger responses in those with PTSD. Overall, CBT is useful to help those with PTSD to have a higher level of functioning in their daily life.I suggest you talk to your primary care doctor and seek referrals.
By increasing insight into the connection between someone’s responses and emotions, CBT can help people with PTSD reduce the negative impacts of their panic responses in their daily life and reduce the severity of these responses. CBT can also help to reduce avoidance behaviors. This aspect of CBT can reduce isolation and withdrawal as well as trigger responses in those with PTSD. Overall, CBT is useful to help those with PTSD to have a higher level of functioning in their daily life.I suggest you talk to your primary care doctor and seek referrals.
See this link...
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/cognitive-behavioral-therapy
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/cognitive-behavioral-therapy
Trauma focused CBT can be helpful if there are thought processes related to internal self abuse, unrealistic or unhealthy thinking, to enable the individual to eliminate negative thoughts about the self and/or self sabotaging behaviors.
