Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects over 13 million people worldwide. It is a mental health condition that is often experienced alongside major depressive disorder.

Unfortunately, there are many things that can lead to trauma. According to the WHO, some of the most common trauma types are caused by rape, sexual assault, and the unexpected death of a loved one.

Many of the situations that result in PTSD are out of our control. They are scenarios that come out of the blue but leave a lasting effect on physical and/or mental health.

Common Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

If you suspect that you are suffering from PTSD, there are a variety of different therapies and treatments available to help you cope with your trauma.

But how do you know that you are experiencing PTSD? Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms that indicate you might be dealing with past emotional trauma.

• Vivid flashbacks of the traumatic event
• Frequent nightmares and sleeping troubles
• Intrusive thoughts
• Distress when exposed to one or more triggers
• Panic attacks, resulting in excessive sweating, nausea, and trembling
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability and drastic mood changes
• Getting startled very easily
• Being overly cautious about harmless things
• Difficulty trusting others
• Feeling emotionally numb or ‘empty’
• Social anxiety
• Depression

How to Cope With PTSD

When you are experiencing some or all of the above symptoms, life can feel extremely difficult. Each day can feel tedious and overwhelming.

However, there are lots of things that you can do to cope with your emotional trauma. Although it may take several years to accept your past and make positive changes in your life, it’s definitely possible to overcome your PTSD. A happy and healthy life is within your reach but you need to put in the hard work and patience in order to achieve it.

Here are some of the best medications and psychotherapies you can use to overcome or learn to deal with your PTSD.

Medications

• Ketamine – a fairly new form of treatment for PTSD. If you’re unsure of what to look for in a ketamine clinic, try and find a clinic that has a credible reputation and highly-qualified medical staff who can guide you through your ketamine therapy.
• Antidepressants – most common examples include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Anti-anxiety medications – commonly, beta-blockers and benzodiazepines

Psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – a type of therapy that looks at the links between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
• Exposure therapy – this involves gradually exposing yourself to triggering situations or objects so that you can learn to cope with them again. This type of therapy is particularly helpful if you get a lot of flashbacks or nightmares.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – this combines exposure therapy with a range of guided eye movements. The idea is to help you process your traumatic memories and adjust the way you react to them.