PTSD: Are we Curing it or Making it Worse?

Sometimes I think we are our own worst enemies. Many feel they can endure maladies because they are tough and always followed the mantra; never quit.

I’m a licensed, professional certified trauma therapist with considerable experience. I won’t go into the myriad reasons why the overloaded, understaffed VA system is mostly failing verterans. Most success stories I know of come from treatment outside that system. I work with many combat vets, first responders, and healthcare workers with PTSD. Also, I work with way too many adults who have PTSD from extensive childhood trauma. It is important to remember that PTSD isn’t a disease and it can’t be “cured” in the traditional medical disease sense. It is a condition that can respond to effective treatment given by a competent healthcare professional. Many of the distressing intrusive symptoms (e.g. nightmares, flashbacks), excessive startle response, and emotional volatility can be drastically reduced or even extinguished with treatment. The first, most important, step is to find a trained, competent therapist with whom you can connect and build a sense of trust. Help is available out there when you know what to look for. All the best to everyone.