Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and PTSD
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively researched forms of treatment and has been proven effective for treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction and maladaptive behaviors. CBT aims to improve symptoms and functioning by altering patterns of thoughts, feelings and behavior; typically administered over 12-16 sessions either individually or in a group setting.
CBT involves a variety of techniques. The primary aim is to modify negative thoughts and beliefs that may be causing issues, while providing you with alternative perspectives on things. Doing this can improve how you feel about yourself as well as strengthen relationships with others.
ABC Model: The initial step is to identify any irrational beliefs and assumptions that are contributing to your condition. This usually takes place through interactive question and answer sessions with a therapist, where you’ll discuss problematic areas in your life and explore strategies for change.
Guided Discovery: Your therapist will attempt to gain an understanding of how your traumatic experiences have affected your thoughts and behaviors. They may ask questions that challenge irrational thinking and offer suggestions for creative solutions to problems.
Prolonged Exposure (PE): PE is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that involves gradually confronting trauma memories and situations associated with them. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy across many types of traumas, making it widely used for the treatment of PTSD.
This treatment utilizes behavioral therapy techniques along with imaginal exposures to help patients process their traumatic memories and events. The therapist may choose to expose the patient only certain parts of these memories and associated experiences, or the entire event altogether, depending on what the patient needs and wants.
The therapist can assist the patient in distinguishing between what happened during their trauma and the present-day situation they are dealing with, as well as teaching them ways to tolerate reminders without triggering distress. Although this can be challenging at first, it usually becomes easier with practice.
Medications: Antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines can all be used in combination with CBT. Some of these drugs are available without a prescription and may be beneficial in certain circumstances; however they may also have side effects to consider.
Cognitive restructuring: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often presents with memory fragmentation or blockout of traumatic events due to how the person processed them. Cognitive restructuring can help with this process by providing new pathways for processing memories in order to restore meaningful connections.
Association Shifts: The therapist will ask the patient to consider any associations that may be triggering their PTSD reactions, such as news events, conversations with people or physical locations. These triggers could include news items, conversations with people or physical locations.
Social cognition: CBT can also assist PTSD victims in learning how to avoid certain situations or people, as well as developing coping strategies. This will enable them to better manage their emotions and reduce the likelihood of reliving the traumatic event in the future.
