Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an prolonged and persistent emotional response to a traumatic event. When the stress response to a traumatic event does not lessen with time, but remains as strong or increases, without the context of the event, PTSD may have developed. The experience of PTSD complicates day to day living, making it difficult to manage daily activities.
Fortunately, therapists now have several avenues of addressing PTSD symptoms. The two best known and most effective approaches to PTSD are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
A version of CBT, used primarily with military veterans, is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). CPT is an short-term, 12 week, treatment that has been very effective in disrupting the triggering cycle of anxiety and establishing healthier thoughts for more appropriate behavioral responses. In short, it can stop the debilitating panic that takes over and give you control over yourself again.
Similar to EMDR, Eye Movement Integration (EMI) is a brief therapy that is able to reduce the emotional charge of a traumatic memory using eye movement patterns. It does not eliminate the event from your memory, but reduces the emotional and therefore the physical response to a manageable level
I have been trained and practice both CPT and EMI. If you’re struggling with any trauma response that comes out of nowhere, doesn’t match the present situation and takes time and effort to get control over, please reach out for help today.