Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can leave deep, lasting scars, leading to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition can disrupt every aspect of life, often triggering a physical, mental, or emotional response in stressful or frightening situations. Those who have PTSD often experience feelings of anxiety, fear, or anger, which manifest themselves into difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, feelings of depression, or violent mood swings.
If you’re in the throes of PTSD, you may feel trapped and, no matter how much time has passed, trauma responses may continue or worsen for years to come. You may wish to consider an inpatient treatment program that focuses on healing with a variety of resources, including around-the-clock support from mental health professionals, so that you can develop coping skills that can lead to a stress-free life.
Tailored Therapies for PTSD
There are various forms of therapy tailored specifically for PTSD, each designed to meet the needs of the patient and ensure long-lasting recovery. Trauma-focused therapies that emphasize the traumatic event and its significance can be extremely productive in identifying occurrences that shape behavior. The goal is to provide a foundation for those suffering from PTSD to confront, heal, and move forward.
In most PTSD programs, counseling with professional therapists provides a safe and private environment for individuals to explore and cope with feelings of guilt or shame related to their trauma. In addition to individual counseling sessions, patients can also participate in group therapy with others who have experienced similar traumatic events, which can inspire trust, honesty, and empathy. Here, patients can discuss their individual experiences together and build each other up, often encouraging one another to discover their true selves beyond their trauma.
Holistic Approaches to PTSD Treatment
A holistic recovery center provides a variety of holistic approaches and therapies in addition to traditional forms of therapy and medication, which can prove successful in helping PTSD patients overcome their fears and anxieties. Some of these include art therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, equine therapy, and music therapy, to name a few.
Art therapy is used as a tool by those being treated for PTSD to visualize their past in a physical form, which can open up a conversation for the patient and therapist, and ultimately lead to the path for recovery.
EMDR therapy consists of directing the patient to move their eyes in specific ways while processing traumatic events. A therapist might use sound on the patient’s left and right sides, lights, or hand movements to signal eye movement in the individual while they recall the traumatic event. Through EMDR sessions, the patient and therapist work together to process the patient’s trauma and train the brain to reprocess difficult emotions in a safer and healthier way.
Those being treated for PTSD who participate in equine therapy can build the skills necessary for rebuilding and/or mending personal relationships in a judgment-free zone. The patient will work to build trust with “their” horse, which includes feeding, maintenance, and regular exercise. This provides a structure for the patient to continue to build trust and empathy with those surrounding them.
Music therapy is employed as a supplemental form of holistic therapy as it treats patients with PTSD to “bypass” the conscious mind and access the subconscious through music. Forms of music therapy can invoke positive responses and changes in the emotions of the patient while also providing an outlet that can help with negative feelings, such as depression, fear, and anxiety.
Your journey toward hope and healing beyond PTSD begins at Beachside Rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida. We offer a variety of holistic inpatient and outpatient mental health programs. Please call 866-349-1770 to speak with one of our trained admissions counselors.
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