PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can happen to anyone. In the U.S. alone, around 8 million adults deal with its challenges every year.
Ongoing PTSD can affect job performance, relationships, confidence and overall quality of life. Fortunately, the condition is treatable. Not only that, but professional therapy is more accessible than ever. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, immediate help is available on the internet.
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Trauma therapy for adults with PTSD: What is BetterHelp, and how does it work?
BetterHelp is a valuable online therapy service for adults with PTSD, and online therapy is a godsend. You don’t have to miss work, drive long distances, or even leave the comfort of your home to get high-quality treatment.
BetterHelp is much more than a directory to professional help for trauma. It’s also a platform for connecting with caregivers and choosing the therapy that’s right for you. It’s a safe place to meet with your therapist by phone, video session or live chat. Best of all, it’s accessible at any time, from anywhere and using any device.
Since no two people are alike, therapy is never one-size-fits-all. BetterHelp is designed to provide highly personalized care to unique individuals.
If memories of a traumatic event are holding you back, go to BetterHelp. Sign up for the platform. With first-rate, affordable therapy at your fingertips, you can reclaim your life.
How can I be sure that online PTSD therapy near me is the best solution?
People with all sorts of problems from all walks of life can benefit from online therapy. Unless you lack internet access, you’re an ideal candidate. Even better, the digital option has several advantages that in-person therapy doesn’t offer:
• It’s a great solution for people in small communities or rural areas that don’t have mental health practices. They are far more likely to keep online appointments than drive great distances to in-person therapy.
• People who are disabled, housebound or feeling under the weather can attend sessions without logistical challenges or inconvenience.
• Clients have the freedom to choose meeting times that are convenient for them.
• Online treatment is often just as affordable — or even more so — than traditional therapy. Many insurance companies cover costs just as they do with in-person services. Also, online therapists have fewer overhead costs. They might pass some of the savings to clients.
Finally, since internet therapy is used more and more widely nowadays, it is helping to erase the stigma associated with mental health treatment. That’s good for everyone, and the effort is worth participating in.
What is it like to have PTSD? What are common symptoms?
A traumatic event can be terrifying, shocking, dangerous, heartbreaking or profoundly disappointing. It can be anything from finding the body of a deceased loved one to being a victim of violence. It could be surviving a tornado or witnessing the horrors of 9/11.
The events themselves are not necessarily the problem. The problem is how events are processed. People are traumatized every day, and it’s perfectly natural for them to feel afraid or angry afterward. Most people experience short-term symptoms that fade as they cope with their feelings about what happened. In time, they move on.
Some folks, however, are more affected by traumatizing events. They continue to feel afraid or anxious long after the danger has passed. Their memories of events are unusually strong. Chronic PTSD feels a little like reliving the events over and over again.
If you have all the following symptoms for at least a month, you might be diagnosed with PTSD:
• Re-experiencing symptoms
These include bad dreams, flashbacks or vivid memories, and they sometimes cause physical symptoms like increased heart rate.
• Avoidance symptoms
Some people steer clear of places, activities or objects that remind them of the traumatic event. For example, someone who experienced a horrific car accident might refuse to drive.
• Arousal and reactivity symptoms
These don’t have to be triggered by flashbacks or bad memories; they just become the norm for people with PTSD. They might include being jumpy and easily startled, having insomnia, having trouble concentrating, feeling angry, or having emotional outbursts.
• Cognition and mood symptoms
Some people can’t remember key pieces of the event that started all the trouble. Others feel unreasonably guilty. They start to see the world or other people in a negative light. Many lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy and gradually withdraw from society.
Mind you, all these feelings and reactions are to be expected for a few days or weeks after a troubling event. If they don’t interfere with daily functioning and improve over time, there’s probably nothing to worry about.
Be on the lookout for symptoms that appear months down the road. Each case has its own timing. Also, unfortunately, it’s not unusual for depression, anxiety or substance abuse to accompany PTSD.
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What treatment approaches do PTSD specialists use?
It’s important to remember that what works for one client might not work for another. Specialists have an arsenal of weapons to choose from, and your treatment plan can be tweaked at any time depending on your progress.
That said, talk therapy for PTSD is the most proven and widely used treatment method.
Talk therapy is also known as psychotherapy. One version is CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy. In its guidelines for treating PTSD, the American Psychological Association strongly recommends CBT along with specialized variations of it that address specific issues. CBT is effective in the treatment of a wide range of mental disorders.
For clients who also have one or more separate issues, like depression or eating disorder, a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all problems is most successful.
What is CBT? Is it offered online for adults dealing with PTSD?
Yes, any therapist you’re matched with on BetterHelp will be well versed in CBT. It is a staple of professional mental health care for all kinds of problems. It may be enhanced with other approaches, like family counseling, peer group meetings, relaxation techniques or even nutritional advice, but it is usually the centerpiece of a well-rounded treatment plan.
In this case, CBT addresses trauma-related thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It helps patients identify their symptoms and challenges. It helps them see that their recollections and thoughts about what happened might not be altogether accurate.
With PTSD, “wrong” thoughts and behavior patterns can interfere with daily functioning, relationships and a healthy outlook on life. CBT pinpoints triggers to unhealthy behaviors and teaches better coping strategies.
For example, PTSD causes some people to take things out of context or obsess over irrelevant details. Unreasonable blame or guilt is often an issue: “I should have done more to rescue my co-workers from the burning building.” “I shouldn’t have let my son take driver’s education and get a license.” “My friend died because I didn’t see that explosive device.”
Qualified therapists walk clients through each negative thought and feeling. Using CBT, they teach people to look for pitfalls, accurately assess thoughts and feelings, and respond to negative emotions in healthy ways.
Over time, realistic thinking and positive behavior become second nature. Clients don’t just put traumatic events behind them; they learn from the events. They feel more confident about confronting danger and responding appropriately going forward.
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Is online trauma therapy as effective as seeing a therapist in person? Can a PTSD professional near me really help?
For mental issues in general, a number of studies have shown that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face sessions. What’s more, a 2007 study published by the National Institutes of Health endorsed internet-based treatment specifically for PTSD.
Science continues to back digital alternatives to conventional treatment. You’re just as likely to find an excellent therapist online as you are through other avenues.
Just like professionals who see clients in person, online therapists must meet strict requirements. Their education, credentials and experience are just as impressive.
What’s the best way to find an online PTSD therapist near me?
The easiest way to find the best match in a PTSD therapist is to complete the questionnaire on BetterHelp. More than 20,000 licensed, experienced caregivers participate on the platform, which has been a valuable resource since 2013. It is user friendly and affordable. BetterHelp’s 1.8 million clients can’t be wrong. It wouldn’t be the largest therapy platform in the world if people just like you didn’t get better.
If your physical health were keeping you from achieving your goals and dreams, you’d see a doctor. It’s the same with PTSD. Psychological care builds emotional strength and boosts mental health. The sooner you explore your options on BetterHelp, the faster you’ll be on your way to a happy, fulfilling future.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp stats
https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/does-online-therapy-work-heres-what-science-says.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1885249/
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/resources/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-example
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