Science-Based Therapies for PTSD You Didn't Know
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition triggered by an awful or terrifying experience. It's a common condition among veterans returning from war. Studies show that more than?30% of veterans?struggle with the condition after the war.
There are many other traumatic conditions that can trigger PTSD, like an assault, natural disaster, car accident, or childbirth. PTSD expresses itself through different symptoms, varying depending on the individual. However, some common symptoms include nightmares, severe anxiety, flashbacks, and uncontrollable and obsessive thoughts.
Standard medical sciences have always stayed committed to understanding the medical condition. This includes providing ways to treat and prevent PTSD. However, it's difficult to determine people who will develop PTSD from a traumatic event. Another thing to note is that there are only two medications for PTSD that are FDA approved. These medications come with unpleasant side effects, so people seek other treatment options.
People who have had terrible experiences in the past deserve every form of assistance they can get. That's why there is much research today.?
All channeled toward finding new and effective PTSD treatments. Medical and scientific communities are working tirelessly to find new lines of therapy for PTSD, and some of the options being considered today are outlined below.
Wakeful Rest After the Event
Under normal circumstances, PTSD treatment would not treat the condition, but will stop it from developing. Different research works today suggest that the answer lies in how memory is organized in the brain. Another?study shows?that wakeful rest after a traumatic event can lower memory intrusions after a PTSD experience, and this can be a hint to how the methods used in ensuring a correct filing of the memory.
There are many things to learn about this concept, and it's something to keep your eye on. According to this study, a few minutes of rest after a negative life event is all the brain needs to process things.?
EMDR
EMDR is a new therapy rapidly gaining interest, especially for PTSD cases.
EMDR is short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It is a type of psychotherapy characterized by paying attention to a back-and-forth sound or movement while trying to remember the event.
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Researchers highlight that the small shifts while re-experiencing the memory make it easier to process. Many scientific studies further justify the effectiveness of EMDR. One?study review?highlights that seven out of 10 analyzed studies justified the effectiveness of EMDR therapy and found it more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy.
CBD
CBD is short for cannabidiol and is currently a global wellness rage. Today, thousands of CBD products are on the market, including chocolate bars, eye creams, bath bombs, and many more. The interesting thing is that research findings suggest the application of CBD for treating PTSD.
A?2019 study?on patients with psychiatric conditions shows that 4 out of 11 PTSD patients experienced improvements in their PTSD symptoms. Another study using rodents also gave similar findings, showing that CBD can enhance the removal of aversive memories.
The mechanism of action is via the?endocannabinoid system, which is a regulatory system that interacts with cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound and the main ingredient found in magic mushrooms and truffles. It acts on the brain's serotonin receptors and helps relieve the symptoms of different health conditions, including cluster headaches, addiction, OCD, and PTSD. Today in Jamaica, where it is legal, a company has developed a nasal spray that delivers accurate nasal doses of psilocybin, and this is widely applied in managing depression and PTSD.
Interestingly,?research findings?show that psilocybin can promote neuroplasticity and enhance fear extinction in animals. For emphasis, neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to undergo certain changes. Another study shows that psychedelics generally can reduce the reactivity of the amygdala, which is the part that mediates fear. In many cases, hyperactivity of the amygdala is common in patients with PTSD.
Conclusion
These are some of the most promising science-backed therapeutic options for treating PTSD that you should know. Today, about 10% of people experience PTSD during their lifetime, hence the need for more treatment options that are effective and reliable.
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