[Anxiety Princess]

I was diagnosed with PTSD about fifteen years ago, but was told that there aren't really any treatments for it. In the years since, nothing has been recommended to me, and I haven't heard of any treatments for it either, although good news is rarely promoted, I find. I also have not been able to see a doctor in a year and a half, but *hopefully* my situation will change soon. Are there any treatments for PTSD out there now, and if so, have you experienced these? Were your experiences good, bad, or no difference at all?

I apologize if I am asking for to much information, and appreciate any insight.

[88Butterfly88]

There are a lot of treatments for PTSD. I've done traditional psychotherapy that was trauma-focused and it has helped me. Art therapy has helped me, mostly to process traumatic memories. Personally I found the art therapy more helpful. Also there's something newish called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I did a few sessions of it and it seemed helpful. My therapist's contract expired so I had to stop before I got the full course of treatment. Here's article on EMDR:
EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD: Benefits, Side Effects, and More
My grandfather also had PTSD and hypnosis helped him though I've never tried it myself. Also, there are medications available to help certain symptoms of PTSD such as anxiety, depression and nightmares. Anti-anxiety medication has helped me. Antidepressants didn't agree with me but everyone is different. I've never taken anything for nightmares and now that I've been through enough other therapy I can happily say I no longer get nightmares very often. There is hope for PTSD. Progress can be slow but progress is progress.

[Kathleen83]

Anxiety Princess - lots has changed in those 15 years. I also learned there really weren't any treatments for PTSD back then. "Your brain gets rewired, and it's permanent", and about the best one could hope for was learning to deal with the symptoms. Happily, that is no longer the case. New meds are coming out, showing promise. New treatments. EMDR helped me quite a bit - until my therapist stopped that, because I apparently dissociate, and so now I have to work on that first, because it complicates the effectiveness (I think is how to describe it.) There's also a "stellar ganglion block" (I think that's what it is) injection that is showing real promise. So here's hoping your situation does change soon, and you can begin exploring what would be best for you. There have been huge advancements in the treating of PTSD - so hold onto the hope that you will be able to find something effective for you.

[oreoboreo]

Trauma informed talk therapy and EMDR have helped me. EMDR felt like it was worse before it got better, but I had to go through a lot of talk therapy to be able to do it. I'm still not 100%, but getting there.