What're some of the best ways of treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? I was thinking about using virtual reality or hypno-therapy. Any help?

4/19/2006 8:48:02 PM

drinking is the most common treatment method

4/19/2006 10:58:10 PM

You might want to ask a psychiatrist

considering they're the people who address treatment daily.

4/19/2006 11:03:36 PM

Quote :

"virtual reality"

?

4/20/2006 1:37:58 PM

Shellshock

4/20/2006 3:29:36 PM

4/20/2006 3:48:58 PM

I'm not a Psych major, but my dad was in the Army for 30 years and has it (he's now 62). He tosses and turns a lot in his sleep and talks a lot. Sometimes he thinks he is in combat and fighting, othertimes we hear him having conversations with people. He gets out of bed and walks around and bumps into walls, too. He also has restless leg syndrome that makes his legs jump. His doctor gave him Ambien to knock him out everynight, and it usually does its job. He also goes to a psychiatrist to talk about his PTSD every two weeks, and I guess the verbal talking with his shrink helps. I believe he is on an anti-depressant, as well, but I don't think virtual reality has ever been used. Depending on the severity of the patient, antipsychotics are also prescribed, but my dad never freaks out randomly. Sometimes he'll get graphic with my younger brother (age 10) and talk about how he's seen young men who just turned 18 die from gun shot fire in front of him.

Anyways, if you want to know anymore, PM me. My mom works in Mental Health at the Va Hospital, where my dad also works/is a patient. Hope it never happens to anyone in your family, it's very depressing.

[Edited on April 20, 2006 at 11:47 PM. Reason : ]

4/20/2006 11:47:04 PM

Sometimes taking people back to where they experienced the trauma and seeing things in a different perspective helps, but this should be done at the advice of a trained counselor who knows the person in question. Before I went to Vietnam in 1989, the only other Americans who had gone back were vets - many suffering from PTSD. They went in groups led by people who knew their situations and they engaged in many local community projects that were meant to help them heal. They built hospitals, schools, went back and saw things were better, made them better, and they lived the wonderful experience of forgiveness between both cultures. I know these trips help many move past PTSD. It may not be something that everyone is ready to do, but it may be an option.


Sometimes "reworking" a painful situation can be done through other methods- hypnosis for example. Principle is the same- returning to the situation of extreme stress or pain and reworking it to a different, more positive outcome.

4/21/2006 12:30:51 PM

4/21/2006 12:36:38 PM