Can PTSD Be Cured?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that stems from an experienced trauma. Although most people don’t develop PTSD after a traumatic experience, it can be a debilitating condition for those that do. If PTSD goes untreated, it can be a persistent and long-lasting issue that feels impossible to break free from.

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PTSD can feel debilitating, and it can cause someone to use negative coping mechanisms to temporarily escape from their trauma. Although they may experience temporary relief, their PTSD symptoms will come back. 

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Those affected by PTSD can feel like they are continuously haunted by their trauma. This can leave them wondering if they will ever be free of PTSD and if it can be cured. In this article, we take a closer look at PTSD, if it is a curable condition, and how it can be treated.

PTSD feels like you're haunted by trauma

How Do You Get PTSD and C-PTSD?

PTSD is typically triggered by a single traumatic experience. Common causes of PTSD could be from a car accident, an assault, or a natural disaster. Although the traumatic experience was an isolated event, it can cause persistent symptoms that impact someone’s mental health and behaviors. Some of the most common PTSD symptoms include:

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  • Intrusive thoughts
  • Flashbacks to the trauma
  • Avoidance of events that may remind them of their trauma
  • Negative changes in mood and thoughts

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PTSD can have a severe impact on the way someone views themselves and the world around them. While PTSD stems from an isolated event, C-PTSD stems from trauma that occurred over an extended period of time.

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Read our full guide on PTSD for a closer look at the causes, effects, and symptoms of this disorder.

C-PTSD and Prolonged Trauma

C-PTSD stands for complex posttraumatic stress disorder, and is mostly found in individuals that have prolonged trauma from interpersonal relationships. The common sources of C-PTSD are child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and captivity. C-PTSD shares many symptoms with PTSD, however, it does have a few unique signs.

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 The symptoms that make C-PTSD unique include:

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  • Dissociation
  • Negative self-identity
  • Interpersonal difficulties
  • Relationship avoidance

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Whether the trauma came from a single event or prolonged abuse, it can have a lasting impact that is hard to break free from. Coping with trauma can be a constant battle, and it can leave someone wondering if their PTSD could ever be cured.

Is PTSD Curable?

Unfortunately, PTSD isn’t a condition that can be cured. “Cured” implies all symptoms are completely eradicated without the expectation that the condition will come back. PTSD causes physical changes to the brain and how it operates, as well as distinct changes to someone’s behavior. 

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Completely healing the brain and eliminating trauma isn’t possible. Luckily though, mental health disorders like PTSD can be treated to alleviate symptoms and develop healthier thoughts and behaviors.

Is PTSD Treatable?

Although PTSD can’t be cured, it can be treated. Someone can experience a significant improvement to their quality of life with the proper treatment. Some individuals may see remission from PTSD, while others may have to continuously address their trauma and symptoms. 

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Certain factors affect the persistency of PTSD symptoms, some of which include:

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  • Severity and duration of trauma
  • Frequency of stressors
  • Engagement level in treatments

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While PTSD can’t be completely cured, there is hope for those battling trauma. Someone can manage their PTSD symptoms with positive coping mechanisms, self-awareness, and proper treatment.

severity of trauma, frequency of stressors, and engagement level in treatment affect the severity of PTSD

Treatment Options for PTSD

There are a couple different methods of therapy that can provide relief from trauma and PTSD. Engaging in trauma therapies is essential to addressing the trauma and learning healthier ways of coping with it. Although PTSD symptoms may flare up from time to time, therapies can teach someone the skills needed to minimize its impact.

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One form of therapy that is proven to help those with PTSD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT identifies the negative thoughts and behaviors related to trauma and replaces them with healthy alternatives. Techniques like cognitive restructuring and stress management will help someone address and process their traumatic experiences.

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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another therapy style that is commonly used to treat PTSD. EMDR therapists will stimulate the client in various ways while they discuss their trauma. This specialized therapy will help reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

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Read our full guides on EMDR and CBT to learn more about these specialized therapy processes and their benefits.

PTSD can be treated to minimize the impacts of symptoms

Symptom Relief Through Medication

Alongside therapy, medical professionals may prescribe certain medications. Although there aren’t medications that treat PTSD directly, they can help manage the impact of PTSD symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used to treat the anxiety and depression that’s associated with PTSD. 

How to Get Rid of PTSD

PTSD doesn’t go away on its own. The only way that someone can get rid of their symptoms is by addressing their trauma and seeking the right treatment. Fortunately, there are many treatments that are proven to help someone recover from their trauma. 

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At Sequoia Behavioral Health, our professional therapists are specialized in treating PTSD and trauma. Our trauma therapies provide a safe place for addressing trauma and learning the skills needed to alleviate the burden of PTSD. 

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Call us today to begin your healing journey.

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