Some people who’ve lived through a traumatic event—such as combat, a serious accident, sexual assault, or a natural disaster—will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD, like flashbacks or avoiding certain places or people that remind you of the event, can make daily life challenging.
After experiencing a traumatic event, it’s normal to feel stressed, anxious or even scared. If those feelings don’t go away or start interfering with your life, it’s time to talk to a health care provider.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms like these, or have recently been diagnosed with PTSD, you probably have questions. What does treatment look like? Why should I get treatment? VA’s National Center for PTSD can help you find answers, learn about PTSD and find the treatment that works best for you or your loved one.
What is PTSD treatment like?
PTSD treatment helps you process trauma, reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. “PTSD treatment has been transformative,” said Marine Corps Veteran Jeremiah Civil. “It has helped me regain a sense of control over my life.”
The National Center for PTSD recommends trauma-focused talk therapy or therapy that focuses on your memory of the traumatic event and what it means to you. During 8-16 sessions, you’ll meet with a licensed provider (either in person or online) and learn ways to work through your trauma by visualizing, talking or thinking about the traumatic event until it becomes less upsetting. You may also focus on changing unhelpful beliefs about the trauma or feelings you’ve had since the trauma happened.
Talk therapy options include:
- Prolonged Exposure (PE): Teaches you to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations you’ve been avoiding.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Teaches you to change upsetting thoughts or feelings about your traumatic experience.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Helps you process and make sense of your trauma while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound like a light or a tone.
When it comes to PTSD treatment, you have options. You can choose in-person talk therapy or treatment through secure telehealth. VA offers treatment programs at VA medical centers, community clinics, specialized PTSD programs and Vet Centers across the country. Apps like PTSD Coach provide additional support that you can use anytime, anywhere, to track progress and manage symptoms, though they are not a replacement for PTSD treatment.
Why should I get treatment for PTSD?
Everyone’s reason to start treatment for PTSD is different, but for many people it’s a chance to take back control of their lives. PTSD can affect both your mental and physical health, impacting relationships, work, sleep quality, your experience with drugs or alcohol and more. PTSD treatment is a way to take care of yourself and those around you. It provides you with tools to help you change how you think about trauma and how it affected you, manage symptoms, and rebuild connections with loved ones.
“I was able to talk to my family about things that I had never been able to talk to them about before,” shared Army Veteran Andrew Reeves, reflecting on the impact of PTSD treatment on his relationships.
How do I get started?
Deciding to get treatment for PTSD can feel like a big step, but there are resources available to help you find the support you deserve:
- Take a self-screen: Answer five questions to see if your feelings or behaviors might be related to PTSD.
- Talk to a provider: Speak with a primary care or mental health provider or find a VA PTSD treatment program near you.
- Explore treatment options: Use the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid to learn about evidence-based therapies.
Does PTSD treatment work?
No matter what you’ve experienced and whether it’s been months or decades since your trauma, PTSD treatment can help. Asking for help can feel challenging, but it’s a step that shows strength. “It was hard to admit I needed help,” said Army Veteran Ron Whitcomb, “but it was the most courageous thing I ever did.”
Seeking treatment for PTSD is self-care; it’s a commitment to your health and happiness.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
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I have had a counselor for about 5 years through the Tri-West program. I started out once a month, then every other week and it was once weekly. The local VA Clinic, Auburn, California, refused to renew my sessions. This was the best thing for me and I felt good after my sessions. The VA fixed something that was not broken. What can I do to get my therapist back ??
A social worker, experienced in cognitive therapy, and familiar with veterans specific PTSD issues entered my life over 2 years ago. It has been a brutal, painful process. But we have made progress. I forget easily that we have. And my PTSD Coach, and friend, reminds me that we have. If you’ve experienced trauma, in country or back home, and it is affecting your daily living. Talk to someone. Please. My familiarity with stuffing feelings I’ve mastered. The decades have been a train wreck because I’ve not talked about what is truly debilitating. PTSD will eat us up emotionally. Contact the VA and ask for help. There is always someone you can speak with. I wish you peace.
I have been attending individual and weekly group meetings at the local Vet center for over 7 years and I have gained valuable benefits from my involvment however with recent cutbacks to the center personal I find it troubling and reducing the level of personal attention
This is exactly opposite to the body of current PTSD research! ALL research shows that talk therapy is SAME as re-living trauma!
The VAs own research shows that ACUPUNCTURE is most effective for PTSD. Also effective: EMDR. And PTSD is a contra-indication for anti-depressants.
Please read, “The body keeps the score” by Bessel van der Kolk. He did much of his research with the VA. Research that for some reason the VA doesn’t follow.
My wife and I were in a car crash on the freeway in 2017 and to this day, she will not get into my vehicle to ride with me unless she absolutely has to. When we are there, she sits upright, engaged in the process and gives me advice and directions, even simple, obvious ones, like which lane to use or when to prepare to turn at the next intersection. She can drive herself around freely and normally, but she won’t get in my vehicle with me. I don’t think she rides with the kids or grandkids, either. I will suggest she ask her doctor about PTSD. She is a survivor of 2½ cancers (long story) and a retired ER nurse, so the concept of interventionist healthcare will not be new to her.
I’m 78 years old. I’ve had PTSD since I was 22 years old. I started one on one Zoom calls with a fantastic VA counselor 6 months ago, and I’ve never felt better in my life. It’s never too late to be mentally healthy.
Good information. I found the VA resources to be really helpful. I was concerned about getting help when I was on active duty, because I thought it would impact me security clearance.
PTSD treatment does not work for everyone. I am 80 and didn’t even know I had earned VA health care etc until about 4 years ago. Then I was diagnosed with severe and chronic PTSD and have had treatment ever since. Even my counselor says since my ptsd was neglected for the last 60 plus years my chances now of recovery are zero.
But for younger people if treated in time there is hope.
Bro. That’s just bullsh-t. You can make ground and feel better no matter your age or how long your ptsd has gone untreated. You got this. You can find health and peace.
Thanks Again VA
Great information…lots of excellent advice & help in time of need.. VA