Treatment Interventions for PTSD

How to deal with PTSD Treatment Interventions for PTSD

Questions to ask the person who has experienced trauma

• What happened? Encourage the person to describe exactly what the traumatic event was. How did it start? What happened to you? Who else was present? What did you do immediately afterwards? These questions will help you get information on the incident. Talking about the incident can help the person feel better.

• How are you feeling now? The emotional response will depend on how much time has passed

since the person experienced the trauma.

• Who can you share your feelings with? People with social support are likely to recover faster.

What to do immediately Treatment Interventions for PTSD

• An important way of coping with traumatic events is sharing them with others. Encourage the person to talk about what happened.

• Reassure him that the emotional reactions are normal and are not a sign of going crazy.

• Encourage him to talk to others he trusts, including other survivors. Group discussions are helpful, especially when the traumatic event has affected many people, such as refugees escaping a war.

• Encourage him not to avoid situations that remind him of the event.

• He should not be left alone for at least a few days. Make sure that he is staying with caring relatives or friends.

• For symptoms such as panic attacks, sleep problems and tiredness, follow the steps suggested elsewhere.

• If the person has severe difficulties, you can prescribe sleeping pills for up to four weeks.

• A course of antidepressants may also help some people who have experienced trauma.

When to refer Treatment Interventions for PTSD

In some areas there are specialised services for people affected by trauma. This is more likely to be available when there is a war or civil unrest.

What to do later Treatment Interventions for PTSD

Keep in touch with the person for as long as you, or she, feels it is of help. Initially, see her at least once a week for a month. If you see signs of gradual recovery, then you can be confident that she will make a full recovery. However, if symptoms seem to be getting worse, keep contact with her for a longer period, try a course of antidepressants, or refer.