From the Guidelines
For patients experiencing mild PTSD symptoms that are being retriggered, a combination of self-care and professional support is recommended, with a focus on monitoring symptom severity and seeking professional help if symptoms persist or worsen, as suggested by the 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense clinical practice guideline 1.
Key Considerations
- Self-care strategies, such as deep breathing exercises, grounding techniques, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and maintaining social connections, can be effective for managing mild symptoms.
- Existing therapy skills from previous treatment can be applied during these mild episodes.
- It is essential to monitor symptom severity and seek professional help if symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, worsen, interfere with daily functioning, or include suicidal thoughts.
Recommended Approach
- A balanced approach that combines self-care and professional support is advisable, as it allows for the management of mild symptoms while maintaining professional oversight to prevent symptom escalation.
- The use of specific manualized psychotherapies, such as prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing psychotherapy, is recommended over pharmacotherapy, as stated in the clinical practice guideline 1.
Important Considerations
- The clinical practice guideline recommends against the use of benzodiazepines, cannabis, or cannabis-derived products for PTSD treatment.
- Secure video teleconferencing can be used to deliver recommended psychotherapy when validated for use with video teleconferencing or when other options are unavailable.
- Providers should use this guideline to support evidence-based, patient-centered care and shared decision making to optimize individuals' health outcomes and quality of life.
From the Research
Treatment Options for PTSD
- Patients with mild symptoms of PTSD who are getting retriggered may benefit from a combination of therapy and self-care.
- Studies have shown that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are effective treatments for PTSD 2, 3, 4.
- EMDR has been found to be slightly superior to CBT in reducing post-traumatic symptoms and anxiety 2, 3.
- Mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation, and deep breathing have also been found to be beneficial in reducing PTSD symptoms 5.
Self-Care Options
- Self-care practices can be used in conjunction with therapy to help manage PTSD symptoms.
- Mind-body practices can be used as a form of self-care to reduce stress and anxiety 5.
- Patients can also engage in other self-care activities such as exercise, journaling, and spending time in nature to help manage their symptoms.
Therapy Options
- EMDR and CBT are both effective treatments for PTSD, and the choice of therapy may depend on the individual patient's needs and preferences 2, 3, 4.
- Therapists may use a combination of EMDR and CBT components to treat PTSD, and the use of these components can vary depending on the therapist's training and experience 6.
- Patients may need to work with their therapist to develop a treatment plan that incorporates both therapy and self-care practices to manage their PTSD symptoms.