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PTSD Medication UK: How to Help Someone with PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents and serious accidents. While some patients live with the effects for months, others struggle for years.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can affect people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. PTSD is characterised by symptoms that include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety. It can also lead to depression, social isolation and other problems. Many people with PTSD have difficulty sleeping, which further compounds their problems.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Nightmares.
- Flashbacks.
- Insomnia.
- Anger problems.
- Hyper-vigilance.
Often times, people who suffer from PTSD turn to drugs or alcohol for relief as a form of PTSD medication. While some substances may help in the short-term, they are typically unhealthy in the long run and may cause symptoms of withdrawal when you stop using them.
How to Help Someone with PTSD?
PTSD can be debilitating, and it can affect not only those who have it but also their family and friends. Having a good support system is important for anyone suffering from PTSD.
The most important thing you can do to help a loved one suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is to learn as much as you can about the condition. The more knowledge you have the better you are able to understand your loved ones condition and how it affects them day to day.
Once you have a solid understanding of PTSD and its symptoms, you’ll be better equipped to support your loved one without enabling their illness. Here are some basic tips for helping a partner, family member or friend who’s living with PTSD:
- Listen carefully to what they have to say and be patient as they try to talk about their experiences.
- Ask questions in an open-ended way to encourage them to talk, but also let them know that it’s OK if they don’t want to talk about it.
- Try to understand how they feel about what happened to them and how it affects their life today. It may help for you to read up on PTSD so you can better understand what they are going through.
- Suggest treatment options, but don’t force them into a course of treatment against their will.
- Encourage healthy behaviors such as getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy foods, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and exercising regularly.
PTSD Medication:
There are a number of different medications that have been shown to be helpful for people with PTSD. Medications can help reduce anxiety and other symptoms, and also improve sleep.
One example of PTSD medication is Psychological Therapies. When you have been diagnosed with PTSD, usually the first form of treatment which is recommended is psychological therapy. This consists of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
This is a form of treatment where its sole purpose is to help you manage the problems by changing your thinking process and the way you act. If for example, you went through some form of trauma, this technique aims to help you come to terms with the event and gradually being able to deal with it effectively.
There are many other forms of conventional methods which can be used to help manage PTSD. However, Medical Cannabis is one form of treatment that is not talked about as much.
Medical Cannabis as a Form of Treatment for PTSD:
Scientists have discovered that the brain contains an endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS has cannabinoid receptors, which regulate mood and other body functions. Interestingly, the chemical structure of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, binds with the ECS to produce feelings of euphoria and pain relief. This makes it an extremely effective treatment for PTSD symptoms.
