Outpatient Trauma Rehab

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from a wide range of triggering events. Sometimes it is the result of extreme stress that persists over a long time, such as the terrors of military combat in a war zone or ongoing sexual or physical abuse of a child or an adult. Other traumatic events may be one-time incidents, such as a natural disaster, a crime or an accident. No matter what the cause, a trauma can result in serious symptoms that have a negative impact on your life. These symptoms can continue for months or years if left untreated.

Is Outpatient Trauma Rehab Best for You?

If your PTSD symptoms are manageable enough for you to function in your normal environment, you may be able to improve your quality of life immensely simply by meeting with a therapist or support group on an ongoing basis. Talk therapy is the primary means of treating PTSD, and can include techniques that will help you restructure the way you think about your trauma. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) gives you tools for understanding, while relaxation techniques work to prevent sleep disorders and inappropriate responses to stimuli. Trauma survivors who suffer from depression, anxiety or panic attacks might also find relief through medications such as Prozac or Paxil.

There are two great advantages of outpatient therapy. The first is expense. Support groups are generally free, and group therapy is not usually terribly expensive. Even seeing a therapist in private sessions can be covered by your medical insurance, if you have it. Even at its most expensive, however, outpatient therapy costs only enough to cover a few hours a week. Inpatient therapy has to cover costs for upkeep of a residential site, 24-hour availability of staff, meals and other basic expenses.

When Is Outpatient Trauma Rehab Not Appropriate?

Outpatient therapy is not for everyone. Three categories of trauma survivors should seriously consider residential treatment.

• If commonplace stimuli such as loud noises trigger flashbacks, panic attacks, rage or inappropriate responses, you might do better in an environment where external stimuli are controlled.
• If your symptoms include rage or depression serious enough that you might be a danger to yourself or others, inpatient treatment is absolutely your best choice.
• Many trauma survivors attempt to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. If you have developed a substance abuse problem, you may need detox, which should be done under close medical supervision. Since both problems need to be treated concurrently, your best choice would be a facility that specializes in Dual Diagnosis treatment.

Even though inpatient treatment is expensive, there are programs that can help you pay for it when needed. Call the toll-free number provided for more information.