PTSD Demystified: Is PTSD Untreatable?

Part 3 of 3

So far in our blog series, we have covered a number of myths surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (be sure to check out our post on Big PTSD Myths and Myths About People with PTSD). In today’s article, we are going to wrap up our series on the misconceptions surrounding PTSD, by examining one last set of myths about the specifics of this mental health condition.

Myth One: PTSD Cannot Be Treated

There is a distinct difference between curing and treating a mental illness and treating disease. A cure completely removes the condition from the body, while a treatment helps improve the patient’s quality of life by mitigating the symptoms caused by the disorder. While there is no cure for PTSD, it is treatable. With professional help, patients with PTSD are able to go back to living a normal life.

For decades, researchers have spent countless hours studying PTSD and its effects. In the process, a number of treatments that reduce the symptoms of PTSD have been developed, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), controlled breathing exercises, exposure therapy and cognitive therapy, etc. In many instances, certain prescription medications may also help with combating specific symptoms, such as clonidine, which can be an effective treatment for nighttime symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, but their long-term use may be limited.

Myth Two: PTSD is embarrassing

PTSD is not a condition that people choose to have or not have. Your life experiences, brain chemistry and other factors could shape your mental health. A study found that 13 percent of the patients were too embarrassed to discuss the problem with anyone, that’s one of the common reasons why people did not get help for PTSD. Mental illnesses are not the results of willful, petulant behaviour. No one should have to feel ashamed of this condition any more than any other medical condition.

Our society’s understanding of PTSD and mental health problems has positively changed over time, but there is still much work to be done. One of Savyn’s missions is to destigmatize PTSD and encourage people with this disorder to seek treatment or their loved ones to understand better what they are experiencing.

We encourage you to start learning more about PTSD and to share these posts with those in need and help inform those that may not be exactly sure what PTSD is.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our blog series on the myths about PTSD. For more information on this topic, check out our previous blog posts.

To learn more about PTSD and how to manage various symptoms sign up here!