Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy the Right Approach For You?
Post traumatic stress disorder can be treated with various methods, all differing in their approach and requirements. In order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital to know how a therapy works and what will be required of you before you decide to jump in. Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on changing symptoms and behaviours. This therapy tends to emphasise the unconscious mind, the storehouse for painful feelings, thoughts and urges that we do not want to look at. These, feelings, thoughts and urges which we have buried in this mind still continue to affect our behaviour even though we are unaware of this. Normally, we tend to avoid situations which may bring up painful feelings we do not want to look at. Psychodynamic psychotherapy tends to treat post traumatic stress disorder by looking into the past. It looks at experiences you had in childhood, your present relationships and also defence mechanisms you use, in order to avoid feeling painful feelings that have come about from the trauma you have experienced. For example, you may try to avoid speaking to a particular person because that will bring up painful feelings for you. This form of therapy involves revisiting and working through painful unconscious feelings in order to help bring about change. The therapist gauges where you are attempting to run away from dealing with your real feelings, helps you see how you are doing that by using defence mechanisms and will then help you to express the stored feelings so that you can move forward. Does this therapy work? Studies have shown that people treated for post traumatic stress syndrome with this therapy have experienced improved relationships, more confidence and a reduction in symptoms of depression and more self-esteem as a result. Whilst this therapy has its benefits as you can see, it does require work on your part and is not for the faint-hearted. Is it right for you? Confronting buried feelings and digging up the past is not an easy thing to sit with if you are already suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and, some people may find it far too harrowing to go down this route. There are other therapies and self help methods that do not require revisiting the past in order to heal the present and some of them may better suit some people. Only you can decide whether this is a suitable therapy for you, given your situation and character.
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