Suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) can have a long-lasting and devastating impact on a person’s life. And while the symptoms of each can be similar, their roots are not. Until recently, treating both PTSD and CPTSD was sometimes difficult, but today ketamine treatments have proven themselves to be incredibly effective at providing lasting relief from these disorders.
The Difference Between PTSD AND CPTSD
PTSD and CPTSD share a host of common symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of triggers. However, there are key differences.
PTSD usually occurs after a single traumatic experience that might include a natural disaster, physical or sexual abuse, or military combat, and is usually the result of an external event. CPTSD, on the other hand, is the result of prolonged exposure to trauma. Someone suffering from CPTSD might have experienced continued emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, regular exposure to violence, or neglect as a child.
While PTSD is a very serious health condition, CPTSD carries with it some additional symptoms resulting from that prolonged trauma, including a negative self-perception, difficulty forming and maintaining relationships, and difficulty controlling emotions. The symptoms of CPTSD can be more complex because of the complicated relationship a sufferer might have with their abuser.
Ketamine Treatments for PTSD and CPTSD
PTSD and CPTSD can be tricky to treat with traditional psychotherapy and medication, with approximately 20 to 30 percent of patients with PTSD showing resistance to treatment. Because of this, ketamine therapy has become an important ally because of its ability to both work quickly and also impact the wiring of a person’s brain.
Ketamine has a unique ability to decrease symptoms of PTSD and CPTSD like anxiety and depression by blocking brain receptors that regulate mood and emotions. Studies have shown positive results for sufferers of both PTSD and CPTSD and even show promise for long-lasting results with a lesser risk of relapse.
In addition to feeling the relief of common symptoms, patients who have undergone ketamine treatments have also seen a lower risk of relapse. The first step to seeing if ketamine treatments are right for you is to schedule an evaluation. If traditional treatment avenues have proven ineffective in treating your symptoms, ketamine therapy might be the key to improving your quality of life.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry
If you or a loved one are struggling with the PTSD or CPTSD, contact Bluewater Psychiatry for professional help.