How can traumatic stress be treated?

The main treatment is psychotherapy, but it may also include medications. Help you think better about yourself, others and the world. The main treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are talk therapy and medications. People who have experienced trauma can learn to feel safe in the world and to cope with stress.

The articles here provide basic information on how to get started with treatment. For information on the most effective treatments for PTSD, see Psychotherapy and Medications. The World Health Organization recommends trauma-focused CBT to treat symptoms of acute traumatic stress in adults. Rather than treating that stress as a disorder, the focus of this approach is to provide support and assistance and to share information about reactions to stress and coping strategies.

If your distress interferes with your relationships, your work, or your daily functioning, you may have acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).