It’s easy to feel alone when you’re living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms can be debilitating, and you can feel like no one else knows what you’re going through. As alone as you might feel, you’re not truly alone. A number of people want to help you, including the following:
Your Chiropractor
Believe it or not, a chiropractor in Boca Raton or elsewhere in the United States is more than someone you can turn to for help with chronic pain, injuries, or general musculoskeletal discomfort. Studies have found that they might also be able to raise awareness surrounding suicide prevention.
In an Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, many people seeking chiropractic care also had mental health illnesses. More than half of 14,025 veterans who visited a Veterans Affairs chiropractic clinic at least once had been diagnosed with PTSD, and nearly half had depression.
The same analysis found that chronic pain is a predictor of suicide. Chronic pain patients had double the rate of suicide compared to people living without chronic pain conditions. Your chiropractor can’t assist with PTSD treatment, but they have medical connections to help you access the help you need.
A Psychologist
Licensed clinical psychologists with doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology can be one of the most appropriate experts to approach for PTSD help. Psychologists can tap into a variety of resources to provide you with the help and support you need, such as cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Many people living with PTSD have experienced great results with such therapy types.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors
Not everyone has the budget for psychologists. Fortunately, licensed mental health counselors can be a more affordable option who still provide the support services you might need. Licensed mental health professionals typically have degrees in counseling and provide one-on-one and group counseling sessions. Counselors can help you deal with trauma-related memories and feelings and provide you with the tools you need to manage symptoms at home.
Your Family
Reaching out to your family for help with PTSD will likely be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Yet, it can be one of the most important things you can do for yourself and them. You are not suffering with PTSD alone. Instead, your symptoms like irritability, anger, and self-destructive behavior can take their toll on the people you love the most. Admitting to your family that you need help can be the first step toward receiving it with their support.
Your Friends
You might not feel comfortable talking about your feelings with your friends, but they can be a support network you might need on your journey to healing. Your friends are likely more than happy to be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on when you need it the most. They can even be who you rely on to feel better on particularly challenging days.
PTSD can make you feel isolated and alone, almost as if there’s no one who feels like you or can help you. Quite the opposite can be true. Reach out to some of these support options above, and you might receive the help you need to start your healing journey.