WEBVTT

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[music]

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[Narrator:] The ripples from a traumatic event,
like a severe flood,

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can reach every corner of life.

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A line drawing forms an animation that
shows a man wearing a camo uniform

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and an orange vest and helmet, paddling a
woman and child in an inflated boat.

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The rooftops of houses show in
muddy water around them.

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The three of them wear grim expressions
and the child holds a teddy bear.

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Whether it’s feeling overwhelmed
with daily tasks ...

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A woman scowls at stacks of paper on a desk.

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Avoiding time with loved ones and friends ...

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A man with a furrowed brow stands in the shadows
at an event with his arms crossed.

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Or feeling more irritable ...

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A woman with her hands on her hips yells at a child.

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These reactions are common in
the aftermath of a traumatic experience,

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like a natural disaster, combat,

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or an act of violence.

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Illustrations of a mother and daughter
being rescued in a flood,

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a soldier in combat,

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and a couple arguing through a window
appear on screen.

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A woman is standing with her arms crossed
with a frustrated facial expression

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But when these reactions last longer
than a month, or when they affect

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how you live your life months or years
later,

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Days pass on a calendar behind her.

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it’s important to get help.

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If you’ve been diagnosed
with posttraumatic stress disorder,

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or PTSD, remember:
You have treatment options.

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One option focuses
on your current, day-to-day challenges.

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A woman scowls at stacks of paper on a messy desk.

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A man with a furrowed brow stands away from others
at an event with his arms crossed.

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This treatment option is called
Present-Centered Therapy.

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It’s a talk therapy that can help
you understand

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the connection between trauma
and your everyday challenges.

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Here’s how it works.

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Typically, you attend 10-12 meetings
with your therapist

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that last about an hour each.

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A patient talks to a therapist who sits across from him
while time passes behind them on a clock.

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Present-Centered Therapy helps
you understand

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and recognize PTSD symptoms
and common reactions to trauma.

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You’re encouraged to use a daily log

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to note challenges
that concern you between sessions.

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A woman sits at a desk writing notes.

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Then you spend time talking
with your therapist about topics

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that are important to you, such
as concerns that you had during the week.

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The woman and the therapist meet over a video chat.

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You don’t talk in detail about the
traumatic event, but your therapist helps

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you understand how the trauma is affecting
your feelings and actions today.

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As the woman is talking, the memory
of her yelling at her child appears.

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For example,

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you might find that
since the traumatic event,

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you feel more disconnected
from your loved ones.

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While the man sits with the therapist,
images of him as a soldier in combat

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and him standing alone at an event
with his arms crossed appear behind him.

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Through Present-Centered Therapy,
you can learn why

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traumatic stress might lead you
to withdraw from friends and family.

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You learn new ways to interact with others
more comfortably,

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The man smiles while playing a
board game with others.

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drawing on your strengths.

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This approach can help
you feel more in control and confident

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in your ability to face and solve
problems in your daily life.

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The woman crouches to talk to the
child who shows her a drawing.

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Both of them smile.

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[hopeful music]

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With Present-Centered Therapy,

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the focus stays on what’s
happening in your life now.

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Remember: There are a variety of treatment

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options that have been proven effective
for helping people with PTSD.

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If you think Present-Centered
Therapy may be right for you,

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A woman chats across a desk with a
health care provider.

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start by talking with
your health care provider.

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The man stands outside with the woman
as she holds the child's hand.

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The three of them smile.

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You can find additional information

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and resources at ptsd.va.gov.

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A QR code appears.

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This video was brought to you

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by the Department of Veterans
Affairs’ National Center for PTSD.

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The logo for the National Center for PTSD appears.

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And then the logo for the
Department of Veterans Affairs appears.