WEBVTT

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A traumatic event can
change the way you think

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about yourself and the world.

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You might think you are to blame
for what happened or believe

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you don't deserve to be happy.

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You may start to believe
the world is unsafe --

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doing things like going to a
grocery store or restaurant

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may seem too dangerous.

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These kinds of thoughts
are common in people

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with posttraumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD.

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They're called "stuck points."
They keep you stuck in your

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PTSD and cause you to miss
out on the people,

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places or activities
you used to enjoy.

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So how do you get "unstuck"?

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Cognitive Processing Therapy --
or CPT -- is a PTSD treatment

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that can help you break
the negative thinking

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that's holding you back.

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It's based on the idea that
our thoughts affect how

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we feel and how we act.

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In CPT, you and your therapist
will talk about how your

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negative thoughts about the
trauma -- those "stuck points"

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-- have changed you: how safe
and in control you feel,

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how much you trust
yourself and others,

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and even your sense
of self-worth.

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You'll practice a strategy to
change -- or challenge --

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your stuck points.

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PTSD can make you jump
to negative conclusions,

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but there may be other ways to
think about things that are more

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accurate -- and less upsetting.

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Imagine you're driving
down the highway,

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and someone swerves
in front of you.

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You might blow up at the
driver: "What a jerk!"

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But what if he was
racing to the hospital,

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or having a panic attack and
rushing to get off the road?

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If you considered
these possibilities,

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you might not feel as angry.

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The bottom line: small changes
in thinking can have a big

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impact on how you feel.

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Some people find that writing
about their trauma helps

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them change upsetting
thoughts and feelings.

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You and your therapist
can decide whether or not

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this is right for you.

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CPT works just as
well either way.

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You can also choose to
meet with your therapist

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one-on-one or in a group
with others who have PTSD.

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CPT is "evidence-based,"
meaning it's been shown to work

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in multiple research studies.

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And it doesn't take years.

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In fact, CPT usually takes about
three months of weekly visits.

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CPT can help you get "unstuck"
-- freeing you up to start

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enjoying the things you've
been missing out on.

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Men and women, Veterans
and civilians can

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all benefit from CPT.

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If Cognitive Processing Therapy
sounds like it could be right

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for you, talk to your doctor
about finding a CPT provider.

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Or visit the National Center for
PTSD website at www.ptsd.va.gov

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to learn more about CPT
and other PTSD treatments.

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No matter how long you've
been living with PTSD,

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know that you can get better.