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Making the decision to get treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be difficult. If you have PTSD, you may want to avoid talking about it. But there are treatments that work. Learn why it is important to get help for PTSD and read tips to help you deal with concerns about stigma or barriers to care.
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“It's normal to feel like you're not ready to get help for PTSD, or to come up with reasons why now isn't the right time. You may never feel truly ready — but if you're having symptoms, it's better to get treatment now than to wait.”
Robert Tucker
U.S. Army
2009-2011
You deserve treatment. And there are PTSD treatments that work.
"Getting better" means different things for different people. PTSD treatment can help you make sense of the traumatic event(s). It can get rid of your symptoms or make them less intense and less frequent. Treatment also helps you learn skills to better cope with symptoms when they arise.
People who get treatment may also want to focus on improving their daily life. For example, you can learn how PTSD affects your relationships and how you can work to improve them. Or you can set goals to address problems at work or school. You learn how to better enjoy your life.
It's common for people to think health issues, including PTSD, will resolve on their own. Or some might think that "other people deserve treatment more than me" or that it makes sense to wait for the "right time" to get help. These are examples of barriers, or things that might stop you from seeking help for PTSD. Part of PTSD is avoidance, which includes trying not to think about the trauma. So, it makes sense that people with PTSD may want to avoid getting treatment if it means talking about those events. Research points out important reasons to get treatment as soon as you can.
Symptoms of PTSD may get worse. Dealing with them now might help stop symptoms from getting worse in the future and lead to a better quality of life for you.
Treatment can help even if your trauma happened years ago. And treatment for PTSD has gotten much better over the years. If you tried treatment before and you're still having symptoms, it's a good idea to try again or try a different treatment.
PTSD symptoms can get in the way of your relationships. You may find that you pull away from loved ones, are not able to get along with people, or that you are angry, irritated or aggressive. Getting help for your PTSD can help improve your relationships.
It’s common for someone with PTSD to have other health problems. Sometimes when PTSD gets better, other health problems do so. For example, if you have symptoms from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or use drugs or alcohol, PTSD treatment is effective and may help with those other problems.
Another barrier to getting help is stigma. You may worry about what other people may think about you if you have PTSD. People can say negative things or judge others who have a mental health condition. An example of stigma related to PTSD is a belief that people with PTSD are dangerous or unstable, which is not true.
You may try to hide problems or avoid seeking care because of stigma. You may start to feel that you don’t deserve to be happy because of your symptoms. If you have PTSD, you are not alone. Mental health concerns are just as common as physical health concerns. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take control and get help.
When you are in the military, there are other things that may get in the way of seeking help. Military members may worry that talking about PTSD with doctors, other service members, or commanding officers will hurt their career. You may think if people in your unit learn you have PTSD, they will see you as weak or not trust you to be able to protect them. Or you may feel that your medical records will be open for other people to see.
Worrying that seeking treatment will damage your career may lead you to avoid getting help at a time when you need it most. Many don't get treatment until their return from deployment, or when their family tells them there is a problem. But you don't have to wait. PTSD treatment helps you solve problems.
You can feel more in control by learning about PTSD treatments and finding support in family and friends you trust. Here are some ways to get started:
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