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More than eight million Americans between the ages of 18 and older have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — a psychiatric disorder that develops in some people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, war, sexual violence, or an act of terrorism. Individuals with PTSD often experience intense, distressing thoughts and feelings related to that traumatic incident that persist long after the event has ended. They may re-experience their trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, actively avoid situations that remind them of the traumatic event, and feel detached or isolated from other people.
If you have PTSD, there are a number of effective options available for PTSD treatment in Carrollwood with Maulik K. Trivedi, M.D., such as accelerated resolution of trauma (ART) therapy, spiritual awareness cultivation, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. In this article, we’ll be reviewing what accelerated resolution of trauma therapy is and how it may be able to transform your life for the better.
What is Accelerated Resolution of Trauma?
Accelerated resolution of trauma (ART) is an emerging, efficient type of psychotherapy that combines elements from several forms of psychotherapy to reduce the effect of trauma and other psychological stressors. This evidence-based psychotherapy has proven itself to be effective in treating PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, and grief. It works to foster rapid recovery by reprogramming how your brain stores traumatic memories and imagery. Unlike other therapies, the key behind the efficiency of ART lies in its manipulation of the brain’s natural memory consolidation mechanisms. By reactivating memories and changing their emotional valence, the ART protocol is quite literally unwiring the distressing emotions from the traumatic incidents that created them.
The main components of accelerated resolution of trauma therapy performed by a psychiatrist in Brandon include the following types of intervention:
- Exposure therapy: This type of intervention helps people confront their fears by exposing them to the traumatic memory they keep returning to in a safe environment. Exposure may include visiting places that remind them of their trauma, using virtual reality to simulate the traumatic environment, or vividly imaging the traumatic experience. Over time, the reaction to the traumatic event decreases and the patient learns new, more realistic beliefs about the situation.
- Rapid Eye Movement: This type of intervention helps people fully process the negative feelings associated with the traumatic incident, recognize that they no longer need to hold on to them, and reinforce positive beliefs and feelings. It most commonly involves a process known as desensitization, in which you follow a therapist’s back-and-forth finger movements with your eyes with the traumatic event in mind.
How Can Accelerated Resolution of Trauma Transform Your Life?
Accelerated resolution of trauma is a transformative PTSD treatment in Carrollwood because it helps you learn about the memories of your trauma that have impacted your life and works to decrease your symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. After undergoing ART, many patients have reported more self-confidence, control, and avoidance of many of the behaviors they previously used to escape negative thoughts or feelings of the traumatic event. They have the capacity to recontextualize their understanding of the traumatic event and, thus, their own ability to cope. If you think that you or a loved one could benefit from ART for PTSD, don’t hesitate to reach out to a psychiatrist in Brandon like Dr. Trivedi.
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