I often get asked, “Can PTSD be cured?” We all wish we had a definitive answer to this age old question! And as the great debate continues, millions – along with their loved ones – struggle with the relentless battles of Post-Traumatic Stress. Is there hope or not?
A brave young veteran recently shared with me that SHE herself has it from Iraq, her FATHER had it from Vietnam, and her GRANDFATHER from WWII. He may have been one of many who was locked up in an asylum and tortured with shock treatment “therapy.”
Have we come a long way since then? Absolutely! Do we still have a long way to go! Unequivocally!
And what many people fail to realize is that PTSD can happen to ANYONE…not just veterans.
The good news is that there are many very effective therapies available today that are resulting in significant improvements in those with PTSD. In some cases, the symptoms of PTSD appear to totally subside. Numerous variables combine to determine what treatments will benefit individuals and to what degree. And new cutting edge research and developments are continually emerging.
The hard news is that no matter how good and effective the treatment, nor how wide the possible range of recovery, it will never be able to take away the fact that a person experienced the trauma in the first place. The trauma itself can never be erased. So in that sense, the Post-Traumatic Stress will never be 100% cured (totally gone, never to return again, symptom-free forever).
However, the hope lies in the fact that the effects of the trauma can be reduced to the point of no longer completely controlling one’s life 24/7. And that is where our efforts as loved ones, caregivers, supporters, therapists, and all who care – are primarily focused: minimally, to help those who struggle to maximally manage the symptoms. And to encourage them to develop as many coping skills and personal support systems as possible. As we say, “They can learn to thrive again!”
I recently received a message from a loved one about the PTSD not being 100% curable. “I am a fixer and this I can’t fix! It scares me, especially for all of our loved ones returning from war. I am so very sad for this.”
My reply to her was, “We cannot FIX, but we DO have hope!
There is a lot that CAN be done to help those with PTSD.
I know. I live it!”
Without hope, we cease to thrive. But at the same time, we have to be cautious not to promise a total cure we do not possess. Here are my thoughts on what CAN be done, as we offer hope for those who struggle with PTSD, and for all who love them:
Accept that there is no quick or easy fix.
Keep an open mind, but proceed with open eyes.
Be willing to do some hard or uncomfortable work.
Connect regularly to a good support network.
Stay current on PTSD therapies, resources and developments.
Surround yourself with people who care and hold on tightly to those you love.
Of all the topics I have written about, this is one I would LOVE to have proven wrong. We all would welcome the day a complete and total cure for PTSD were discovered. But until then, let us keep doing what we are to support and LOVE OUR VETS and all loved ones battling PTSD. They deserve it!
~Taken from the book LOVE OUR VETS: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD (Revised Edition, 2015)
Love Our Vets- PTSD Family Support on Facebook
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