Self Help Strategies for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can make you feel helpless and powerless. Sometimes, you may even feel worthless to the point of not being able to make a difference. The good news is that there are some self help strategies that you can employ to change these feelings and make a difference in your life.

Avoid Alcohol Addiction and Drug Addiction

Numerous individuals succumb to alcohol addiction and drug addiction to cope with the feeling, memories, and pain that is caused by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These individuals feel that if they use alcohol and drugs to suppress these aspects of the condition, they will fare better when in reality they do not. Drug addiction and alcohol addiction only makes matters worse. Such addictions keeping one from function on a day to day basis, such as maintaining a job, maintaining relationships, and maintaining other responsibilities. In addition, drug addiction and alcohol addiction can land these individuals into other troubles that were not present before they fell prey to these addictions. If you have thought of making use of drugs and alcohol to cope, do not. Avoid these things at all costs (Rotary International 2001-2009).

Join Support groups

There are a number of support groups for individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Being a part of these support groups will enable you to better cope with living with the condition because you will have support for when times are the most difficult. Not to mention, you can learn from other's experiences and apply what you learn in your own life and circumstances. These support groups are wonderful resources.

If you cannot find any local support groups for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in your area, you will want to consider online support groups. These online support groups are normally in the form of message boards and online chat rooms, and individuals who are members of these groups have found them to be helpful, as they can get support twenty-four hours a day seven days a week (Rotary International, 2001-2009).

Make Yourself Useful

To combat the feelings of helplessness and worthlessness that will come up from time to time, get yourself involved in helping others. For instance, you can engage in volunteering. There are a number of benefits of volunteering hat you should be aware of. For one, you make a difference in the lives of others. Second, you feel good about giving to others and the community. And three, you will no longer feel as helpless and worthless as you have done before you volunteered. When you volunteer, you will be able to see the benefits of volunteering firsthand, and you will feel awesome about it (Rotary International, 2001-2009).

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be hard to live with at times. However, things can be much easier when you work to make a difference in your own life.

Sources

Rotary International. (2001-2009). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/ post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm#treatments