Watchful waiting
If your symptoms started less than 4 weeks after the event, or are mild, your GP may suggest watching and waiting for a short time, as symptoms often improve on their own. You should be offered a follow-up appointment.
Trauma-focused CBT
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy is the main treatment NICE recommends for PTSD. It usually involves 8 to 12 sessions, sometimes more. It helps you:
- make sense of what happened
- change unhelpful thoughts about the trauma, such as blaming yourself
- gradually face memories and situations you have been avoiding
EMDR
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is also recommended for adults, especially for trauma that happened more than 3 months ago (it has less evidence for trauma from combat). It helps your brain process the traumatic memory.
Medicines
Medicine is not usually the first treatment. You may be offered an antidepressant, such as sertraline or venlafaxine, if you would prefer medicine, or alongside therapy.
Complex PTSD
Treatment for complex PTSD often takes longer, and may start with learning skills to manage emotions and feel safe, before working on the trauma itself.
Support for veterans
- Op COURAGE (England): an NHS mental health service for veterans, service leavers and reservists. You can refer yourself.
- Veterans' NHS Wales: a service for veterans in Wales.
- Combat Stress: a charity with a 24 hour helpline for veterans and their families.
Next, read about living well with PTSD.
Common questions
What is EMDR?
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy where you recall the trauma while making side to side eye movements or following taps or sounds. It helps the brain process the memory so it becomes less distressing.
Sources we used
- NHS, PTSD treatment
- NICE guideline NG116, Post-traumatic stress disorder
- NHS, Op COURAGE veterans mental health service
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