Dealing With PTSD
also help survivors with PTSD deal with the terror, depression, sleep problems and other symptoms that frequently occur. The survivor will need medical follow-up to find out which medications can help the best. Often, as the “edge” is taken off of symptoms with medication, the survivor can work better in therapy to resolve memories.
Group therapy is also helpful to many survivors in finding a safe place to process their memories with others to understand. Because ritual abuse is such highly charged material, it takes a therapist experienced with both groups and working with ritual abuse to successfully lead a group. Mixed groups of RA survivors with non-RA survivors may or may not work, dependent on the group members and the therapist. Once concern in mixed groups is that those with less traumatic material to process may feel overwhelmed, or as if their own abuse issues are minimized when a survivor of RA shares their memories. The ritual abuse survivor may also feel that they are not understood, are not believed, or may fear traumatizing those who have no background of understanding this type of abuse. But some therapists have reported success with mixed groups if the group dynamics are handled skillfully.
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Learning healthy methods of distraction (while working on trauma with a therapist) can also help with coping. For many survivors, this can include hobbies, artwork, or enjoyable activities that are relaxing.
Finding meaning in the trauma, and helping others, can also be a method of coping. Each survivor will find their own unique coping method to both process the trauma, and deal with the aftermath.
Article Sources: “Treatment of PTSD”, National Center for PTSD, article online at http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/treatment/fs... “What is Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome?” Sidran Foundation, article online at http://www.sidran.org/ptsdbrochure.html
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