Navigating The Storm: How To Stop a PTSD Attack


For those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), navigating through a PTSD attack can be a terrifying and disorienting experience. While professional help is paramount, understanding strategies to halt or manage these episodes can provide a lifeline in moments of distress. This article will give some key steps for stopping a PTSD attack, allowing you to regain control of your mental and emotional well-being.


Understanding Your Triggers

Recognizing what can potentially spark a PTSD attack is the first step toward managing these episodes effectively.


Identifying Triggers

Reminders of the traumatic event can often trigger PTSD attacks. These triggers can be anything from certain sounds or smell to situations or places reminiscent of the trauma. Identifying these triggers is a crucial step in preventing and managing PTSD attacks. Journaling or discussing experiences with a professional can help identify patterns and recurring triggers.


Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques are effective strategies to help disconnect from emotional distress and reconnect with the present moment.

Using the Five Senses

This approach involves focusing on your five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) to anchor yourself in the present moment. For instance, try to name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This helps to divert your attention away from the traumatic memory and reduces the intensity of the PTSD attack.

Breathing Techniques

Breathing exercises are fundamental tools to help regain control during a PTSD attack.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises can help to slow your heart rate and promote a sense of calm. One popular technique is box breathing:

  • Breathe in slowly for a count of four.
  • Hold your breath for a count of four.
  • Exhale slowly for a count of four.
  • Wait for a count of four before taking the next breath.


Seeking Professional Support

Despite the usefulness of these techniques, it's crucial to remember that professional support is vital when dealing with PTSD.

Psychotherapy and Medication

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists trained in trauma can provide treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), or medication to help manage PTSD symptoms. They can also provide more tailored strategies for PTSD attacks based on individual experiences and symptoms.


Final Thoughts

Navigating a PTSD attack can be a challenging experience. However, by understanding your triggers, utilizing grounding and breathing techniques, and seeking professional support, you can establish effective strategies to halt these episodes and reclaim control of your mental well-being. Always remember that professional help is paramount; these techniques are adjunct tools to help manage PTSD symptoms.

Grouport Offers PTSD Group Therapy and DBT Skills Group Online

Grouport Therapy provides online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups to assist individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma. Our online group therapy sessions teach members how to integrate CBT techniques into their daily lives. Incorporating these skill sets enables them to recognize triggers, counteract negative thought patterns, and adopt more positive behaviors to recover from and manage their symptoms. In addition to CBT, our PTSD treatment utilizes prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and stress inoculation training (SIT) in a group setting.

Our licensed Therapist leads weekly group sessions conducted remotely in the comfort of members' homes. According to participant feedback, 70% experienced significant improvements within 8 weeks.

You don't have to face these challenges alone. Join our community and work together towards a brighter future. Sign up for one of our courses today and begin your journey towards meaningful, lasting change and renewed hope.

Due to licensing restrictions, our online group therapy sessions are for Florida, New York, and New Jersey residents. If you are not a resident of either state, consider our dialectical behavior therapy skills group. It is a therapist-instructor-led online group that will teach you strategic new skills to replace behaviors and emotions causing friction in your daily life and relationships.

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