Deciding to get treatment for PTSD

There are many reasons why you may not want to get treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• You may not trust therapists or psychologists.
• You may worry about money. Even if you have insurance, it doesn't always cover mental health care.
• You may feel that asking for treatment is a sign of weakness.
• You may think you will get better if enough time passes.
• You may worry that if people find out it could hurt your career.

But you need to get treatment. Treatment can work, and early treatment may help reduce long-term symptoms.¹

Here are some reasons people don't seek treatment and what you can do about them.

"It's hard to schedule and find time for an appointment." "I can't get there."

• Look at your schedule and find when it would be easiest for you to see a doctor. Request this time when you call. You may have to wait a few days, but if that's the only time you can do it, it's worth the wait.
• When you call for an appointment, explain your situation. Most doctors will try to find a time that works for both of you.
• Ask a friend to help you get there, or check local bus schedules.
• If you are a veteran, VA clinics and hospitals may offer after-hours or weekend hours.

"See a shrink? I'm not crazy." "People will think I'm weak." "What will my family and friends think?"

• You are looking for help so you will feel better. That isn't crazy or a sign of weakness.
• Don't think of counseling as a visit to a doctor. You're going to talk things over with someone who is an expert in PTSD treatment.

"Someone might get into my medical records and see this."

• Doctors, counselors, hospitals, and clinics take privacy seriously. They won't share your records with anyone not involved in your treatment. If you have questions about your privacy, ask the doctor about it when calling for an appointment.
• If you are in the military, ask about the privacy policy.

"I'm afraid of someone seeing that I'm not in control of myself."

• Strong emotion is common, even years after the event that causes PTSD. You still may get angry easily or feel like crying. It's not your fault that you feel the way you do. Strong emotions are a symptom of PTSD. Treatment can help you cope.

"I've tried to talk to people. They just don't get it and don't care."

• It may be hard for other people to understand or relate to your experiences. But other people who experienced the same type of events can understand. Consider finding a group of people who have experiences similar to yours.

"It happened a long time ago. How can anything help me?"

• You can't change the past, but you can learn to see your past in a different way. This can help with symptoms.

"I can't afford it."

• Many towns and cities have resources that may be able to help you. Call your local social services department or welfare office to find out.
• If you have insurance, check your policy. Mental health benefits often are covered through a separate company.
• Check to see if your state has a mental health parity law. Your employer may be required to provide mental health insurance.
• Look into the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You may be able to use it to take time off for doctor visits.
• Ask your doctor for help. He or she may be able to find free or low-cost medicine or counseling.
• Check Medicaid if you have a low income, or Medicare if you are 65 or older. These programs may be able to help you.
• If you are a veteran, Vet Centers throughout the country offer treatment for combat trauma and PTSD.

"It might hurt my career."

• You may think that it will hurt your career if people at your workplace know you have PTSD. But PTSD may make it hard for you to perform your job well. Treatment can help you perform better.

"Mental health care doesn't work." "I've had counseling before and don't like it."

• Learn about treatment for PTSD and find a counselor that has experience with trauma and PTSD. You'll find that counselors with experience will understand the bad experiences you may have had.
• Mental health care, including treatment for PTSD, does work.¹

"I went to Iraq, but never saw combat. How could I have PTSD?"

• Even if you didn't see combat, you may have seen a traumatic event. For example, going through a mortar attack, seeing an improvised explosive device (IED) go off in a crowded street, seeing badly injured people in a hospital, or just being scared because you were in Iraq all could result in PTSD.

"It's normal to think about my combat experience until I get used to life in the U.S. again."

• It is normal to think about your experience for a while after the event. But if you're still thinking about it several months after the event, or if it's disturbing your life, you may want to seek help.

Citations

1. Bisson J (2006). Post-traumatic stress disorder, search date December 2005. Online version of Clinical Evidence (15): 1–18.