Intensive PTSD Treatment

PE: Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a form of trauma therapy different from EMDR. The theory behind PE is that we tend to avoid thinking about unpleasant past events we have experienced. This avoidance prevents them from being processed, making them feel increasingly frightening. Because they remain unprocessed, these memories continue to surface as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares. In PE, the treatment involves doing the opposite of avoidance: you engage in exposure. This means actively thinking about the distressing event, so the experiences stop being so frightening, and your body learns that the danger has passed. During treatment, you will recount the traumatic event in great detail. This naturally increases your anxiety level initially. However, the more times you do it, the less frightening it will become. Besides being an effective treatment in itself, morning PE sessions are likely also effective in reactivating the trauma, allowing it to be processed more quickly in the afternoon with EMDR.

Physical activity: Studies have shown that including physical activity positively impacts the treatment of PTSD symptoms. In Silkeborg, the focus is on high-intensity, group-based activities. The programme varies daily and includes exercises like Pilates ball workouts, circuit training, and running in the area surrounding the psychiatric centre.

Psychoeducation: Psychoeducation involves providing information and knowledge on relevant topics. It consists of six teaching sessions covering: psychoeducation about PTSD, sleep, distress tolerance, dissociation, anger, shame and guilt, and assertiveness (the healthy ability to set boundaries).

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing): A therapy modality for trauma processing, about which I have written a separate blog post.

When you have PTSD, you will often engage in avoidance behaviour. This means there are specific things you steer clear of because they can trigger anxiety and potentially flashbacks to the traumatic event. Typical avoided situations include crowded places (e.g., shopping, cinemas, concerts, public transport), specific locations in a town or country related to the trauma, or certain TV programmes and sounds associated with crime or hospitals. When engaging in exposure, you actively seek out what you fear (as long as it is safe, of course). You continue to approach it until you no longer experience anxiety. An example of an exposure plan might be: Go to REMA at 10 AM (when it's less crowded). Stay in the shop until your anxiety level significantly decreases. Do this for several consecutive days until the anxiety doesn't peak as high. Then, go to REMA at 2 PM (when it's a bit busier) in the same manner. Once that no longer causes anxiety, you can try going at 5 PM (many people). When that no longer triggers anxiety, you can try a larger shop like Føtex (more people). Through exposure, your body learns that the situation is not dangerous (e.g., grocery shopping). This is a crucial part of regaining your daily freedom. It is important not to rush the process, as you risk a setback if anxiety becomes too high and you have to withdraw. Clients are instructed to practise exposure exercises daily at home, including on non-treatment days. During the initial consultation, concrete suggestions for exposure exercises are tailored to each individual client.