Questions about treatment
There are many factors to consider when determining if you want to begin treatment. The list below includes some of the questions that patients often bring up with their clinician.
The treatment I want isn’t offered locally.
Because there are many PTSD treatment options, not every clinician will be trained in all of them. If there is one you’re most interested in that your clinician doesn’t offer, you have a few possibilities. They may offer one of the other treatments in the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid , all of which are good options. They may be able to connect you with another clinician who offers your preferred one, either locally or through telehealth. If there is a wait until one of these treatments will be available, consider other self-care options in the meantime, such as connecting with mentors, support groups, or friends and loved ones; doing your best to buffer yourself with healthy habits such as exercise, diet, or sleep; or checking out online educational materials such as AboutFace or mobile apps such as the PTSD Coach app.
What if the treatment I want isn't available?
Dr. Brittany Hall-Clark
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I’m worried treatment will be expensive.
Treatment costs vary depending on the type of treatment and type of provider. Some community providers use a "sliding fee scale," where the amount you pay is based on your income. Others have a set price per visit. If you have insurance, check your benefits to see if there will be an out-of-pocket cost for you to receive PTSD treatment. Before scheduling your first visit with a provider, always ask about how much you will pay for each visit and when payment will be due.
- For information about your eligibility to get treatment at the VA and the cost of this treatment, visit VA Health Care Enrollment and Eligibility or call 1-800-827-1000.
What if treatment does not help or hasn’t helped before?
Most people who start PTSD treatment benefit from it. But there's no single treatment that works perfectly for everyone. If the first PTSD treatment you try does not help, you have other effective options. You might be tempted to think that because one treatment did not work for you, no treatment can help you. But this is not the case. People who do not benefit from one treatment may find that another treatment is helpful.
If you have had treatment before and it didn’t help, talk to your provider. You can try a different approach than what you did before.
What if I've had treatment before?
Dr. Brittany Hall-Clark
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What if treatment makes me feel worse?
Most people who start PTSD treatment notice that their PTSD symptoms improve. But a smaller group of people notice a slight increase in their PTSD symptoms at first. This increase is usually brief, and then symptoms get better in the long run. This is similar to the temporary soreness you may feel when you start working out, which will go away if you keep exercising.
Will I feel worse before better?
Dr. Brittany Hall-Clark
0:58
What if I have had PTSD for years or decades?
Sometimes people think that because they have had PTSD for a long time, they will never get better. But PTSD treatment can help, no matter how long you have had PTSD.
Can I get PTSD treatment if I am drinking or using drugs? What if I have other mental health diagnoses?
You can still get PTSD treatment even if you are using drugs or alcohol. In fact, treating your PTSD symptoms may help you to gain more control over your alcohol or drug use.
PTSD treatment can be helpful no matter what other diagnoses you might have. Sometimes when PTSD gets better, other symptoms also get better.
Will PTSD treatment work if I’ve been told I have complex PTSD or have experienced moral injury?
Trauma-focused treatment for PTSD has been found to be helpful for PTSD related to moral injury, and for complex PTSD. All PTSD treatments are flexible enough to treat a range of traumatic experiences. Talk with your clinician about how to tailor any of these treatments to make them work for your unique experience.
