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Yes. They can help the healing process occur faster. Remember:
| DO | learn about the disorder |
| DO | talk to others about the problems you're having |
| DO | expose yourself to situations that remind you of the trauma |
| DO | take medication if prescribed, in the recommended dosage |
| DO | give your medication time to work and report side effects |
| DO | stick with your treatment--give it time to work |
| DO | join a support group. |
| DON'T | ignore what you're experiencing and reexperiencing |
| DON'T | avoid situations that remind you of the trauma |
| DON'T | keep the traumatic experience to yourself |
| DON'T | drink alcohol or use other drugs to numb your pain |
| DON'T | give up hope! |
| DON'T | forget--you are not alone and you are not to blame. |
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps transfer information from one brain cell (neuron) to another. Imbalances in serotonin are thought to play a major role in causing or continuing PTSD. Antidepressant medications may work by correcting these imbalances. The antidepressants known as SSRIs are unlike most other antidepressants in that they have little effect on neurotransmitters other than serotonin. Although quite different in their chemical structures, these medications share the property of inhibiting serotonin reuptake, so their modes of action and side effects are similar.
