Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that was developed by psychologists in the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was specifically designed to help people suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may arise after someone experiences a traumatic event. PTSD is a syndrome that can include symptoms such as [Read more…]
For those of us who were living in New York or Washington on September 11th, 2001, and for those of us who were otherwise affected by the events of that day, each anniversary of that date can bring its own difficult memories. It is not uncommon for those who were affected by 9/11 to experience an increase in certain unpleasant symptoms on anniversaries of 9/11/01. These can include troubling memories, dreams or nightmares, anxiety, avoidance of reminders of 9/11, feeling emotionally “numb,” depression, or increased alertness (sometimes described as feeling overly “on guard”). These are symptoms of posttraumatic anxiety. For some people, these [Read more…]