Q Every night I have nightmares and flashbacks come during the day too—will these ever lessen? I don't know how to tell whether I'm getting better.
A A decrease in the frequency of nightmares and a weakening in the intensity of flashbacks are the first signs of recovery. In many cases sleep quality improves first, followed by a reduction in re-experiencing responses and the recovery of daily functioning.
Detailed Answer
An early indicator of PTSD recovery is a decrease in the frequency and vividness of nightmares. Flashbacks also weaken in intensity, the time spent reacting to the same trigger shortens, and the ability to return to the present on your own develops, in that order. Increased participation in daily activities and being able to think about the future are also signs of recovery.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we regard improving sleep as the first goal of recovery. When sleep quality is restored first through herbal medicine containing spirit-calming (anshin) ingredients such as sour jujube seed and longan flesh, together with Shenmen and Neiguan acupuncture, the daytime hyperarousal state often stabilizes along with it. During treatment we regularly check how much the nightmares have decreased so that we can track the progress of recovery together.
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