Negative emotions can cause a person with PTSD to become emotionally dysregulated, undermining one's ability to process these emotions constructively. Emotional dysregulation can then cause that person make attributions about what those emotions mean, the situation they're in, or other people's intentions that are distorted from reality. This can range from having emotions that are exaggerated to the situation to experiencing post-traumatic flashbacks. 

Albeit acceptance is a powerful skill that helps us better regulate our negative emotions and attain peace of mind, those who have PTSD need to buffer themselves from the risk of triggering a post-traumatic reaction. For some people therapy alone can be helpful in managing these symptoms. Others need to supplement therapy with some form of medication. Whether that be traditional medicine or alternative medicinal options like medical cannabis it's vital that those with PTSD use these under the supervision of a trained mental health practitioner. 

What to look for when seeking help:

Even if you feel Dan is not the right clinician for you it is important that you be selective based on some essential criteria so that you or your loved one do not experience a worsening of the condition or suffer harm at the hands of someone who claims to know what they're doing, but doesn't have the appropriate training: 

- Most important!!! - Make sure the clinician you choose has the appropriate license and training to treat Post-Traumatic Stress. License types in the field of mental health that do fit this criterion are LMHC, LICSW, LMFT, Psy.D., and Ph.D (the latter Ph.D. must be in psychology). In the medical field an M.D. who is a psychiatrist and Nurse Practitioner (if they are a certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner). Any person who does not hold one of these license types and is claiming to be ableto help with or treat PTSD is practicing without a license and may be breaking the law. This includes anybody with the title of Coach or a nurse, even if they are an R.N. (Registered Nurse) as R.N.'s are not licensed to provide individual treatment that is not directly supervised by a Medical Doctor (M.D.) and definitely are not trained to work with the complexities of PTSD or other mental health issues.

- When contacting the appropriately licensed clinician make sure that they have experience and have been trained to work with PTSD. Though all licensed mental health professionals do have education about how to treat PTSD not all of those clinicians have a background in working with PTSD. Some may also not be comfortable treating post-traumatic stress. Make sure to ask each mental health professional about their background, training, and comfort level in working with PTSD.