PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic or frightening event. While it is normal to experience stress, fear, or emotional distress after trauma, some people continue to experience symptoms long after the event has ended.

PTSD can affect thoughts, emotions, sleep, relationships, concentration, and everyday functioning. It can occur in people of any age and may develop after a single traumatic event or repeated exposure to trauma.

Trauma does not affect everyone in the same way, and developing PTSD is not a sign of weakness. PTSD is a treatable condition, and professional support can help you regain a sense of safety and control.

What Can Cause PTSD?

PTSD may develop after experiencing, witnessing, or learning about a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

Potential traumatic experiences may include:

• Physical or sexual assault
• Serious accidents or injuries
• Combat or military-related experiences
• Natural disasters
• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Domestic violence
• Serious medical experiences
• Sudden or traumatic loss
• Witnessing violence or a traumatic event

Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms generally fall into four main categories.

1. Intrusive Memories

You may experience:

• Recurrent, unwanted memories of the trauma
• Distressing dreams or nightmares
• Flashbacks or feeling as though the event is happening again
• Intense emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the trauma

2. Avoidance

You may try to avoid:

• Thoughts or memories related to the trauma
• People, places, activities, or situations that remind you of what happened
• Conversations about the traumatic experience

Avoidance may provide temporary relief but can sometimes make it harder to process the trauma over time.

3. Changes in Mood and Thinking

PTSD may cause:

• Persistent negative thoughts or beliefs
• Feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or hopelessness
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Loss of interest in activities
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
• Difficulty remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Feeling disconnected from others

4. Increased Alertness and Reactivity

You may experience:

• Being easily startled
• Irritability or anger
• Difficulty relaxing
• Problems concentrating
• Sleep difficulties
• Feeling constantly on guard
• Risky or impulsive behavior

Symptoms can vary from person to person and may change over time.

How Is PTSD Diagnosed?

PTSD is diagnosed through a comprehensive mental health evaluation. A provider will review your symptoms, trauma history, how long symptoms have been present, and how they affect your daily functioning.

According to diagnostic criteria, PTSD symptoms must persist for more than one month and cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of life.

Your provider may also evaluate for other conditions that can occur alongside PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, substance use disorders, or sleep disorders.

Treatment for PTSD

PTSD is treatable. Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, experiences, medical history, preferences, and treatment goals.

Treatment may include:

• Trauma-focused psychotherapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
• Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Medication management
• Stress-management and coping strategies
• Sleep and lifestyle support

Not every treatment is appropriate for every person. Your provider can help determine the approach that best fits your needs.

Living With PTSD

Healing from trauma takes time, and recovery does not look the same for everyone. Learning to recognize triggers, developing healthy coping strategies, maintaining supportive relationships, establishing healthy sleep routines, and receiving appropriate professional care can support recovery.

You do not have to forget what happened in order to heal. Treatment can help reduce the intensity of symptoms and improve your ability to feel safe, connected, and engaged in everyday life.

PTSD Treatment at Solidbase Behavioral Health

At Solidbase Behavioral Health, we provide compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and adults ages 6 and older through secure and convenient telehealth appointments.

Our approach is trauma-informed, patient-centered, and individualized. We take the time to understand your experiences and symptoms while creating a safe and supportive environment for your mental health care.

We provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, patient education, and individualized treatment plans for PTSD and other mental health conditions.

You are more than what happened to you. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Schedule an appointment with Solidbase Behavioral Health to receive a comprehensive evaluation and explore personalized treatment options for PTSD.