Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Table of Contents

  • What is PTSD?

  • Types of PTSD

  • Symptoms and Diagnosis

  • Treatment Approaches

  • Telehealth for PTSD

  • Living Well with PTSD

  • References

What is PTSD?

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel and behave?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as violence, accidents, natural disasters, abuse, or combat. Unlike typical stress reactions, PTSD causes persistent distress, intrusive memories, and significant impact on daily life. Worldwide, about 3.9–6.8% of adults experience PTSD during their lifetime.

Types of PTSD

  • Acute PTSD [symptoms persist 1–3 months after the trauma]
    Develops soon after the traumatic incident with symptoms lasting up to three months.

  • Chronic PTSD [symptoms persist longer than three months]
    Symptoms endure or worsen for months or years following the trauma.

  • Complex PTSD (CPTSD) [higher lifetime risk in those with repeated or prolonged trauma]
    Results from extended or repeated exposure to traumatic situations, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence; includes additional emotional, behavioral, and relational problems beyond standard PTSD.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

PTSD symptoms cluster into four categories:

  • Intrusive Memories: Distressing recollections, nightmares, or flashbacks.

  • Avoidance: Steering clear of reminders, places, or conversations about the trauma.

  • Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: Feelings of guilt, detachment, persistent sadness, memory issues, and loss of interest in activities.

  • Changes in Arousal and Reactivity: Irritability, hypervigilance, sleep problems, and being easily startled.

Diagnosis is made by a mental health professional using criteria from DSM-5 or ICD-11, based on the presence of these symptoms for more than one month and significant disruption to everyday life.

Treatment Approaches

Effective management of PTSD may include:

  • Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), prolonged exposure, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

  • Medication: Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs) and sometimes mood stabilizers or antipsychotics.

  • Supportive Therapy: Group therapy, peer support, family counseling, and education about trauma and PTSD.

Treatment plans are tailored and may involve a combination of approaches.

Telehealth for PTSD

Telehealth has expanded access to PTSD care through secure video, phone, or online sessions with licensed professionals. Individuals benefit from remote trauma therapy, medication management, real-time symptom tracking, and educational resources, helpful for those with mobility issues, rural residence, or privacy concerns. Digital platforms now support veterans, first responders, and survivors in diverse settings.

If you or a loved one suffer with PTSD and would like to explore treatment options, you may schedule in with our clinicans below:

Schedule Now

If you find the person you were looking to schedule with is no longer accepting patients, feel free to contact us at 734-707-1052, Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm, and we will see if we can find any openings for you with another similar provider.

References

National Institute of Mental Health. (2018, December 31). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsdnimh.nih

World Health Organization. (2024, May 26). Post-traumatic stress disorder fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorderwho

Mayo Clinic. (2024, August 15). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967mayoclinic


Psychiatry.org. (2024, December 31). What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsdpsychiatry


NCBI Bookshelf. (2024, February 24). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559129/ncbi.nlm.nih


BMJ Best Practice. (2024, June 3). Post-traumatic stress disorder – Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/430bestpractice.bmj


PTSD: National Center for PTSD – VA.gov. (2024). PTSD and DSM-5 essentials. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/dsm5_ptsd.aspptsd.va


ADAA. (2024, December 16). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsdadaa