If you’re dealing with flashbacks or other signs tied to past traumatic events, you’re not alone and support is here. At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we offer compassionate care and guidance for anyone facing PTSD. Book your appointment today and begin your journey toward healing.
Getting to Know Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can arise after someone experiences or witnesses an extremely distressing event. In earlier times, people referred to similar reactions as “shell shock” or “combat fatigue,” but PTSD isn’t just a military-related issue—anyone, no matter their background or age, can be affected.
Those living with PTSD often wrestle with unwanted memories and intense emotions linked to their trauma, even years later. Flashbacks or nightmares might replay the event vividly, and feelings like fear, grief, or anger can feel overwhelming. Many people avoid reminders of the trauma—certain places, sounds, or faces—and may startle at loud noises or unexpected touch.
Even though it’s normal to feel shaken after a traumatic experience, if intense reactions linger or disrupt daily life, it could be PTSD. A mental health specialist—such as a psychologist or psychiatric provider—can help determine if your symptoms fit this diagnosis.
Each year, roughly 15 million adults in the U.S. meet criteria for PTSD. It can develop after events such as physical or sexual assault, abuse, serious car accidents, natural disasters, or other life-threatening situations.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community may face higher risks due to factors like childhood trauma, bullying, or physical and sexual assault.
While trauma is the main trigger, not everyone who experiences a distressing event develops PTSD. Several factors can influence the likelihood of PTSD, such as:
- Sustaining personal injuries or seeing others get hurt
- A sense of helplessness as the trauma unfolds
- A lack of emotional or social support afterward
- Continued stress after the event, like losing a job or being uprooted
- Extended challenges tied to the trauma, such as forced relocation or unemployment
- Misuse of drugs or alcohol
Common PTSD Triggers
PTSD usually starts after a traumatic incident, but the types of events can be varied. Though combat is a familiar example, many other experiences can lead to PTSD:
- Any distressing or sudden event, not limited to combat
- Surviving a natural catastrophe
- Witnessing or being in a serious accident
- Experiencing an act of terrorism
- The sudden death of someone close
Recognizing PTSD Symptoms
PTSD can even occur without directly going through the trauma—for example, a parent witnessing their child survive a life-threatening medical crisis might develop PTSD.
Mental health experts usually sort PTSD symptoms into four main categories:
- Recurrent flashbacks, bad dreams, or ongoing unsettling recollections of trauma.
- Always feeling tense, getting startled easily, having trouble sleeping or concentrating, and turning to dangerous activities like drug or alcohol misuse.
- Avoiding locations, individuals, or events that trigger trauma memories, sometimes to such an extent that normal daily routines and responsibilities become interrupted.
- Ongoing guilt, isolation from those you care about, memory issues, and a negative perspective on life.
PTSD and Co-Occurring Conditions
It’s common for PTSD to occur alongside other mental health challenges. Research indicates it often appears with:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
Because PTSD frequently coexists with additional conditions, a comprehensive treatment plan is key to effective recovery.
Approaches to PTSD Treatment
It’s natural to wonder if PTSD symptoms will ever get better, but effective treatment options are available. Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness offers various therapies to help people soothe PTSD distress, build emotional strength, and regain control over their daily routines.
Each plan is customized, since no two journeys are the same. Healing often involves trying different methods and giving each approach time to show results.
Guidelines usually recommend beginning with trauma-focused therapy and adding medication when needed. Medications can relieve symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, or intrusive thoughts. Common options include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) are known to improve mood balance and are often used for significant anxiety, whether for several weeks or longer.
- These medications can help manage intense anxiety symptoms, whether used briefly or over time. Studies show they might also lessen distressing nightmares tied to PTSD.
- Evidence suggests this medication might reduce nightmares from PTSD. If PTSD exists alongside depression, substance use, or other mental health disorders, additional medications may be needed.
When PTSD appears together with depression, addiction, or other psychiatric issues, additional medication strategies might be required.
- Getting support quickly can help avoid a spike in symptoms.
- Early intervention often prevents the situation from worsening.
- PTSD touches not just your own life but your relationships, work, and general wellness.
- Leaving PTSD unaddressed may lead to physical health issues over time.
- Irritability, rage, and heightened alertness can make daily tasks feel overwhelming.
- Even if the trauma happened long ago, starting treatment now can still make a difference.
- Trying a different strategy might help if past treatments weren’t effective.
Recovery is within reach—it’s always a good time to start your journey toward healing.
If PTSD is affecting you or someone you love, reaching out matters. Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness delivers caring, expert mental health services through face-to-face appointments and virtual sessions. Our clinicians focus on trauma-informed therapies backed by research to support you in reclaiming hope and stability.
Taking that first step can change the path of recovery. At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we provide compassionate support both in-person and online. With trauma-informed care and evidence-based approaches, our team is here to help you move forward with confidence.
Getting support for PTSD can really change your life—helping you manage emotions, rebuild routines, and improve your overall wellness. With expert guidance, you may experience fewer and milder episodes, develop deeper connections, stay on track at work, and enjoy more stable, fulfilling days. At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we provide telehealth sessions that ensure consistent, compassionate care from our credentialed team. By blending research-backed therapies with careful medication management, we equip you with practical, whole-person strategies to handle PTSD, empowering you to feel confident and proactive about your mental health.
Our professional psychiatric experts are here to support you.