PTSD and trauma treatment
Trauma changes how the nervous system reads safety. That is a physiological process, not a failure of resilience.
PTSD can follow a single event or a long period of exposure. It is not limited to combat or disaster, and it is not a measure of how strong someone is. It develops when the nervous system stays in a threat state after the threat has passed.
How it presents
- Intrusive memories, nightmares or flashbacks
- Avoiding people, places, conversations or reminders connected to the event
- Feeling constantly on guard, startling easily, or difficulty sleeping
- Numbness, detachment, or a persistent sense that something is wrong
- Changes in how you see yourself and other people
Symptoms can begin immediately or surface months later, and delayed onset is common enough that it should not cast doubt on the connection.
Treatment
Trauma treatment works, and it does not require narrating the worst thing that happened to you before you are ready. The first phase is usually about stabilisation and building tolerance, and processing follows when it is useful rather than on a schedule.
Medication can help with the symptoms that make everything else harder, particularly sleep disruption and hypervigilance. It is frequently used alongside therapy rather than instead of it.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. This website is not for emergencies.
Where this is treated
Common questions
Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail?
Can PTSD start months after the event?
Does PTSD only affect people who served in the military?
Talk to someone this week.
Send us your insurance details and we will tell you what your plan covers before you commit to an appointment.