What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after someone experiences a significant traumatic event. Nationally, about 64% of adults report experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), and 17.3% report four or more ACEs, which are linked to serious psychological distress and health risks. While many individuals struggle temporarily after a traumatic experience, those with PTSD often face intrusive thoughts, intense emotional reactions, and heightened anxiety for months or even years — symptoms that can significantly interfere with daily functioning.

There is a wide range of traumatic events that may result in PTSD, and individuals with multiple trauma exposures are at higher risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Some common traumas are:

  • Witnessed the death or injury of another person
  • Witnessed physical fights at home
  • Sexual violence or physical assault
  • Domestic violence
  • A child with a serious illness
  • Personal life-threatening illness
  • Car accident or other life-threatening accident
  • Unexpected death of a loved one
  • Mugged or threatened with a weapon

There are also specific professions that are exposed to trauma on a regular basis as part of their work. These professions, including police, EMTs, and military members, have a much higher incidence of PTSD.

Complex Trauma and Types of PTSD

There are two mental health conditions that are types of post-traumatic stress disorder: Acute stress disorder and complex PTSD (CPTSD).

Acute stress disorder is a short-term mental health condition that happens within the first few weeks after a traumatic experience. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, they might meet the criteria for PTSD.

Complex PTSD develops in people who have multiple traumatic experiences over time or experience prolonged exposure to trauma over time. For example, military combat, long-term childhood abuse, and ongoing domestic violence can result in CPTSD.

Impact of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD symptoms can significantly disrupt people’s daily lives. Individuals may struggle with managing their daily responsibilities, including work and school. They may also have low moods and not find joy in daily activities.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can also increase people’s risk of co-occurring disorders, including other mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders. For example, those with PTSD may have related disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, thoughts of suicide, or issues with misuse of alcohol or drugs.

Common PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms may show up immediately after stressful life events, but they can also show up a year or more afterward. Symptoms for PTSD are grouped into four categories: intrusive thoughts, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in emotional or physical reactions.

Intrusive thoughts involve symptoms such as:

  • Unwanted and distressing memories of the event that happen again and again
  • Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event
  • Upsetting dreams and nightmares about the event
  • Severe anxiety or distress when something reminds you of the event

Avoidance includes actions like:

  • Trying not to think or talk about the event
  • Staying away from places or people that remind you of the event

Changes in thinking and mood include:

  • Negative thoughts about yourself or others
  • Ongoing fear, shame, guilt, blame, and/or anger
  • Feeling detached from loved ones and friends
  • Having a hard time feeling positive emotions
  • Distorted thoughts about the cause and effects of the event that lead to falsely blaming yourself or others

Changes in emotional and physical reactions may involve:

  • Irritability and anger
  • Reckless behavior or self-destructive actions
  • Being hypervigilant
  • Being easily startled or frightened
  • Trouble sleeping and concentrating

PTSD Symptoms in Youth and Teens

Young people suffering from PTSD will have similar symptoms to adults, but they will be less able to express what’s happening to them. Parents or caregivers might notice restlessness, trouble paying attention, and emotional outbursts.

Very young children may reenact part or all of the traumatic event through play, or may struggle with frightening dreams. The dreams may or may not be about the circumstances of the event.

Treatment for teens and youth is generally provided in age-appropriate groups and tailored to their unique needs.

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Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions: PTSD

PTSD is diagnosed based on a physical exam and mental health questionnaires. The doctor will look at the traumatic event you’ve experienced, any past trauma, and evaluate any other mental health concerns as well.

The physical exam is focused on finding any physical health issues that might be causing some of your symptoms. If they find an illness, that will be treated alongside your mental health diagnosis.

Diagnosis uses the criteria in the DSM-5, which look at each of the three symptom categories. An official diagnosis includes symptoms that have lasted at least a month and includes at least one intrusion symptom, at least one avoidance symptom, and at least two symptoms from the other two categories.

What Causes PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder happens as a result of trauma, but not all trauma survivors develop PTSD. This is related to the fact that people respond to life events differently, and everyone has different levels of social support and other resources.

Academic psychiatry has studied PTSD extensively, and there’s no single answer as to why some people develop the disorder and others don’t. However, they have identified some factors can impact a person’s risk for PTSD.

  • Differences in the brain: Those who have PTSD may release more norepinephrine in response to traumatic stress. This increases the “fight or flight” response and can increase the emotional impact of trauma.
  • Family history of mental health concerns: If PTSD or other related disorders are prevalent in your family, you could have a higher risk of PTSD or other mental health conditions.
  • The type and duration of trauma: Trauma causes significant emotional pain to everyone who experiences it, but some types of trauma can be especially impactful. For example, military combat, experiences as a first responder, and sexual assault can be especially overwhelming, even for those who have good coping skills and support.
  • Trauma that happens at a young age: The science of human development shows us that the brain is deeply affected by events that happen during childhood. Trauma that happens at a young age or happens repeatedly during childhood can increase the risk of PTSD.
  • Lack of social support after trauma: Those who are isolated after a traumatic event are more likely to end up with PTSD. Having social support is an important way to cope with life events, and not having someone to talk to makes it challenging to find relief.
  • Other mental health issues or substance use: Having co-occurring disorders, such as mood disorders, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and/or depression, can make experiencing trauma especially distressing. Physical health issues, such as chronic pain, can also make such an event more disabling.
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Behavioral Health Treatment for PTSD

PTSD has multiple treatment options to help you manage the impact of the traumatic event and improve your coping skills. PTSD treatment includes evidence-based psychotherapy and medication management.

Trauma-informed therapy can be offered in individual therapy sessions, group therapy, and family therapy. Those who treat PTSD will also help you with specific symptoms, like addressing panic attacks or self-harming behaviors.

The type and setting of PTSD treatment depend on your specific treatment plan. You can also get treatment for co-occurring issues like substance use, anxiety, depression, and more. There may be tailored PTSD treatment programs for first responders, veterans, or young adults that address that group’s specific concerns.

Psychotherapy For Clients and Family Members

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a mental health treatment that takes many forms depending on what evidence-based approach is used. It’s common to get individual and group therapy along with family therapy. Family therapy can provide clinical services and educational programs to help family members understand PTSD and how best to support their loved one.

Some common evidence-based trauma therapy options include:

  • Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): This trauma-informed therapy is a form of CBT. It addresses post-traumatic stress disorder by helping you change negative thoughts and beliefs. CPT can address complex trauma and teach you healthy coping skills.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a type of PTSD treatment that allows you to reprocess memories of a traumatic event to lower the impact of that memory in your life. This lowers traumatic stress and can help you find relief from complex trauma as well.
  • Prolonged exposure therapy: Exposure therapy used for PTSD treatment is a trauma therapy focused on helping you gradually confront memories, feelings, and situations related to the traumatic event that you’ve been avoiding.

Alongside evidence-based treatment, you may have access to holistic approaches like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, art and music therapy, and more to help you manage your symptoms.

Treatment For Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Conditions

Someone with post-traumatic stress disorder may respond to a traumatic event in a particular way due to existing mental health or substance use disorders. PTSD treatment can be integrated with other therapies to address other concerns, including anxiety disorders, substance use, and other behavioral health issues. At Elevate Recovery Center, we provide a safe space for you to pursue PTSD treatment and learn coping skills that allow you to cultivate a fulfilling life.

Medication for PTSD

There’s no medication specifically for PTSD treatment, but many medications can help with related disorders, such as anxiety disorders or depression. If you have co-occurring disorders or you’ve suffered complex trauma, these medications can help you stay stable while you get the evidence-based behavioral health treatment you need.

Seek Treatment for PTSD at Elevate Recovery Center

If you are wondering “when should I seek treatment for trauma?” Experiencing traumatic stress or complex trauma can result in PTSD. The condition can be frightening and overwhelming, but the good news is that trauma therapy can help. Our team at Elevate Recovery Center can provide behavioral health treatment to address PTSD symptoms and any co-occurring disorders, including substance use disorder. If you’re ready to break free from the disruption that PTSD has caused in your life, we’re here to help. Contact us today to get started.