Mental Health
What Is PTSD?
What is PTSD? Understand the signs, causes, and treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder and find ways to manage and improve mental well-being.
Trauma doesn’t always leave visible wounds, but its effects can linger for decades. If you or someone you care about experiences nightmares, anxiety, or a constant sense of fear, it might not just be stress, it could be Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
When untreated, PTSD can significantly impair daily life interfering with your ability to maintain relationships, perform at work, and manage basic responsibilities. Individuals with PTSD may feel detached from loved ones, struggle with concentration, or feel trapped in a cycle of reliving traumatic memories. At The Edge Treatment Center, we do not flinch from the weight of your story. We provide custom treatment plans to help you shoulder, and unburden your trauma. This page will walk you through the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for PTSD. Because you deserve more than survival, you deserve relief, recovery, and peace.
Understanding PTSD
PTSD reshapes how a person thinks, feels, and reacts to the world. For some, symptoms begin within days or weeks of a traumatic event, when the initial shock begins to recede. For others, they surface months or even years later. Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts may replay the event involuntarily. Emotional numbness or withdrawal can make relationships feel distant or disconnected.
This is how trauma rewires the brain to stay alert to danger, even when the danger is no longer there. The result? A constant undercurrent of anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and a sense of being emotionally “stuck.” Without proper support, these symptoms can quietly take over, making work, relationships, and daily life feel fragmented or unmanageable.
Who Can Develop PTSD?
While trauma is the root cause of PTSD, some people are more at risk than others. Long-lasting or highly intense trauma, existing conditions like anxiety or depression, and lack of emotional support can all raise the chances of developing PTSD. For those who already struggle with anxiety, trauma can deepen feelings of fear and hypervigilance, making symptoms more overwhelming and recovery more complex. But with the right care, healing is still possible.
Combat Veterans: Military personnel often face life-threatening situations, extreme stress, and exposure to violence, making them highly susceptible to PTSD.
Assault Survivors: Victims of physical or sexual assault may experience PTSD due to the intense emotional and physical distress caused by their experiences.
Accident Victims: Survivors of severe accidents, such as car crashes or workplace incidents, may develop PTSD, especially if they sustained injuries or witnessed fatalities.
Natural Disaster Survivors: Experiencing hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, or fires can leave individuals with lasting emotional scars and PTSD symptoms.
First Responders: Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical personnel frequently witness traumatic events and may develop PTSD over time.
Childhood Trauma Survivors: Children who endure abuse, neglect, or violence are at high risk of developing PTSD later in life.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms vary from person to person but generally fall into four main categories: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
1. Intrusive Memories
Flashbacks: Vividly reliving the trauma as if it’s happening again.
Nightmares: Recurring, distressing dreams related to the event.
Distressing thoughts or images: Involuntary, persistent memories that cause emotional distress.
2. Avoidance
Avoiding triggers: Steering clear of places, people, conversations, or activities associated with the event.
Emotional numbing: Withdrawing from others and losing interest in hobbies or relationships once enjoyed.
3. Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
Hopelessness or persistent negativity: Feeling that life won’t get better.
Memory problems: Difficulty recalling important aspects of the traumatic event.
Emotional detachment: Feeling disconnected from loved ones or emotionally “shut down.”
4. Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions (Arousal Symptoms)
Hypervigilance: Being easily startled or constantly on alert.
Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, often due to nightmares or anxiety.
Irritability or anger: Unexplained outbursts or increased frustration in everyday situations.
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Diagnosis of PTSD
PTSD is diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To receive a PTSD diagnosis, an individual must experience symptoms from the following categories for at least one month:
Exposure to Trauma: Directly experiencing, witnessing, or learning about a traumatic event that happened to a close friend or family member.
Intrusive Symptoms: Recurring distressing memories, nightmares, or flashbacks related to the traumatic event.
Avoidance Symptoms: Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, people, places, or activities associated with the trauma.
Negative Changes in Mood and Cognition: Persistent negative emotions, distorted thoughts about oneself or others, and difficulty recalling aspects of the trauma.
Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity: Hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and being easily startled.
Treatment Options
Seeking treatment for PTSD is essential for managing symptoms and improving overall well-being. Various options are available, ranging from therapy and medication to alternative treatments that provide additional support.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A widely used approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns related to their trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A therapy that uses guided eye movements to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity.
Medications
Antidepressants: Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety often associated with PTSD.
Anti-Anxiety Medications: These can help manage heightened anxiety levels but are typically prescribed for short-term use due to the risk of dependency.
Alternative Therapies
Service Animals: Specially trained dogs can provide emotional support and assist individuals with PTSD in managing daily challenges.
Support Groups: Connecting with others who have experienced similar trauma can provide emotional validation and coping strategies.
Seeking the right combination of treatments can significantly improve PTSD symptoms and enhance overall well-being. A tailored approach that includes professional guidance and support is essential for long-term recovery.
PTSD and Co-Occurring Disorders
PTSD often occurs alongside other mental health conditions, complicating recovery and treatment. Understanding these co-occurring disorders can help individuals receive comprehensive care tailored to their needs.
Substance Use Disorders
Many individuals with PTSD turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate and numb emotional pain. However, substance use often worsens PTSD symptoms, leading to a vicious cycle of addiction and trauma-related distress.
Treatment programs that address both PTSD and addiction simultaneously, such as trauma-informed addiction therapy, can help individuals achieve lasting recovery.
Depression and Anxiety
PTSD often coexists with other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders. Individuals with PTSD may experience persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, panic attacks, and excessive worry.
Addressing these co-occurring disorders through integrated therapy, medication, and support groups can significantly improve mental health outcomes and quality of life.
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Struggling with PTSD? Let Us Help You Heal
PTSD is a serious mental health condition that can make everyday life feel overwhelming. But recovery is possible. If you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD, The Edge Treatment Center is here to help.
Our compassionate team offers personalized treatment plans to support your journey toward healing. You don’t have to face PTSD alone—reach out today and take the first step toward a healthier, happier life.
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If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there is hope. Our team can guide you on your journey to recovery. Call us today.
Written by
The Edge Treatment Center
Reviewed by
Jeremy ArztChief Clinical Officer
Mental Health
May 14, 2025
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as assault, warfare, or natural disasters. It involves symptoms like intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative mood changes, and heightened arousal. These symptoms can significantly impair daily functioning.
PTSD is diagnosed by a mental health professional based on criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Diagnosis involves assessing symptoms like re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance, negative mood alterations, and increased arousal, persisting for over a month.
Common treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also prescribed. These treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and improve coping mechanisms.
While not entirely preventable, early interventions like talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and establishing a supportive environment may reduce the risk of developing PTSD after trauma. Personal coping strategies and grounding techniques also play a role in managing potential symptoms.
Individuals exposed to traumatic events such as combat, physical or sexual assault, severe accidents, or natural disasters are at risk of developing PTSD. Factors like experiencing intense or prolonged trauma, having other mental health issues, and lacking a support system can increase this risk.