Post-traumatic stress disorder can be an incredibly challenging condition to manage. People diagnosed with PTSD will often find it disruptive to their lives, and it can have a harmful effect on their performance at work or their relationships. Anyone suffering from the effects of PTSD should seek treatment as soon as possible.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health disorder that develops after a person has experienced a traumatic or shocking event. Most people who experience some level of trauma may show signs or symptoms for a few days afterward.
Individuals with PTSD continue to show long-term, or chronic, effects related to their trauma for extended periods. Without treatment, a person may suffer from symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder for their entire life.
The brain and body will have a natural reaction to trauma. This is normal and based on an instinctual warning to avoid danger. However, people who develop PTSD have a change in their psychology that causes instinctual warnings of danger even when a threat is no longer present.
PTSD is a relatively new name for a condition that has always existed.
Due to the traumatic events experienced during war or battle, soldiers have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for a long time. During the First World War, soldiers were commonly diagnosed with being “shell shocked” after experiencing trauma. In the Second World War, the diagnosis was changed to being “battle fatigued”.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD symptoms generally fall into four categories: arousal, re-experiencing, avoidance, and changes in cognition and mood. Not everyone with PTSD experiences every symptom, and symptom intensity can vary widely from person to person, potentially changing over time.
Symptoms typically appear within three months of a traumatic event, though they can also emerge later. For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms generally need to last more than a month and cause significant distress or disruption to daily life. A closer look at each symptom category follows below.
Arousal, also known as reactivity symptoms, are reactionary changes to situations caused by a traumatic experience. While arousal symptoms are generally based on reactions to other things, the symptoms are usually constant.
Arousal symptoms often lead to outbursts, sometimes violent, that can cause a variety of problems. Without treatment, many people with PTSD have trouble maintaining a relationship or fulfilling obligations at work due to arousal symptoms.
Arousal or reactivity symptoms include:
Re-experiencing symptoms are defined as sensory reactions that remind a person of their traumatic experiences. Unlike cognition and arousal symptoms, re-experiencing symptoms are not constant. Re-experiencing symptoms are based on triggering events, such as certain sounds, smells, or places.
Once the reaction has been triggered, a person suffering from PTSD will often feel that they are back in the moment of their trauma. This can be both incredibly scary for the individual and disruptive to their lives.
Examples of re-experiencing symptoms include:
Avoidance symptoms are defined by an attempt to avoid situations that may trigger reactions or memories of trauma. Much like re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms are not necessarily constantly felt or noticed.
Avoidance usually occurs after re-experiencing symptoms begin. To prevent any further symptoms, a person suffering from PTSD will try to limit their exposure to circumstances that may be triggering. This method is an unhealthy attempt to manage PTSD symptoms and not a practical approach to treatment.
Avoidance symptoms include:
These symptoms affect how a person thinks and feels about themselves, others, and the world around them after a traumatic experience. Unlike re-experiencing or avoidance symptoms, these changes may be less visible from the outside — but they are often just as disruptive to daily life.
These changes include:
Because these symptoms can overlap with depression, they are sometimes missed or misattributed during an initial evaluation. This is why a comprehensive clinical assessment is essential for accurate diagnosis and a clear treatment plan.
Despite post-traumatic stress disorder being most commonly associated with soldiers or people who experienced life-threatening trauma, anyone can develop PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be caused by any event terrifying enough for the person involved to be permanently affected.
Sexual assault and rape are events that can commonly lead to PTSD. Other events, including threats, bullying, car accidents, natural disasters, or any other dangerous or terrifying experience, can cause PTSD.
While post-traumatic stress disorder does not have a cure, treatment aims to reduce the symptoms interfering with daily life and have a harmful impact on physical or mental health. Treatment may involve a combination of psychotherapy and medication options.
Because PTSD often appears alongside co-occurring disorders such as substance use, an integrated treatment approach is often most effective. Understanding the link between PTSD and co-occurring addiction can help patients and families choose the right level of care.
Doctors may often prescribe antidepressants or mood stabilizers to lessen symptoms associated with PTSD. If the disorder is preventing sleep, it is possible sleeping medication may also be used. Due to the various options used to treat symptoms of PTSD, it may take time for your doctor to find the best medication to fit your needs.
Although medication can be helpful, it should not be considered a cure for the condition. Any medications prescribed should be viewed as one aspect of a broader treatment plan.
Several talk therapy options can help people overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy can both help people manage their stress and regulate emotions associated with trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also an alternative form of treatment specifically designed to help people overcome trauma.
EMDR is a structured therapy that helps the brain process traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming. During a session, the person recalls a distressing memory while focusing on an external stimulus, like guided eye movements, which can reduce how vivid and uncomfortable the memory feels over time.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) takes a different but complementary approach, helping people identify and reframe the thought patterns that keep them stuck in cycles of fear, avoidance, or self-blame.
Both approaches are identified as effective options in the American Psychological Association’s clinical practice guideline for PTSD. It prioritizes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment, with EMDR recommended as an effective second-line option. Many treatment plans draw on both approaches, along with other trauma-focused methods, tailored to what works best for the individual.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may also play a valuable role for people who experience significant emotion dysregulation alongside their PTSD symptoms. DBT focuses on building skills for tolerating distress and regulating emotion, and it is sometimes used alongside trauma-focused therapies like CBT and EMDR, particularly for people with a history of self-destructive coping patterns or co-occurring difficulties such as borderline personality disorder.
Can PTSD and addiction be treated together? Yes — and for many people, addressing both conditions at the same time, through the same coordinated clinical team, works better than treating them separately.
It is common for someone living with PTSD to use alcohol or other substances as a way to quiet flashbacks, ease hypervigilance, or fall asleep at night. This isn’t a failure of willpower — it is often an attempt to manage symptoms that haven’t been properly treated. Over time, though, substance use can mask PTSD symptoms, delay an accurate diagnosis, and make both conditions more difficult to treat.
Research from the VA National Center for PTSD and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) points to integrated treatment as generally more effective than treating either condition in isolation.
This kind of dual diagnosis care typically involves trauma-focused therapy, support through cravings and withdrawal, and close coordination between the clinicians overseeing each part of a person’s care.
If you’re not sure which condition came first, or whether your drinking or drug use is connected to a past trauma, that’s a conversation worth having with a treatment provider — not something you need to figure out on your own before reaching out.
A clinical assessment is typically the starting point for PTSD treatment. During this initial meeting, a licensed provider asks about your history, symptoms, and co-occurring concerns like anxiety, depression, and substance use. This conversation is the foundation for a treatment plan built around your specific needs.
From there, most people move into a combination of individual therapy and — depending on the severity of symptoms — group therapy or a higher level of care like residential or partial hospitalization treatment.
Sessions may feel uncomfortable at first, particularly once trauma work begins. It isn’t unusual to feel worse before feeling better as difficult memories are processed in a safe, structured setting. A thoughtful clinician paces this work based on what you can handle, rather than pushing beyond what’s helpful.
Progress with PTSD is rarely a straight line. Some days will feel like steps backward. That’s a normal part of the process — not a sign that treatment isn’t working. Over time, many people find their symptoms become more manageable, even if they don’t disappear entirely. They gradually regain a sense of safety and control they hadn’t felt in a long time.
At AM Health Care, we are here to help you address your mental health in any way possible. We believe in designing a treatment plan that precisely suits your condition and your needs. Mental health disorders can be disruptive and potentially dangerous when left untreated, so there is no reason to wait any longer.
Please call us today at 866-806-8142 to learn more about how we can help you and potential treatment options. Our admissions team can help match you with the AM Health Care facility and level of care best suited to your PTSD treatment needs.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy is considered the most effective starting point for PTSD. The American Psychological Association’s clinical guideline recommends trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment, with EMDR as another effective, well-researched option. Medication, such as antidepressants, can help manage symptoms alongside therapy. The best treatment for any individual depends on their symptoms, history, and co-occurring conditions — which is why care at AM Health Care starts with a clinical assessment.
It varies with symptom severity and the type of treatment. Structured trauma-focused therapies like CBT or EMDR often run 8 to 16 weekly sessions, while people with longstanding trauma or co-occurring conditions may benefit from longer care. Some people start in a residential or partial hospitalization program for a few weeks, then step down to outpatient therapy. Progress isn’t always linear — treatment length should follow clinical need rather than a fixed calendar.
Five common signs of PTSD are flashbacks or nightmares that replay the trauma; avoiding places, people, or reminders of the event; feeling constantly on edge or easily startled; persistent negative thoughts, guilt, or self-blame; and feeling emotionally numb or detached from others. Symptoms that last more than a month and interfere with daily life warrant a professional evaluation.
Recovery from PTSD usually starts with a clinical assessment, followed by trauma-focused therapy such as CBT or EMDR, sometimes supported by medication. Many people also need care for related concerns — anxiety, depression, or substance use — treated together rather than separately. With treatment, symptoms typically become more manageable over time, and many people regain a sense of safety and control, even if some symptoms never disappear completely.
Simple, non-judgmental support goes a long way: “I believe you,” “It’s not your fault,” and “I’m here when you want to talk” are good starting points. Avoid pressing for details of the trauma or telling them to “move on.” Encourage professional help when they’re ready — offering to help find a provider or sit with them during a call is often more useful than advice.
AM Health Care offers all levels of care for inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance treatment. We have six different facilities that each specialize in a different aspect of addiction and mental health recovery, ensuring that wherever we offer AM Health Care treatment, you or a loved one will be placed in the hands of an experienced professional.
While we will do our best to accommodate any requests toward any of our six different facilities, we cannot guarantee placement at any one location. This is because each AM Health Care facility offers different levels of care for either substance treatment or mental health treatment. When you contact the AM Health Care team, we will do our best to accommodate your needs and place you in a facility that will help you the most.
AM Health Care accepts most major insurance providers’ PPO policies. The best way to know if your insurance will cover your treatment at AM Health Care is to get in touch with our team. If you’d like to have us reach out to you about your insurance, use our verify insurance form.
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