PTSD

PTSD develops when you experience or witness something traumatic that your mind struggles to process. The condition can follow car accidents, assaults, natural disasters, abuse, combat, or other events that threaten your safety or the safety of someone close to you. 

Your brain’s normal stress response gets stuck in overdrive, causing symptoms that persist long after the event. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but when it does occur, the symptoms can disrupt your work, sleep, and connections with people you care about.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms vary but typically involve reliving the trauma through intrusive memories or nightmares. You might avoid places, people, or activities that remind you of what happened, even when that avoidance limits your life.

Other symptoms include:

• Being startled easily at sudden movements or sounds
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Irritability or anger that feels hard to control
• Trouble concentrating on tasks
• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
• Persistent negative thoughts about yourself or others

These reactions stem from how trauma affects brain chemistry and function, not from personal weakness or failure.

What are the treatments for PTSD?

The independent providers at Bluegrass Mental Health build your treatment around what happened to you and how it shows up in your life now. Effective treatment options for PTSD include:

Individualized therapy

Trauma-focused therapy helps you work through distressing memories and develop coping strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy addresses thought patterns that maintain PTSD symptoms, while other approaches — like prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy — also help reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories.

Medication management

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can ease symptoms like persistent anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption. The independent providers select medications that target your specific issues and adjust treatment based on your response.

Will I always have PTSD?

Treatment changes the trajectory of PTSD for most people. Your symptoms can decrease substantially with the right combination of therapy and medication. Time to respond varies--some people feel better sooner, while others need longer. 

PTSD treatment can help you move forward if trauma has been holding you back. Call Bluegrass Mental Health or schedule your appointment online today to discuss PTSD treatment.