— Conditions —

PTSD & Trauma
What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can happen after a traumatic event—like combat, assault, serious accidents, or disasters. It involves four main groups of symptoms: unwanted memories or nightmares, avoiding reminders, negative mood or thinking, and feeling on edge. Symptoms last more than a month and make day-to-day life harder.

How common is PTSD—and who is at higher risk?

PTSD affects people of all ages. In the U.S., about 8% of people will have PTSD at some point in life. Women are affected more often than men. Risk goes up with severe or repeated trauma, earlier trauma, limited social support, and family or personal history of mental health conditions.

What does PTSD feel like?
  • Intrusions: upsetting memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
  • Avoidance: steering clear of people, places, or topics that remind you of the event
  • Negative changes: feeling detached, guilt or blame, loss of interest, or persistent negative beliefs
  • Arousal: irritability, being “on guard,” trouble concentrating or sleeping, or being easily startled
How is PTSD diagnosed?

MDD—often called “clinical depression”—is a common, serious medical condition. About 1 in 5 people will experience it at some point in life, and about 1 in 10 in any given year. It affects how you feel, think, sleep, eat, and function day-to-day.

What other conditions happen alongside PTSD?

PTSD often occurs with depression, other anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. It can also be linked with physical health problems like chronic pain or heart disease. This mix can make symptoms feel more intense and treatment more complex—but help is available.

What does major depression feel like?

There’s no single cause. PTSD reflects how trauma impacts the brain and body over time. Factors include:

  • Changes in sleep or appetite
  • Low energy and fatigue
  • Trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Moving or speaking more slowly—or feeling restless
  • Thoughts of death or suicide (seek help right away if this happens)

What treatments work?

1

Therapy (first-line):

Trauma-focused care such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and EMDR helps many people reduce symptoms and regain function.

2

Medication:

SSRIs and SNRIs can help with mood, anxiety, and sleep. Your clinician may combine medication with therapy.

3

Emerging options:

Some newer approaches (for example, specific brain-stimulation like dTMS or medicine-assisted therapies) are being studied and may be considered when standard treatments don’t help enough.

View Treatments Options

What gets in the way of care?

Stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access can delay diagnosis and treatment. Reaching out early, involving trusted supports, and finding trauma-informed care can make a big difference.

What’s the outlook?

Many people improve a lot with the right treatment and support. PTSD can become long-lasting without care, and symptoms can flare during new stress. Sticking with treatment, building coping skills, and maintaining support systems help recovery and reduce relapse.