PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

• Care notes
• Aftercare
• Ambulatory
• Discharge
• Español

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic situation or event. You may have seen the situation or event, or experienced it. You may continue to feel sad or helpless after the event. You may feel anxious or scared, even when you are not in danger. These feelings can affect your daily activities and relationships.

What are the signs and symptoms of PTSD?

Symptoms may get better after a few weeks or months. Symptoms may come and go over time. You may have one or more of the following:

• Flashbacks (vivid memories of the event), or images of the event suddenly come into your mind
• Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or hallucinations
• Feeling anxious, restless, or on edge
• Feeling fearful or helpless, or avoiding feelings by becoming numb or detached
• Avoiding things or people that remind you of the trauma
• Avoiding thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Angry or violent outbursts
• Negative feelings about yourself, depression, or feeling guilty
• Trouble paying attention, concentrating, or getting things done

How is PTSD diagnosed?

Healthcare providers will ask you about your symptoms and use a guide to diagnose PTSD. You may have PTSD if you have had the following symptoms for at least 1 month:

• At least 1 symptom of re-experiencing the traumatic event
• At least 1 symptom of avoidance
• At least 2 overreaction symptoms or mood swings
• Distress caused by your symptoms that affects your daily activities, work, and relationships

How is PTSD treated?

PTSD affects people differently. It is important to work with your healthcare provider to find the best treatment for you. You may need one or more of the following:

• Medicines may decrease anxiety or depression, or help you stay calm and relaxed. Some medicines may help you sleep or decrease nightmares.
• Therapy may be done in a group or one on one with a therapist. Family and friends are also an important part of recovery.
  • Cognitive behavior therapy can help you learn to face the traumatic situation or event slowly and carefully. A therapist can help you learn to control your mental and physical reaction. The therapist may also teach you ways to relax muscles or do slow breathing when you feel anxious.
  • Cognitive processing therapy can help you identify how the trauma changed your thoughts and feelings. A therapist can help you see the event differently. This may help change how you feel and decrease your anxiety.
  • Exposure therapy , or prolonged exposure, gradually exposes you to the trauma in a safe way. A therapist may help you write, imagine, or visit the place where the event happened. This can help you learn how to handle your thoughts and feelings.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of exposure therapy. Providers help you focus on sounds, or hand or eye movements. This helps your brain process the difficult memories.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a procedure used to stimulate a specific part of the brain with pulses from a magnet. You may need TMS in combination with medicines and therapy.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• Prozac
• Celexa
• Zoloft
• prazosin
• sertraline

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

What are some positive things I can do for myself?

• Exercise as directed. Exercise can lift your mood, give you more energy, and make it easier to sleep.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy products, and beans. Try to eat regularly even if you do not feel hungry. Depression can increase from a lack of nutrition or if you are hungry for long periods of time.
• Create a sleep routine. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Let your healthcare provider know if you are having trouble sleeping.

Where can I find support and more information?

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  PO Box 2345
  Rockville , MD 20847-2345
  Phone: 1- 800 - 988
  Web Address: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org OR https://988lifeline.org/chat/
  

• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
  8120 Penn Ave. S., Ste. 470
  Bloomington , Minnesota 55431
  Phone: 1- 952 - 946-7998
  Web Address: http://www.save.org or https://save.org/find-help/international-resources/
  

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US), or ask someone to call if:

• You do something on purpose to hurt yourself.
• You have thoughts of or make a plan to attempt suicide.

When should I or someone close to me call my doctor or therapist?

• You continue to have symptoms for more than 1 month.
• Your symptoms become severe.
• You cannot sleep or are sleeping too much.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

© Copyright Merative 2025 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer