Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that is a result of exposure to traumatic occurrences. The anxiety experienced in PTSD, sometimes years after the traumatic event or series of events, causes symptoms that interfere in one’s ability to go about daily life. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, nightmares and sleep disturbances, invasive and repetitive memories of the trauma, difficulty concentrating, avoidance of events that remind one of the trauma, isolation, numbing out of emotions, relationship problems, and a sense of being constantly on guard for danger.

Often people experiencing PTSD have other co-occurring issues that may be a result of or related to the PTSD such as alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, depression, problems caused by unresolved anger, thoughts of suicide or self-harming behaviors.

Treatment for PTSD can take many forms, depending on the original traumatizing event(s) and risk factors a patient may have such as chronic stressors, family history, and exposure to previous or childhood traumas or adversities. Depending on the patient’s history and symptoms, blends of therapeutic treatments are used. These may include cognitive restructuring, mindfulness training, relaxation training, cognitive behavioral training, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other appropriate therapeutic tools.