Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes anxiety, flashbacks, and many other symptoms that persist and upset your life long after the traumatic event. The caring team at the Mental Health Clinic of Idaho specializes in helping people with PTSD move past the trauma with medication management and therapy. You can get excellent treatment through telehealth appointments or in-person office visits.

PTSD Q & A

Why do I have PTSD?

Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event triggers a powerful fight-or-flight response. This reaction gives you the energy and focus to deal with the situation or protect yourself by fleeing. But the chemical changes can have a long-lasting effect on your brain.

Many people calm down, and their body’s biochemistry returns to normal. Others develop PTSD because their brain stays in survival mode instead of regaining balance. Then you experience fear or a fight-or-flight reaction to everyday activities that shouldn’t cause anxiety.

Most people develop PTSD after one of the following events:

• Gun violence
• Military duty
• Physical assault or abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Domestic violence
• Robberies
• Accidents (car, plane, boat, etc.)
• Death of a loved one
• Natural disasters

You can end up with PTSD after one traumatic event or by suffering through many single events, like years of emotional abuse or bullying.

What symptoms does PTSD cause?

Your Mental Health Clinic of Idaho provider offers compassionate treatment that helps you overcome PTSD symptoms, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Irritability
• Anger
• Aggression
• Insomnia
• Social isolation
• Guilt or shame
• Avoidance

Avoidance refers to staying away from the people and places that remind you of the traumatic event. The need to avoid the anxiety caused by your PTSD triggers can be so strong that you rearrange your days or stop going to work.

Why do PTSD symptoms suddenly flare up?

Your brain records sensory details like odors and sounds during the traumatic event. Chances are you don’t remember them because your brain hides them in your subconscious.

As you go about your day, you may unknowingly come across one of those details. The detail triggers your memory and causes a flashback. As a result, you suddenly feel fear, anger, anxiety, panic, or other symptoms that seem to appear out of the blue.

What treatments can improve PTSD?

After learning about your symptoms and completing an evaluation, your Mental Health Clinic of Idaho provider may recommend medication management and/or therapy.

Medications can ease PTSD symptoms, while talk therapy helps you understand the effect of the trauma, face the memories, and cope with your symptoms.