Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

brown rock formation on sea during daytime ptsd

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

Trauma leaves deep marks. For some, the effects of trauma fade with time and support. But for others, the impact lingers — showing up as flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness. These symptoms are part of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

PTSD can affect anyone — survivors of abuse, accidents, combat, natural disasters, medical trauma, or even ongoing stress in relationships and work. It often disrupts sleep, concentration, relationships, and self-confidence, leaving people feeling stuck in the past.

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we specialize in helping professionals, students, and young adults heal from trauma. Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and trauma-focused approaches, we provide tools to regulate emotions, build resilience, and move forward with hope.

What Is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs after exposure to trauma. The trauma may be a single event (e.g., an accident) or repeated experiences (e.g., ongoing abuse or combat).

PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than one month and significantly impair daily functioning.

Types of PTSD include:

Acute PTSD: Symptoms lasting between one and three months.
Chronic PTSD: Symptoms lasting more than three months.
Delayed-onset PTSD: Symptoms emerging months or years after the trauma.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): Long-term trauma exposure (such as childhood abuse) leading to more pervasive symptoms like identity disturbances and difficulties with relationships.

Common Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms typically fall into four categories:

Intrusion Symptoms:

Flashbacks or reliving the trauma
Nightmares or distressing dreams
Intense distress at reminders of the trauma

Avoidance Symptoms:

Avoiding places, people, or situations linked to the trauma
Suppressing thoughts or emotions about the event

Arousal & Reactivity Symptoms:

Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response
Irritability, anger outbursts, or aggression
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

Cognitive & Emotional Symptoms:

Negative self-beliefs (“I’m broken” or “It’s my fault”)
Emotional numbness or detachment
Guilt, shame, or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

PTSD affects both the mind and body, often leading to physical symptoms such as fatigue, tension, or chronic pain.

What Causes PTSD?

PTSD develops after trauma, but not everyone exposed to trauma develops the disorder.

Common causes include:

Combat or military service
Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
Childhood neglect or chronic trauma
Serious accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies
Natural disasters
Witnessing violence or death

Risk factors include:

Previous trauma history
Lack of social support
Co-occurring mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression)
High-stress environments (e.g., healthcare, law enforcement, emergency response)

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we recognize that trauma is not just about what happened — it’s about how it continues to affect your life today.

PTSD Diagnosis

PTSD is diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional using criteria from the DSM-5. Diagnosis includes:

Assessing exposure to a traumatic event (direct, witnessed, or secondary).
Evaluating symptoms in intrusion, avoidance, arousal, and cognition.
Determining symptom duration (at least one month).
Measuring impairment in work, school, or relationships.
Ruling out other conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, or substance use.

Accurate diagnosis ensures clients receive trauma-informed treatment tailored to their needs.

PTSD Treatment Options

What Is Best for PTSD?

The most effective treatment for PTSD is trauma-focused psychotherapy, often combined with skill-based therapies. At Groundbreaker Therapy, we emphasize Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which provides tools for grounding, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship repair.

For many clients, DBT helps reduce the intensity of PTSD symptoms while creating a foundation for deeper trauma work. Other trauma-informed therapies, such as Trauma-Focused CBT and the Trauma Resiliency Model, are also highly effective. Medication may be used to reduce symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, or depression, but therapy is the cornerstone of recovery.

Groundbreaker’s Approach to PTSD

Our specialties include:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Skills for managing flashbacks, reducing emotional intensity, and improving daily functioning.
Trauma-Informed Counseling for Professionals: Helping doctors, lawyers, educators, creatives, and business leaders manage trauma while balancing high-stress careers.
Anxiety & Depression Treatment: Addressing co-occurring conditions that often overlap with PTSD.
Young Professionals’ Mental Health: Supporting adults in their 20s and 30s with career, identity, and relational challenges after trauma.
College Mental Health: Helping students navigate academic stress while recovering from traumatic experiences.

Other therapies we may integrate:

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): Considered a gold-standard treatment for PTSD. Helps process traumatic memories, reduce avoidance, and develop coping skills.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Particularly effective when PTSD symptoms include emotional dysregulation, self-harm, or dissociation. Builds strong grounding and coping skills.
Schema Therapy: Useful for addressing trauma-related negative self-beliefs, attachment wounds, and long-term maladaptive patterns.
Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM): Focuses on nervous system regulation and somatic stabilization — key for PTSD recovery.
Narrative Therapy: Helps reframe the trauma story, reduce shame, and foster empowerment.
Mindfulness Practices: Supports grounding, reduces hyperarousal, and enhances emotion regulation for PTSD symptoms.
Integrative Therapy: Enables combining trauma-focused, mindfulness, and skill-based methods to match the individual’s needs.

Our trauma treatment is always personalized and paced carefully to avoid re-traumatization, focusing on both stability in the present and healing from the past.

Living With PTSD

PTSD can make you feel as though the trauma is still happening — but recovery is possible. With treatment, clients often learn to:

Reduce the frequency and intensity of flashbacks and nightmares.
Reclaim a sense of safety in daily life.
Manage hypervigilance and physical tension.
Strengthen relationships and reduce isolation.
Reframe guilt and shame into compassion and healing.
Build resilience for handling future stressors.

Living with PTSD does not mean being stuck in the past. Therapy provides the tools to move forward and rediscover peace and connection.

How Groundbreaker Therapy Can Help

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we know how deeply trauma affects the mind and body. That’s why we provide:

DBT expertise tailored for trauma recovery.
Trauma-informed integrative care for lasting healing.
Specialized counseling for professionals, young adults, and students.
A safe, validating environment where clients can share without judgment.
Flexible scheduling with in-person and virtual options.

You don’t have to face PTSD alone. With compassionate, evidence-based care, healing is possible. Schedule a consultation with Groundbreaker Therapy today and take the first step toward reclaiming your life after trauma.