Compassionate, evidence-based PTSD treatment available via telehealth across Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, and more, or in-office at our psychiatric clinics.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that develops in some individuals following exposure to a traumatic event or series of events involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. It is characterized by persistent, involuntary re-experiencing of the trauma, avoidance of trauma-related reminders, negative changes in mood and thinking, and heightened physiological arousal that together cause significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
PTSD is not a sign of weakness, nor is it an inevitable response to trauma. It is a recognized medical condition rooted in how the brain and nervous system process and store overwhelming experiences. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and those who do are not at fault for their symptoms. The brain’s response to trauma is automatic and biological, not a choice.
PTSD affects an estimated 3.5 percent of adults in the United States each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It can develop at any age, in response to any type of trauma, and it is highly treatable with the right psychiatric and therapeutic support.
At Care Anywhere Psychiatry, our experienced psychiatric providers offer personalized PTSD evaluation and treatment via telehealth in Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Florida, and Delaware, as well as in-office visits in Medford OR, Redlands CA, Fountain Hills AZ, and Las Vegas NV.
PTSD symptoms typically begin within three months of a traumatic event, though in some cases they may not emerge until months or years later. To receive a clinical diagnosis, symptoms must persist for more than one month and cause meaningful impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.
Sudden, vivid, involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event as though it is happening again in the present moment, often triggered by sensory cues such as sounds, smells, or images associated with the trauma.
Recurring, distressing dreams related to the traumatic event that disrupt sleep and leave the individual feeling frightened, exhausted, or emotionally overwhelmed upon waking.
Intense psychological or physical reactions, including panic, racing heart, sweating, or emotional flooding, when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event.
Deliberate efforts to suppress thoughts, feelings, or memories connected to the trauma, often accompanied by emotional numbing or a sense of detachment from one’s inner life.
Actively avoiding people, locations, activities, conversations, or situations that serve as reminders of the traumatic experience, even when doing so significantly restricts daily life.
Persistent, distorted thoughts such as “I am permanently damaged,” “No one can be trusted,” or “The world is entirely dangerous” that developed or worsened following the trauma.
Chronic feelings of fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame that are difficult to shift and are not fully explained by other factors in the person’s life.
A persistent sense of emotional numbness, disconnection from loved ones, or the feeling of being cut off from one’s own emotions and the people around them.
A significant reduction in engagement with activities, hobbies, or relationships that were once meaningful and pleasurable.
A state of being constantly on guard for danger, even in objectively safe environments, accompanied by an exaggerated startle response and difficulty relaxing.
Difficulty falling or staying asleep, angry outbursts, difficulty concentrating, and a persistent sense of being on edge that interferes with daily functioning.
PTSD presents differently depending on the nature of the trauma, the timing of symptom onset, and whether other conditions are present alongside it. Our psychiatric providers are experienced in diagnosing and treating all presentations across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Symptoms that have been present for less than three months following the traumatic event. Early intervention during this period is associated with significantly better long-term outcomes and can prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
Symptoms that persist for three months or longer. Chronic PTSD is the most commonly treated presentation in clinical settings and responds well to evidence-based therapies and medication management when properly addressed.
A presentation in which the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD are not met until at least six months after the traumatic event. Delayed-onset PTSD can develop years after the trauma and may be triggered by significant life changes, additional stressors, or the removal of protective factors.
Develops in response to prolonged, repeated trauma such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, or extended captivity. In addition to core PTSD symptoms, Complex PTSD involves severe difficulties with emotional regulation, deeply negative self-perception, and significant impairment in relationships and identity. While not a separate DSM-5 diagnosis, C-PTSD is widely recognized clinically and requires a trauma-informed, specialized treatment approach.
Children and adolescents can develop PTSD following traumatic experiences, though their symptoms may present differently from adults. Children may re-enact the trauma through play, experience regression to earlier developmental behaviors, have physical complaints without medical cause, or show changes in school performance and social behavior.
PTSD frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, borderline personality disorder, and chronic pain conditions. Treating all conditions together within an integrated psychiatric framework leads to more comprehensive and lasting recovery outcomes.
PTSD develops when the brain’s normal trauma-processing mechanisms are overwhelmed by the intensity, duration, or meaning of a traumatic experience. Not everyone who is exposed to trauma develops PTSD, and individual vulnerability is shaped by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Direct exposure to trauma, particularly events involving interpersonal violence, sexual assault, combat, or prolonged captivity, carries a higher risk of PTSD development than indirect or witnessed trauma. The perceived threat to life and the degree of helplessness experienced during the event are significant predictors.
Individuals with a history of previous traumatic experiences, particularly adverse childhood experiences, are at significantly higher risk of developing PTSD following subsequent trauma. Cumulative trauma exposure compounds neurobiological vulnerability over time.
Research suggests a heritable component to PTSD vulnerability. Differences in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the amygdala, and prefrontal cortex function influence how the brain processes and stores traumatic memories and regulates the fear response.
The absence of supportive relationships following a traumatic event is one of the strongest predictors of PTSD development. Social support serves as a buffer against the neurobiological impact of trauma and facilitates natural recovery processes.
Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions
Pre-existing depression, anxiety disorders, or other psychiatric conditions increase vulnerability to PTSD following trauma exposure. These conditions can lower the threshold at which the brain’s stress response system becomes dysregulated.
Occupational Exposure
First responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, journalists, and others with repeated occupational exposure to traumatic events face elevated cumulative risk of PTSD development over the course of their careers.
Peritraumatic Dissociation
Experiencing dissociation, emotional numbing, or a sense of unreality during or immediately following a traumatic event is associated with a higher likelihood of developing PTSD in the aftermath.
Gender
Women are approximately twice as likely as men to develop PTSD over their lifetime, a difference attributed to higher rates of exposure to interpersonal violence and sexual trauma as well as potential biological differences in stress response systems.
PTSD is highly treatable. Most individuals see meaningful improvement in intrusive symptoms, emotional regulation, sleep, and overall quality of life with a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan. Our psychiatric providers create individualized care plans that may include:
A thorough, trauma-informed assessment of your symptom history, trauma background, current functioning, and personal goals. Many individuals with PTSD have been previously misdiagnosed or have lived with untreated symptoms for years. A careful and compassionate evaluation is the essential foundation of effective care.
Several classes of medication have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms. SSRIs such as sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD treatment. Additional medications including SNRIs, prazosin for nightmares, and mood stabilizers may be used depending on your specific symptom profile. Our providers prescribe and monitor all medications carefully, adjusting as needed to find the right fit for your needs and lifestyle.
Psychotherapy is the most effective treatment for PTSD and is recommended as a first-line intervention. We connect patients with qualified therapists for evidence-based trauma-focused approaches including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which helps patients process and reframe trauma-related thoughts and beliefs, Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, which involves gradual, structured engagement with trauma memories and avoided situations, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a highly effective trauma therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), particularly for children and adolescents.
Many patients with PTSD also live with depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, or personality disorders. Our providers treat all presenting conditions simultaneously, because addressing only one will limit the effectiveness of the other and leave the patient vulnerable to ongoing distress and relapse.
Regular appointments to monitor your progress, adjust medications as needed, coordinate with your therapy team, and provide continued psychiatric support throughout your recovery. PTSD treatment is a process, not a single event, and our team is with you every step of the way.
Learn more about our mental health services.
You do not need to wait until symptoms are debilitating before reaching out for help. Consider speaking with one of our psychiatric providers if:
We offer telehealth PTSD treatment across Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Florida, and Delaware, as well as in-person psychiatric care in Medford OR, Redlands CA, Fountain Hills AZ, and Las Vegas NV. We serve patients ages 6 and older and accept most major insurance plans.
Karen Linares received her PMHNP at Western University of Health Sciences and is board certified with both ANCC and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She provides telehealth psychiatric and general medicine services, with a commitment to under-served communities.
Yes. Care Anywhere Psychiatry offers telehealth PTSD evaluation and treatment in Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Florida, and Delaware. Appointments are conducted online from the comfort and privacy of your home. Research consistently supports the effectiveness of telehealth delivery for trauma-focused psychiatric care, including medication management and therapy coordination.
It is normal and expected to experience distress, sadness, difficulty sleeping, and emotional sensitivity in the days and weeks following a traumatic event. This is part of the brain’s natural recovery process. PTSD is distinguished by the persistence and severity of symptoms beyond one month, the presence of specific symptom clusters including intrusion, avoidance, negative cognition, and hyperarousal, and the degree to which symptoms impair daily functioning. If distress is not improving over time and is significantly affecting your life, a psychiatric evaluation is warranted.
Yes. Delayed-onset PTSD can develop months or even years after the traumatic experience. This can occur when a person has been managing symptoms through avoidance, when new stressors reduce their capacity to cope, or when the protective factors that were previously buffering the impact of the trauma are no longer present. A psychiatric evaluation can identify PTSD at any point after a traumatic experience.
Yes. PTSD can develop in children and adolescents following traumatic experiences. In younger patients, symptoms may look different from adult presentations and can include trauma-themed play, regression to earlier behaviors, physical complaints without medical explanation, school refusal, and changes in social functioning. Care Anywhere Psychiatry serves patients ages 6 and older and our providers are experienced in age-appropriate, trauma-informed evaluation and treatment.
Yes. We accept a variety of insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Optum, Magellan, and BlueCross Blue Shield in select states. Medicaid and Medicare are accepted in Oregon and Nevada. Cash pay is also available. Contact our office to verify your specific coverage before your appointment.
Our compassionate psychiatric team is here to help. Book a new patient appointment today.
© 2024 Linares Behavioral Health Professional Corporation dba Care Anywhere Psychiatry. All rights reserved
