PTSD Q & A

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health disorder brought on by a traumatic event. It’s normal to feel fear after experiencing a scary or life-threatening event, but with time, most people are able to develop skills to overcome the fear.

However, if your fear lingers for months or years and causes nightmares, anxiety, or uncontrollable thoughts that affect your everyday life, you may be dealing with PTSD.

Does PTSD only affect soldiers?

PTSD is often equated with the traumatic events soldiers experience during combat. But PTSD can affect anyone who goes through a traumatic event, including:

Childhood trauma

Seeing a dead body

Having a life-threatening experience such as a car accident

Sudden unexpected death of a loved one

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops PTSD. Doctors aren’t certain why some people are more susceptible to PTSD than others, but specific factors may increase your risk, such as:

History of mental illness

Substance abuse

Lack of social support after an event

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Symptoms of PTSD include:

Symptoms of PTSD in children and teens may present a little differently and include:

Bed wetting

Mutism

Clinginess to a parent or adult

Acting out the event during playtime

PTSD symptoms vary and may disappear within six months or become a chronic condition.

How is PTSD treated?

PTSD treatment varies from person to person. Dr. Erickson may recommend psychotherapy, medication, or both.

As a doctor who treats the whole person, she may also recommend alternative treatments such as supplements, as well as lifestyle changes including meditation, regular exercise, and a healthy diet.

During psychotherapy, Dr. Erickson may help improve your PTSD symptoms by:

Exposure therapy: Reimagining or revisiting the trauma to help you better cope with your feelings

Cognitive restructuring: Rebuilding your memories of the traumatic event to help put the pieces back together