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Life after trauma can be very complex – people struggle with intense feelings for years, certain places, sounds, and smells may suddenly bring back the memories the person tries to repress, and there are even physical challenges such as random headaches or stomach issues that have no other explanation. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops when your brain and body cannot overcome trauma they were subjected to – whether you have persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world, or you belong to a community that stigmatizes mental health, it can be hard to keep going without professional help.
PTSD refers to a severe Trauma Disorder characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic and terrifying event the person lived through or witnessed. Usually, the event in question involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence – a soldier who feared for their life during war, an individual who survived abuse, someone who was involved in a car accident, or a person who lost a loved one unexpectedly can require post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment.
The manifestations of PTSD vary from person to person – some people deal with the symptoms right away, which warrants immediate PTSD inpatient treatment, while others do not feel any difference from their normal emotional state for weeks and months. Take a look at the main signs of PTSD:
These include flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional distress you will feel when exposed to trauma reminders whether you see a similar situation on TV or hear a loud noise that scares you.
A person with PTSD often decides to avoid people and places that trigger unwanted memories, changes the topic when someone tries to speak to them about the events in question, loses interest in activities they used to enjoy, and feels emotionally numb and detached from other people.
An individual feels ashamed, guilty, and afraid all the time, they frequently blame themselves or others for the trauma, hold negative beliefs about the world around them, and struggle to remember key aspects of their trauma.
It is quite common for someone with PTSD to exhibit anger and irritability, be constantly on guard, feel unable to concentrate on simple tasks, and deal with sleep disturbances, whether they cannot fall asleep or stay asleep to get some rest.
PTSD is often confused with similar mental health conditions, such as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Adjustment Disorder. The diagnostic process is of paramount importance – our clinical team will diagnose you correctly once the Admissions Process starts.
PTSD develops after a person lives through or witnesses life-threatening, violent, and terrifying events even if they are not directly harmed or injured in the process. The key contributing factors are as follows:
Exposure to military conflict. Whether you were a servicemember or you lived in a war zone, it is quite common for individuals who were involved in or witnessed combat to suffer from a trauma disorder.
Physical and sexual violence. Abuse, domestic violence, assault, or terrorism are the primary causes of PTSD even if eventually the person was unharmed physically.
Severe medical incidents. It is possible to develop PTSD after you receive a life-threatening diagnosis or stay in an intensive care unit for a considerable amount of time.
The likelihood of a PTSD diagnosis is higher if any of the risk factors are present:
While anyone can struggle with PTSD, studies have shown that women are more likely to develop this condition.
Some people are more genetically predisposed to PTSD - if you have a family history of mental illness, it is possible that you will deal with this trauma disorder after you cannot process traumatic memories properly.
Existing mental health conditions, such as Depression and Anxiety Disorders, increase the risks of PTSD.
If the person lacked social support after trauma and relied on poor coping mechanisms while their stress continued, the symptoms of PTSD will be severe.
Before post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment begins, we need to confirm your diagnosis – here is what you may expect during your first appointment:
You will undergo a comprehensive mental health evaluation to let a clinician explore your symptoms, their duration, and their impact on your life. It is also crucial to examine your medical history and gather information about family history of mental illness. In order to measure the severity of PTSD manifestations, a mental health professional will use checklists and questionnaires to compare your symptoms with official diagnostic criteria.
We will also conduct a physical examination - certain symptoms may be triggered or exacerbated by physical illnesses and neurological conditions. Substance use and abuse is another essential factor that affects your mental state which is why we will talk to you about the alcohol and drugs you might have been consuming and order toxicology tests.
The presence of additional mental health issues will complicate your recovery - besides, conditions like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often mimic PTSD symptoms. We have to distinguish between your trauma disorder and similar problems and monitor your condition in a clinical setting to offer you appropriate treatment.
The entire diagnostic process will be supervised by board-certified psychiatrists and licensed clinicians - they will make sure you feel safe and comfortable and map out a PTSD treatment plan that will let you start your healing.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment must be tailored to the needs and preferences of a specific individual – there may be methods of treatment the patient does not resonate with right away, and certain symptoms can only be alleviated with techniques and practices adjusted by a therapist. Here are just a few therapeutic approaches we implement at Houston Mental Health:
We encourage our patients to try Group Therapy - you can meet with like-minded individuals who also need to overcome their trauma and decrease the sense of isolation that trauma survivors frequently struggle with. You can get practical advice from people who know what you are going through, share your own story to help others, cultivate a sense of accomplishment, and improve social connections if you cannot find them elsewhere.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective Therapy Modalities utilized by PTSD treatment centers in Houston. Under the supervision of a therapist, you can reframe negative thoughts that fuel your emotional issues and turn your attention to positive ideas and notions that will allow you to create a stronger version of yourself. This is a perfect therapy for people who want to get rid of maladaptive coping mechanisms and safely confront their fears.
Our patients get access to a wide range of mindfulness-based programs and services, including Meditation Therapy. This approach can complement more traditional methods - the patient gets to focus on present-moment awareness of their thoughts and body sensations, identify and release tension from their body, and improve emotional regulation.
When you and your therapist discuss PTSD treatment options, you can also talk about Levels of Care. You may start with the residential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment and then transition to a less intensive program once you see an improvement in your condition - we will advise you through every step.
While the road toward healing is different for each person, you can recover from PTSD – there is hope, and the presence of the condition does not mean you are permanently broken. It is a response to trauma, and like many illnesses that affect body and mind, you can count on significant improvement with the right support. An experienced clinical team, a support network you create around yourself, and your own readiness to combat PTSD will yield the results you want to achieve.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps patients identify and reframe the negative thought patterns that fuel emotional distress, replacing maladaptive coping mechanisms with healthier responses to trauma triggers. It is one of the most evidence-supported approaches available at our center and works particularly well when combined with other Therapy Modalities.
Yes – we work with the majority of insurance providers to make PTSD treatment as accessible as possible. Visit our Insurance Verification page to check whether your plan is accepted, or reach out through our Contact Us page to discuss alternative payment options.
We offer a personalized combination of evidence-based and holistic approaches, including CBT, Group Therapy, and Meditation Therapy, each targeting a different dimension of trauma recovery.
Houston Mental Health offers a full continuum of Levels of Care, from residential treatment with 24/7 support for those who need an immersive environment to less intensive outpatient programs as you progress in your recovery. Our team will guide you through every transition during the Admissions Process to ensure your program always matches where you are in your healing journey.
