PTSD: Treatment, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Online Care
At Talkiatry, we know that navigating mental health can feel overwhelming. Our mission is to make it easier—starting with information you can trust. As a national mental health practice with over 600 psychiatrists and other providers, we combine clinical excellence with real-world understanding to deliver incredible care and reliable information. This article has been medically reviewed by the same doctors who treat our patients every day, ensuring it meets the highest standards. Whether you’re seeking care now or simply looking to learn more, we’re here to help.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that's triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While most people who live through a traumatic event will experience fear and anxiety, for some, problems will persist long after the event has ended and be severe enough to interfere with their daily life.
Many people associate PTSD with combat veterans, but it’s important to know that PTSD can affect anyone of any age or background—including those who’ve experienced childbirth-related trauma such as postpartum PTSD. An estimated 1 in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetimes.
If you think you may have PTSD, help is available. The first step is getting a clinical diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional, like a psychiatrist. There are many treatment options available to you that can make a major difference in your life and symptoms.
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Types of PTSD
While the official diagnosis is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you may hear terms like acute, chronic, delayed-onset, or complex PTSD used to describe different symptom patterns. These labels aren’t recognized in the DSM-5-TR, the manual psychiatrists use to help diagnose, but they can reflect how PTSD symptoms vary in timing or severity of the trauma experienced.
Common terms include:
- Acute PTSD: Symptoms last more than one month but less than three months after the traumatic event.
- Chronic PTSD: Symptoms persist longer than three months and often impact daily life.
- Delayed-Onset PTSD: Symptoms begin months or even years after the trauma.
- Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): Results from repeated or long-term trauma and includes symptoms like emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, and a negative self-view.
Each type of PTSD requires a tailored approach to care—your psychiatrist can help identify which one you may be experiencing and what treatment makes sense for your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of PTSD
PTSD can occur at any age. Symptoms typically begin within the first 3 months after the trauma but may be delayed. Once symptoms last over a month, PTSD is considered. Some people recover in a few months, while others experience symptoms for years.
Symptoms fall into four main categories:
1. Re-experiencing (Intrusive) Symptoms
- Recurrent, upsetting memories of the trauma
- Nightmares related to the trauma
- Flashbacks
- Strong psychological or physical reactions to trauma reminders
2. Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding reminders like places, people, or objects
- Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the event
3. Cognition and Mood Symptoms
- Trouble remembering key details of the trauma
- Persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world
- Blaming oneself or others for the trauma
- Persistent negative emotions
- Feeling detached or numb
- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
4. Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms
- Hypervigilance
- Exaggerated startle response
- Irritability or anger
- Reckless behavior
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disturbances
Some people may develop PTSD after indirect exposure to trauma, such as learning about a traumatic event that happened to a loved one or through repeated exposure in certain jobs (e.g., first responders).
PTSD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, but psychiatrists are trained to support you through this complexity.
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What causes PTSD?
Anyone who has gone through trauma can develop PTSD.
Common causes include:
- War or combat
- Domestic abuse
- Natural disasters
- Physical or sexual assault
- Serious accidents
- Bullying
Short-term symptoms are normal after trauma. PTSD develops when those symptoms persist and interfere with daily life.
Risk factors include:
- Intense or long-lasting trauma
- Mental health history
- Childhood trauma
- Lack of support after the event
- Family history of mental illness
Protective (resilience) factors include:
- Supportive relationships
- Seeking group or professional help
- Positive coping strategies
- Feeling proud of personal actions in a crisis
How a psychiatrist can help
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. They can assess your symptoms, provide a diagnosis, and create a treatment plan.
What to expect:
- Assessment: In-depth conversation about your symptoms and history
- Diagnosis: Based on DSM-5-TR criteria
- Personalized plan: May include medication, therapy, or both
At Talkiatry, our psychiatrists provide compassionate, evidence-based care to help you move forward.
PTSD diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis is the first step. The process typically includes:
- Screening: Questions about symptoms and trauma history
- Evaluation: A detailed interview with standardized tools
- Diagnosis: Based on DSM-5-TR criteria
- Treatment Planning: Collaboratively developed based on your needs
Diagnosis isn't just a label—it's a starting point for healing.
Psychiatry vs. therapy
The most effective PTSD treatment combines therapy and medication.
Therapy helps you:
- Process the trauma
- Reframe negative thoughts
- Build healthy coping strategies
Medication helps you:
- Manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance
- Stabilize mood
- Engage more fully in therapy
Used together, these treatments support long-term healing.
Find a PTSD specialist
- Average 10 years of experience
- Use your insurance
- Licensed to prescribe, trained to listen
PTSD treatment options
Medication management
Psychiatrists may prescribe medications to stabilize mood and reduce symptoms.
Common medications:
- SSRIs/SNRIs: Improve mood, reduce anxiety, and emotional numbness
- Others: Address specific issues like insomnia or agitation
It may take several weeks to feel the full effect, and finding the right medication can take time.
Therapy
Trauma-informed therapy helps you process and heal from trauma.
Effective options include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Your psychiatrist and therapist will work together to determine the best plan for you.
Online PTSD treatment: How Talkiatry can help
You don’t have to manage PTSD alone. At Talkiatry, care is accessible, personalized, and confidential.
- Licensed psychiatrists
- Covered by insurance
- Virtual appointments from home
- Evidence-based treatment
Getting started only takes 10 minutes.
What our patients say
“I recommend Talkiatry to anyone that will listen. The benefits this network has provided me in such a short time are priceless and immeasurable.”
“She is very relatable. She is mindful of cost of my medications.”
“Great experience! Provider was ready early which was amazing and honestly never happens. Really appreciate honoring a patient’s time.”
Covered by insurance, designed for you: online PTSD treatment
Think you might have PTSD? Here’s how to get started:
- Take the assessment
- Have your first visit
- Receive a personalized treatment plan
- Get continuous care and plan adjustments as needed
Your psychiatrist will tailor the plan to your needs and comfort level.
Why trust us
It’s our mission to expand access to care—and that includes reliable information about mental health. Before we publish any article, we make sure it’s:
- Reviewed by a psychiatrist who treats these conditions every day
- Backed by science and real-world clinical expertise
- Written to help you make informed decisions about care
This article was reviewed by Dr. Brenda Camacho, MD
Learn more about PTSD
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The most effective PTSD treatment is usually a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy helps you process the trauma, while medication can ease symptoms like anxiety or depression. Together, they can actually enhance each other. In other words, medication can ease the intensity of symptoms, but therapy helps you understand and heal from the trauma itself, leading to deeper, longer-lasting change.
A lot of people living with PTSD report flare-ups, periods where symptoms are more intense than others. During those times, grounding techniques like focusing on your senses, deep breathing, or naming objects in your environment can help you stay present. Over time, therapy can teach you how to manage stress responses and cope with change when you're living with PTSD.
Yes, recovery is possible. Many people with PTSD see significant improvement with the right care. Recovery doesn't always mean the complete absence of symptoms—it often means learning how to manage them so they no longer control your life.
We like to think there’s nothing unnatural about proper care, including therapy and medication. These are the most effective tools at your disposal. In addition to those, exercise, mindfulness, nutrition, and strong social support can improve your overall well-being and help to manage your PTSD.
If you’re struggling, even if you’re not sure you’re ready for medication, or if you have questions about whether or not it’s right for you, we encourage you to talk to someone, like a psychiatrist. We’re here to listen. We don’t judge. We want to understand you and what you’re feeling, and to create a treatment plan that fits your life.
