Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

After experiencing a trauma, most people experience heightened anxiety, fear, or episodes of sadness. Most individuals will get better with time. However, in individuals suffering from PTSD these symptoms may last for months or years and may worsen over time. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after exposure to actual or threatened harm including death, injury, or sexual violence either experienced directly by an individual, witnessed by an individual, or learning about it happening to a close friend or family member. This includes repeated exposure to details of traumatic events (e.g police officers, firefighters, court judges). Individuals with PTSD often have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event, long after the event has ended.  

Symptoms of PTSD can include:  
  • Intrusive symptoms like recalling memories and dreams, flashbacks, or experiencing distress when reminded of the traumatic event 
  • Avoidance of anything that reminds a person of the event 
  • A pattern of negative thinking and mood including negative beliefs about oneself, fear, anger, shame, loss of interest, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions 
  • Difficulty remembering specific details of the traumatic event 
  • Arousal and reactivity like irritability, reckless behaviours, hypervigilance, severe anxiety, difficulty concentrating, nightmares, and trouble sleeping 
  • Depersonalization or derealization in some cases 
Symptoms of PTSD may start within one month of a traumatic event but sometimes symptoms do not appear until years later. Over time, PTSD can lead to changes in the brain and worsen without treatment. 

PTSD in Children 
PTSD in children can vary greatly from how it is experienced in adults. Symptoms in children may include: 
  • Fear of being separated from a parent 
  • Losing previously acquired skills (e.g. toilet training) 
  • Sleep problems and nightmares 
  • New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the traumatic event 
  • Acting out the traumatic event through play, stories, or drawings 
  • Aches and pains with no apparent biological explanation 
  • Irritability and aggression

How is PTSD treated?

Several modalities have been developed to treat PTSD. Cognitive therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) can help recognize patterns of thinking that is keeping an individual “stuck”. Additionally, exposure therapy can help individuals face frightening situations and can be particularly helping in dealing with flashbacks and nightmares. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a combination of exposure therapy and guided eye movements that can help an individual process traumatic memories and adjust reactions to these memories. 


If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from PTSD. Contact us for a free 15 minute phone consultation to see how we can help.