Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. People with PTSD continue to have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD often give their best effort to avoid their painful memories, even if it means re-structuring their lives. Avoidance typically applies to people, places, objects, or situations that either now feel unsafe or remind them of the trauma in some way. Avoidance may also present as someone engaging in excessive substance use as a strategy to push away painful memories. All providers at CHH are trained in Prolonged Exposure, which is the most widely studied form of psychotherapy for PTSD. This treatment modality helps trauma survivors process their painful memories in a structured fashion so that they can regain control over their lives.