PTSDWhen the past stays present

0:04After a trauma

Many people go through a traumatic event at some point, like an accident, an assault, a disaster, or combat. Afterward, it's normal to feel upset, on edge, or to have trouble sleeping. For most people, those reactions ease over the following weeks.

When they last more than a month and get in the way of daily life, it may be post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It isn't a sign of weakness. It's a real condition, and it's treatable.

0:37How it shows up

PTSD symptoms fall into four groups. The first is reliving the event, through unwanted memories, nightmares, or flashbacks. The second is avoiding the people, places, conversations, or thoughts that bring it back.

The third is negative changes in thoughts and feelings, like guilt, blame, numbness, or feeling that the world is completely dangerous. The fourth is feeling keyed up: jumpy, always on guard, irritable, or unable to sleep or concentrate.

Not everyone has every symptom. They usually begin within a few months of the event, but sometimes they start much later.

1:21Why it happens

In danger, the body's alarm system switches on to protect you. With PTSD, it's as if that alarm stays switched on. People can feel stressed or frightened even when they're no longer in danger.

Whether someone develops PTSD depends on many things, including what happened, other stress in their life afterward, and how much support they had. Support from others can help protect against it.

1:51Getting help

A clinician will ask about your symptoms, how long they've lasted, and how they affect your life. You don't have to share every detail of what happened to get help. Questionnaires like the PCL-5, which you may see under Assessments in your portal, help track how you're doing over time.

2:11Treatments that work

The talk therapies that work best for PTSD focus on the trauma. Cognitive processing therapy looks at how the trauma changed your thoughts and feelings. Prolonged exposure helps you gradually approach the memories and situations you've been avoiding. EMDR is another option.

Medicine can help too. Some antidepressants, such as sertraline, paroxetine, and venlafaxine, are recommended for PTSD. Many people get better with therapy, medicine, or both.

2:47Coping day to day

When a memory pulls you back, try grounding. Keep your eyes open, notice where you are, and remind yourself what year it is and that you're safe now. Our five, four, three, two, one grounding video walks you through it.

Lean on people you trust, keep regular times for sleep and meals, and go easy on alcohol and drugs, which can make things worse over time.

3:14When to reach out

If symptoms have lasted more than a month or are getting in the way of your life, talk with your care team. You can start with a message in your portal.

If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988, any time, day or night. This video is general education, not medical advice. Your provider can help you find the right plan for you.