Written by Glintcare Clinical Team
Our multidisciplinary clinical team develops and reviews educational mental health content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with current clinical practice.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. While it is normal to feel frightened after trauma, PTSD involves persistent symptoms that interfere with daily life for months or years.
What Events Can Cause PTSD?
PTSD can develop after any event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Common causes include military combat, physical or sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, childhood abuse, and witnessing violence. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD — individual risk factors and support systems play important roles.
The Four Symptom Clusters
Intrusion: Unwanted memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense distress when reminded of the event
Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, thoughts, or feelings associated with the trauma
Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood: Persistent negative beliefs, distorted blame, inability to remember aspects of the event, reduced interest in activities
Hyperarousal: Irritability, angry outbursts, reckless behaviour, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, difficulty sleeping
What Makes PTSD Different?
PTSD is unique in that the body remains in a state of high alert long after the danger has passed. The nervous system becomes stuck in survival mode, unable to return to baseline. This is not a choice or a sign of weakness — it is a biological response to overwhelming stress.
Evidence-Based Treatments
Trauma-Focused CBT: Helps process traumatic memories and change unhelpful beliefs
EMDR: Uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories
Prolonged Exposure: Gradually approaching trauma-related memories and situations
Cognitive Processing Therapy: Focuses on challenging beliefs shaped by trauma
Medication: SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) are FDA-approved for PTSD
At Glintcare
Our trauma specialists provide evidence-based PTSD treatment in a safe, supportive environment. We understand that healing from trauma takes courage, and we are here to walk with you every step of the way.
