PTSD Treatment, Diagnosis, Symptoms, & Online Management in Colorado
Because “just move on” isn’t a treatment plan.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Such as accidents, violence, medical events, loss, or ongoing stress. While many people experience stress or fear after trauma, PTSD occurs when those symptoms persist and begin to interfere with daily life. It affects how your brain and body respond to stress, often keeping your system in a heightened state of alert even when the danger has passed. This is not weakness. It’s your nervous system doing its job, protecting you, and having difficulty turning that response off.
Signs and Symptoms
PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four categories:
Intrusive Symptoms
unwanted or distressing memories
flashbacks
nightmares
strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders
Avoidance
avoiding people, places, or situations connected to the trauma
avoiding thoughts or conversations about what happened
Changes in Mood and Thinking
• feeling detached or numb
• negative thoughts about yourself or the world
• guilt, shame, or persistent fear
• loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Arousal and Reactivity
feeling constantly on edge or unsafe
being easily startled
difficulty sleeping or concentrating
irritability or anger outbursts
risky or self-destructive behaviors
Symptoms can begin soon after a traumatic event or show up later. They can vary in intensity and may come and go over time.
How PTSD Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis starts with a careful and supportive evaluation. We look at your symptoms, your history, and how they’re affecting your daily life.
How Treatment Can Help
PTSD support often includes a combination of medication, therapy, and education.
Medication
Medication can help reduce symptoms like anxiety, hypervigilance, mood changes, and sleep disruption.
Common options include:
• SSRIs such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil)
• other medications depending on your symptoms (such as sleep or mood support)
Medication can help create stability, making it easier to engage in daily life and, if desired, therapy.
Supportive Therapy
We provide trauma-informed, therapy-informed care within medication management visits. That means we focus on helping you feel more grounded, understand your responses, and build stability.
For deeper trauma processing, including EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies, we may recommend working alongside a local therapist who specializes in this area.
Education
Understanding how trauma affects the brain and body can be an important part of healing. We focus on helping you recognize patterns, understand your nervous system, and develop ways to feel safer and more regulated.
Our Approach
At Good Talk, we take a thoughtful, individualized approach.
We offer therapy-informed medication management, which means we take time to understand what’s actually going on—not just your symptoms.
Care is collaborative. You won’t be rushed, and you won’t be pushed into treatment decisions.
We work together to find what actually makes sense for you.
When to Reach Out
You might consider reaching out if:
• you’ve experienced trauma and don’t feel like yourself
• you’re avoiding things that remind you of what happened
• you feel constantly on edge or unsafe
• sleep, mood, or daily functioning are affected
• you feel stuck in patterns of fear, numbness, or overwhelm
Next Step
If you’re ready, the next step is simply seeing if this feels like the right fit for you.
Sources
1) National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
2) Mayo Clinic. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
3) American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR).
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
While we strive to ensure our content is accurate and up to date, errors or omissions may occur, and new research may change what’s currently known about PTSD.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about any questions or concerns you may have regarding your mental health, diagnosis, or medications.