PTSD ยท October 2, 2026
PTSD: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
By Kathie Bolles, PMHNP-BC
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, combat, or natural disaster. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 6.8% of U.S. adults experience PTSD at some point in their lives. It is a recognized response to overwhelming experience, not a sign of weakness, and it can improve with appropriate, consistent care. Mynd Works Psychiatry provides trauma-informed evaluation and treatment in Austin, Texas.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms generally fall into four clusters, as described by the National Institute of Mental Health: re-experiencing the event through intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares; avoidance of reminders; changes in mood and thinking; and heightened arousal and reactivity, such as being easily startled, tense, or irritable.
Sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, and emotional numbness are also common. For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms typically last more than a month and cause significant distress or impairment.
How is PTSD evaluated?
Evaluation is a conversation at your pace. You control what you share, especially early on, and nothing about the process requires you to relive the event in detail before you feel ready. The clinician reviews what you have been experiencing, when it began, and how it affects your days, along with medical history, sleep, and previous treatment.
A trauma-informed setting means the pace is set by your safety and comfort, not by a schedule. You can read more about PTSD care at Mynd Works.
How is PTSD treated?
Evidence-based treatment often combines trauma-focused psychotherapy, which helps process the memory of the event in a structured, safe way, with medication management where appropriate to reduce symptoms such as nightmares, hypervigilance, and depression.
Treatment moves carefully and collaboratively. The goal is steady, manageable progress on your terms, not forced confrontation. Both psychotherapy and psychiatric services are available within the practice so the care is coordinated.
When should someone seek help?
Seek an evaluation when trauma-related symptoms last more than a month, cause significant distress, or interfere with work, relationships, or daily life. Many people wait years because they believe they should simply move on; treatment does not require forgetting, and moving forward often works best with support.
If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of self-harm, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
Common questions
Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in detail?
No. You control what you share, especially early on. A trauma-informed approach means treatment moves at a pace that feels safe to you.
Is PTSD treatable?
Yes. With appropriate, consistent care, many people experience meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms over time. Individual outcomes vary, and no treatment guarantees specific results.
Does Mynd Works treat PTSD in Austin?
Yes. PTSD is one of the areas of care Mynd Works evaluates and supports through psychiatric care and psychotherapy in a trauma-informed setting.
