- Mental Health
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment available online
In order to treat your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), consult with one of our board-certified primary care doctors online today to discuss a treatment plan help manage PTSD symptoms. Get a new prescription to treat PTSD or refill an existing prescription after a qualifying evaluation today.
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Screening for PTSD
*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor’s discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how you can save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of PTSD. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms but may need to refer you to a psychiatrist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Learn about PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that develops in people who have experienced traumatic events at any point in their life, whether during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Traumas can be major, such as natural disasters, serious accidents, or war. However, smaller traumas can also lead to PTSD, including physical or emotional abuse, bullying, divorce, and non-life-threatening injuries, among others.
PTSD causes
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops when the brain’s response to a stressful event is so strong that it stays with you for many years after the event. Complex PTSD (CPTSD) can be caused after exposure to prolonged or repetitive traumas, whether big or small. The traumatic experience itself doesn’t cause PTSD; instead, the reaction you have to the trauma or traumas makes you more likely to develop PTSD. Here are few causes of PTSD:
Emotional trauma: This can come from any level of emotional distress that individually affects patients to the point of developing PTSD symptoms. Bullying, rejection, breakups, and emotional abuse can all lead people to developing PTSD.
Severe physical trauma: A person experiences an event that causes severe or prolonged pain, blood loss, or other severe physical damage to their body.
Traumatic life events: When someone goes through intense or prolonged events such as natural disasters, a death in the family, sexual abuse/assault, or joblessness, PTSD often develops.
PTSD symptoms
According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are four categories of PTSD symptoms:
Avoidance: Trying to avoid reminders of the traumatic events, such as people, places, activities and objects
Intrusion: Repeated, unwanted distressing memories, flashbacks, or dreams of the traumatic event
Changes in arousal and reactivity: Anxiety and anger, feeling jumpy or anxious, having trouble focusing on the present or sleeping, or behaving recklessly or in a self harm way
Changes in cognition and mood: Negative thoughts and feelings, memory lapses
If you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to learn the early warning signs of PTSD so that you can seek help before you experience a traumatic event.
How to treat PTSD
There are many PTSD treatment options, which can depend on a wide range of factors, such as the type of trauma you experienced, your age, how long you’ve experienced trauma and your severity of the symptoms you’re experiencing. Here are few ways of treating PTSD:
Therapy
While talking to a mental health professional may be helpful, you may also be able to reduce PTSD symptoms with online therapy or other mental health services. Trauma-informed therapy including EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a cornerstone of unpacking and healing PTSD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to also be an effective form. You can begin online trauma therapy to make starting the process of treating PTSD easier than dealing with the process of starting in-person therapy.
Self-help
Self-help can also help to reduce trauma-related symptoms. You can learn to recognize and cope with the symptoms of PTSD, including avoiding situations and activities that evoke the trauma. For instance, avoid triggering experiences and find ways to manage your reactions when you’re in stressful situations. There are ample books and resources available to learn about and begin the process of healing from PTSD.
Medications
Medications can help reduce the symptoms of PTSD and help you feel more like your normal self. Antidepressants including SSRIs as well as other medications that relax blood vessels have been shown to work safely and effectively.
Support groups
Support groups can be beneficial for some people. They can help reduce feelings of isolation and may provide support, comfort and useful information. People with PTSD should always be careful to choose a support group that is reputable, trustworthy, and is offered in an environment that is safe for you to be present.
PTSD medications
Your online doctor can discuss several prescription options to help improve your PTSD symptoms. They won’t make your trauma go away, but they can help reduce the intensity and frequency that you feel PTSD symptoms. Antidepressant medicines called SSRIs such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are a good first-line option. Medications that help lower blood pressure such as Minipress (prazosin) can help reduce nightmares and night terrors.
When taken as prescribed, medications have a great chance of helping you, especially if you find support through therapy and support groups. Regular check-ins with your doctor are critical. Not all medications work well for all patients, so discussing possible side effects and expectations will go a long way toward helping you stay on the right path.
How to avoid PTSD
Here are some helpful tips on avoiding PTSD. To avoid PTSD, people who have had traumatic experiences should seek help immediately if they develop symptoms of PTSD. It is important for people with PTSD to seek treatment and resources, including professional behavior therapy and medication. They can seek out support from family and friends or whoever they are comfortable talking to.
PTSD treatment online may be used to help guide you through the diagnosis and determine the best trauma treatment plan. If you cannot afford a private psychological diagnosis, you may be referred to one of the many local or state mental health clinics or PTSD treatment centers to receive online trauma therapy.
When to see a doctor for a PTSD
If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms or think you may be suffering from PTSD, it’s essential to see a mental health professional as soon as possible. A doctor can rule out other conditions with similar symptoms and provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan. Severe PTSD symptoms, such as severe anxiety and panic attacks, can be treated with medications, PTSD therapy or both.
Related conditions to PTSD
Acute stress disorder
Reactive attachment disorder
Adjustment disorder
Substance abuse
PTSD treatment FAQs
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Here are a few PTSD symptoms:
Anxiety or panic attacks
Social isolation
Nightmares, flashbacks, distressing memories
Problems concentrating, such as difficulty reading, remembering or paying attention
Eating disorders
Heavy drinking or substance abuse
What does PTSD do to a person?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause a person to experience the following in their daily life:
Feelings of guilt and shame about his or her past traumatic event
Difficulty thinking or concentrating
Increased irritability and anger
Mood swings or depression
Difficulty remembering things
Hyper-vigilant for threats
Reacting aggressively to others
Self harm
What is the best way to treat PTSD?
Therapy can be very helpful in dealing with PTSD. Trauma-focused therapies like EMDR, as well as cognitive behavioral therapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and exposure therapy, can be essential in helping you regain control over persistent fear after a traumatic event. Additionally, you may be prescribed medication to treat PTSD.
Seeking help from mental health professionals, such as our licensed online therapists, is one of the best ways to treat PTSD.Who can diagnose me with PTSD?
The primary professionals who can diagnose PTSD are clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. A clinical psychologist can diagnose PTSD based on the symptoms they observe, while a psychiatrist can diagnose it through a psychological evaluation. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have PTSD, a licensed psychologist can be your first contact. Additionally, our primary care doctors can help establish a possible diagnosis and guide you towards a full evaluation with one of these specialists through referrals and resources.
Our team of licensed therapists and doctors can help manage and treat your PTSD from the comfort of your own home.
3 simple steps to get treated for PTSD today
Step 1
Book a PTSD treatment appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your PTSD symptoms.
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
Pick up a prescription for PTSD, if you qualify.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
PTSD treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request PTSD treatment and get a new prescription or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
Paying with insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
Copay
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
$129
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
PTSD Treatment Resources
Sources:
PlushCare is dedicated to providing you with accurate and trustworthy health information.
MedlinePlus. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." U.S. National Library of Medicine, Accessed Oct 5 2023,
MedlinePlus. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." U.S. National Library of Medicine, Accessed Oct 5 2023,
MedlinePlus. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." U.S. National Library of Medicine, Accessed Oct 5 2023,
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
MedlinePlus. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." U.S. National Library of Medicine, Accessed Oct 5 2023,
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
PlushCare content is reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals. Learn more about our editorial standards and meet the medical team. The PlushCare site or any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.