After trauma
PTSD and Trauma
PTSD develops after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. Treatment helps people make sense of what happened — and build the skills to take recovery into their own hands.
About this condition
PTSD treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that typically develops after one or more traumatic events. PTSD can be acute, arising over a short span of time; chronic, with symptoms that persist far longer; or complex, usually rooted in trauma that is ongoing or that began in childhood. All three respond to qualified treatment.
Living with untreated PTSD means some days feel normal while many feel overwhelming and debilitating. Treatment helps stop symptoms from continually resurfacing — and it can restore relationships that were strained or broken while the trauma went unaddressed.
PTSD treatment at the Neuroscience Institute in West Palm Beach runs at two levels: residential care, with therapy at the treatment center while staying in one of our lodges, and a partial hospitalization program with full treatment days and nights at home or in an on-campus residence.
Events that can lead to PTSD
PTSD can be triggered by many kinds of experience — things a person lives through or witnesses. Common events that contribute to its development include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse and assault
- The death of a loved one
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Being involved in an accident
- Military service events
- Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods
- Long-term illness
- Community violence
Signs and symptoms of PTSD
The signs of the three types of PTSD are largely the same, varying in intensity and duration. Physical and behavioral signs include flashbacks, insomnia, changes in eating patterns, difficulty concentrating, isolating from others, loss of interest in activities, avoiding potentially triggering places, being easily startled, and drug or alcohol abuse. Psychological signs include:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Feeling emotionally numb
Therapies we use
Therapy is the foundation of recovery from PTSD. Our treatment incorporates three proven approaches:
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Built on mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation — helping people stop self-harming behaviors that compromise their well-being.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Identifying the thought patterns and behaviors that lead to negative outcomes, then building the skills to break them and reduce symptoms.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Learning to accept difficult thoughts and emotions rather than fight against them, through acceptance, mindfulness, and behavior change.
The benefits of treatment
One of the greatest benefits of PTSD treatment is making sense of the trauma. Traumatic events often do not make sense when they occur — or even long after. Working with a therapist, the trauma can be broken down and rebuilt into a picture that is easier to process; reframing what happened helps a person understand their experience and begin to heal from it.
Treatment also builds skills people carry into everyday life to keep symptoms from standing in the way of their well-being — and it can help repair relationships that were damaged while the PTSD went untreated.
Levels of care and continuing support
Our whole-person approach starts with your individual strengths and goals, then builds a plan around them. Residential care means round-the-clock support with therapeutic sessions at the treatment center; the partial hospitalization program (PHP) keeps full treatment days with evenings and weekends at home or on campus. Depending on your plan, treatment may include group and family therapy, experiential therapy, and medication management.
Length of stay depends on your progress rather than a fixed calendar, specialty tracks can highlight faith, spirituality, and family, and detailed discharge planning plus an alumni network keep the support going after treatment ends.
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.