PTSD

Trauma can leave lasting effects on your mental health when left untreated, and about 5% of adults in the United States have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At Axis Integrated Mental Health in Boulder, Denver, and Westminster, Colorado, the compassionate mental health team diagnoses and provides highly effective treatments for PTSD and other mental health concerns. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation by phone or request one online today.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a condition that arises in some people after experiencing a traumatic or life-threatening life event, such as a severe injury, military combat, neglect, or abuse. Treating PTSD can ease symptoms, restore your quality of life, and help you thrive. See the Axis Integrated Mental Health team at the first sign of PTSD.

Which symptoms can PTSD cause?

PTSD can lead to the following symptoms:

• Fear
• Worry
• Severe anxiety
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Always being on guard
• Insomnia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Distressing memories
• Avoiding trauma triggers
• Getting startled easily
• Thoughts of suicide
• Social isolation
• Angry outbursts
• Irritability 
• Being suspicious of others
• Substance misuse 

Symptoms of PTSD might develop soon after a traumatic event and disappear after a few weeks or months, but sometimes, they linger for years when not addressed.

What is Complex PTSD or CPTSD?

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that develops after prolonged or repeated trauma, often in relationships where escape wasn’t possible. Unlike traditional PTSD, which may stem from a single event like an accident or assault, complex PTSD is more likely to result from long-term emotional neglect, childhood abuse, domestic violence, or other ongoing trauma.

People with CPTSD may experience all the symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance, along with additional challenges like:

• Chronic feelings of shame or worthlessness

• Difficulty trusting others or forming healthy relationships

• Emotional numbness or intense mood swings

• Persistent negative thoughts about themselves and the world

At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we understand the unique pain of complex trauma. Our team specializes in treating both PTSD and CPTSD with evidence-based therapies, advanced treatments like Spravato® and Deep TMS, and trauma-informed psychiatric care. If you’ve been misdiagnosed, dismissed, or stuck in survival mode for years, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You may be living with Complex PTSD. We’re here to help you heal.

What are the risk factors for PTSD?

Factors that may increase the risk of developing PTSD include:

• Childhood neglect
• Military combat
• Being a first responder
• Sexual, emotional, or physical abuse
• Car accidents
• Severe injury or medical diagnosis 
• Loss of a loved one 
• Natural disaster
• Being robbed or attacked
• Witnessing violence

Women are more likely than men to have PTSD, as about eight in 100 women experience it vs. four in 100 men. However, due to gender bias in mental health, many women's symptoms are dismissed.

How does a specialist diagnose PTSD?

Diagnosing PTSD at Axis Integrated Mental Health requires a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. This consists of a series of questions about your moods, emotions, lifestyle, behaviors, medications, and past trauma. Your provider may also complete a physical exam to screen for signs of physical problems that may contribute to your symptoms. 

How is PTSD treated?

To see if PTSD Treatment at Axis is right for you, take a look at our sample treatment plan for PTSD. Treating PTSD at Axis Integrated Mental Health could consist of one or more of the following solutions:

• Talk therapy (psychotherapy)
• Integrative psychiatry 
• Medication management
• Nutritional psychiatry
• Social Prescribing
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Ketamine therapy

You may undergo in-person or virtual exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, or other forms of therapy to help you combat problematic PTSD symptoms. 

Ketamine therapy can diminish your symptoms and help you better process difficult experiences by developing new brain connections.

TMS uses magnetic energy to alter brain responses, improving your mood and emotions. 

Axis Integrated Mental Health is the only Colorado clinic that provides a TMS scholarship to patients with financial need. The team helps reduce patient costs by calling insurance companies on their behalf. 

Schedule an in-person or telehealth PTSD evaluation at Axis Integrated Mental Health by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.