PTSD Treatment at Feel August
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a treatable response to events the nervous system could not fully process at the time. It can follow combat, accidents, assault, medical events, or sustained exposure to threat. PTSD treatment at Feel August begins with a thorough, unhurried evaluation — in a setting designed to feel safe — and continues with measurement-based, trauma-informed care.
Understanding PTSD
PTSD is what happens when the brain's threat-response system stays activated long after the original event has ended. Symptoms cluster into four categories: re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, negative shifts in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal (startle, vigilance, sleep disruption). The symptoms are not character flaws — they are the predictable physiology of unresolved trauma.
PTSD frequently coexists with depression, anxiety, substance use, and chronic pain. An accurate evaluation considers the full picture so treatment can address what is actually driving distress today, not just the surface symptoms.
Recognizing the Signs
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event
- Avoidance of people, places, or conversations that bring it back
- Persistent negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world
- Emotional numbness or feeling cut off from others
- Hypervigilance — startling easily, scanning for threat, difficulty relaxing
- Sleep disruption, irritability, or difficulty concentrating
- Symptoms persisting more than a month after the event
Our Approach
Treatment at Feel August
PTSD treatment at Feel August is trauma-informed at every step. Your initial evaluation is 60 minutes and is paced for safety — your provider follows your lead about how much detail to share. You are never required to recount the traumatic event in depth at the first visit.
Medication options for PTSD include SSRIs (sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for this indication) and others used to address specific symptoms — for example, prazosin for trauma-related nightmares. We coordinate with trauma-focused therapists (CPT, PE, or EMDR) when therapy is part of the plan, and we track PCL-5 scores at every visit.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first appointment is 60 minutes and is designed to feel safe. Your provider will ask broad questions about your history and current symptoms, but you control the pace and the level of detail. There is no requirement to describe the traumatic event in depth at this visit.
After the evaluation, your provider will share their assessment, discuss treatment options, and develop a plan with you. You will leave with clear next steps and a follow-up appointment, typically within two to four weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have PTSD?
- If you experienced or witnessed a traumatic event and continue to experience intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood changes, or hyperarousal more than a month later, a clinical evaluation can help determine whether PTSD is present. PTSD does not require combat or assault — many medical, accident, and sustained-stress experiences qualify.
- What medications are used for PTSD?
- Sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD. Other SSRIs and SNRIs are also commonly used. Prazosin is sometimes added for trauma-related nightmares. Your provider will recommend an approach based on your specific symptom profile and history.
- Do I also need therapy?
- Trauma-focused therapy (CPT, PE, or EMDR) produces the most durable PTSD outcomes when combined with medication. We can refer you to trauma-informed therapists if you do not already have one. Medication alone can also be helpful, particularly for sleep, mood, and arousal symptoms.
- Will I have to relive the trauma in your office?
- No. The evaluation is paced for safety, and you control the level of detail. Detailed processing of the traumatic event is the work of trauma-focused therapy — it is not what happens at a psychiatric medication-management visit.
- Can I do PTSD treatment online?
- Yes. Telehealth is well-suited to PTSD medication management, and many patients find a familiar private space more comfortable than a clinical office. Feel August provides care via secure video throughout California.
Related Conditions
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