Psychiatric Care · PTSD · Trauma · Trauma-Related Conditions
Trauma & PTSD Treatment
Trauma changes how the brain processes threat, memory, and safety. For some people, those changes produce lasting symptoms that interfere with every area of life. PNS providers are experienced in trauma-informed psychiatric care, offering evidence-based treatment for PTSD and related trauma conditions at our 8 Southern California locations. You don’t have to manage this alone.
What is
PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Trauma may include violence, abuse, accidents, combat exposure, sudden loss, medical trauma, community violence, or other experiences that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. PTSD affects approximately 12 million Americans at any given time.
Signs & Symptoms
Recognizing PTSD
Trauma can affect the mind and body long after a painful or overwhelming experience has passed. For some people, symptoms fade over time. For others, trauma can continue to shape sleep, mood, relationships, concentration, emotional regulation, and the ability to feel safe in daily life.
Intrusive memories, images, or thoughts about the traumatic experience that feel difficult to control.
Feeling as if the traumatic event is happening again, sometimes triggered by sounds, smells, places, people, or situations.
Disturbing dreams, difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking, or feeling unable to rest.
Avoiding reminders of the trauma, including places, conversations, people, activities, thoughts, or feelings connected to what happened.
Feeling constantly alert, watchful, guarded, or easily startled, even in situations that others may experience as safe.
Feeling easily frustrated, reactive, emotionally overwhelmed, or unable to regulate anger in the way you used to.
Feeling detached, shut down, disconnected from others, or unable to experience positive emotions.
Persistent guilt, shame, fear, mistrust, hopelessness, or negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world.
Presentations of trauma & PTSD
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is defined as depression that has not responded adequately to at least two antidepressant trials of adequate dose and duration.
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Acute Stress Symptoms: Some people experience significant trauma-related symptoms in the days or weeks following an event. Early support can help reduce distress and guide next steps. -
Complex Trauma: Repeated or prolonged trauma, especially when it occurs early in life or within important relationships, can affect identity, emotional regulation, trust, relationships, and sense of safety.
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Trauma-Related Sleep Problems: Nightmares, insomnia, nighttime panic, and difficulty feeling safe enough to sleep are common reasons people seek care after trauma.
When to seek help
If trauma-related symptoms are interfering with your sleep, relationships, work, school, parenting, emotional stability, or ability to feel safe in daily life, it may be time to seek professional support.
You do not have to wait until symptoms feel unmanageable. PTSD and trauma-related conditions are treatable, and care can help reduce distress, improve functioning, and support recovery over time.
If you have already tried treatment but continue to experience nightmares, panic, avoidance, irritability, emotional numbness, or persistent anxiety, PNS can help reassess your symptoms and identify next steps.
Let’s connect
Book an appointment at any PNS location. Our scheduling team will get in touch, usually within one business day.
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How PNS Treats It
Trauma & PTSD treatment at PNS
PNS takes a trauma-informed, individualized approach to PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. Your provider will review your symptoms, history, treatment goals, and any co-occurring concerns to help develop a plan that supports safety, stabilization, and long-term healing.
Psychotherapy
Therapy can help patients process traumatic experiences, reduce avoidance, develop coping strategies, and rebuild a sense of safety and control.
Medication Management
Medication may help with trauma-related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, panic, nightmares, or sleep disruption.
TMS
TMS is supported by a growing body of clinical evidence in the treatment of PTSD and C-PTSD, particularly for veterans and patients with treatment-resistant presentations
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