Conditions · PTSD
Help for PTSD and trauma.
PTSD is the mind and body staying on high alert after something frightening or painful. It can follow any trauma, not only combat, and it shows up as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and feeling constantly on guard. PTSD is treatable. Dr. McDade treats it by secure video across Texas and California, for ages 12 to 70.
The signs
What PTSD feels like.
After a trauma, it is normal to feel shaken for a while. PTSD is when those reactions stay, and keep pulling you back to what happened. You might notice some of these signs.
- Flashbacks or reliving the event
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Avoiding reminders, places, or people
- Feeling on guard or easily startled
- Trouble feeling close to or trusting others
- Feeling numb, detached, or shut down
- Irritability or sudden anger
- Trouble concentrating
- Guilt, shame, or blaming yourself
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
PTSD is more common than many people think. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that about 6 in 100 adults will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
Your experience counts
You do not have to justify what you went through.
PTSD is not only for soldiers. It can follow a car accident, an assault, abuse, a hard medical event, the sudden loss of someone, or things that happened in childhood. Many people quietly carry trauma while telling themselves it was not that bad, or that other people had it worse.
Your nervous system does not grade trauma on a curve. If something overwhelmed you, and you are still carrying it, that is reason enough to get help. You do not have to earn your way to care.
Treatment
How a psychiatrist treats PTSD.
Treatment usually combines therapy and medication. Trauma-focused therapy helps you process what happened at a pace that feels safe. Medication can ease the symptoms that get in the way, like poor sleep, anxiety, and being constantly on edge. Dr. McDade provides medication management and connects you with trauma-focused therapy, so the two work together.
“Healing from trauma is not about forgetting. It is about getting to a place where the past no longer runs your present.”
Care with Dr. McDade
What your care looks like.
Your first visit is unhurried, and runs 60 to 90 minutes. You share only what you are ready to share. You leave with a clear understanding of what is going on and a plan you agree with.
Care moves at a pace that feels safe, and follow-up visits adjust your plan as you heal. All of it happens by secure video, from a private, familiar space. Meet Dr. McDade.
Questions, answered
PTSD FAQ.
Do I have PTSD if I was not in combat or a major disaster?
You can. PTSD can follow any trauma, including a car accident, an assault, abuse, a medical emergency, or the sudden loss of someone. What matters is how it affected you, not how it compares to anyone else.
What is the difference between trauma and PTSD?
Many people go through trauma and slowly recover. PTSD is when the symptoms last, usually more than a month, and keep getting in the way of your life. A psychiatrist can tell the difference.
Can PTSD be treated with medication?
Medication can ease symptoms like poor sleep, anxiety, and feeling on edge. It works best alongside trauma-focused therapy. Dr. McDade manages medication and connects you with the right therapy.
Can you treat PTSD online?
Yes. PTSD is well suited to telepsychiatry, and many people feel safer doing this work from their own space, across Texas and California.
Does PTSD ever get better?
Yes. With treatment, the symptoms can ease a great deal and become manageable. Many people recover and feel like themselves again, even if it does not feel that way right now.
When should I get help for PTSD?
If trauma symptoms have lasted more than a month and are getting in the way of your life, it is worth talking with a psychiatrist. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.
If trauma symptoms have lasted more than a month and are getting in the way of your life, it is worth talking with a psychiatrist. You do not have to carry it alone. Health & Harmony Psychiatry does not provide emergency care. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.
Begin when you are ready
The past does not have to run your present.
Book a private first visit with Dr. McDade, or reach our team with a question. Care is available by secure video across Texas and California.