The Modern Guide to
PTSD & Trauma Recovery

If you are reading this, you likely know the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. The constant scanning of the room. The sudden flash of anger. The exhaustion of trying to act "normal" when your internal world feels chaotic.

At Real Psychiatric Services in Columbus, we treat trauma not as a character flaw, but as a biological injury. Whether you are a veteran, a survivor of assault, or someone navigating the lingering effects of a difficult childhood, understanding the mechanics of your brain is the first step toward healing.

The Neuroscience: Why You Can't "Just Relax"

To understand PTSD, we must look beyond psychology and into neurobiology. Trauma physically alters the architecture of the brain, specifically in three key areas:

This state of constant activation creates a flood of stress hormones—Cortisol and Norepinephrine. When these chemicals are perpetually high, they become toxic to the body, leading to physical inflammation, chronic pain, and autoimmune issues. You aren't just "stressed"; your body is stuck in a war zone.

Beyond Flashbacks: The 4 Categories of Symptoms

Media portrayals of PTSD often focus on dramatic flashbacks. In reality, symptoms are often subtle, internal, and pervasive. The DSM-5 categorizes them into four distinct clusters:

1. Intrusive Symptoms

These are the memories that crash into your day without permission.

• Dissociative Flashbacks: Feeling as though the event is happening now, losing touch with the present moment.
• Nightmares: Vivid, terrifying dreams that disrupt the REM cycle, leading to chronic exhaustion.
• Somatic Reactions: Breaking into a sweat, shaking, or feeling nauseous when triggered.

2. Avoidance Behaviors

The brain's attempt to stay safe by shrinking your world.

• Avoiding specific locations (e.g., driving on the highway where an accident occurred).
• "Numbing out" via alcohol, substances, or excessive social media use to silence thoughts.
• Refusing to think or talk about the event.

3. Negative Alterations in Cognition

Trauma changes the story you tell yourself about who you are.

• Toxic Shame: "It was my fault" or "I am permanently broken."
• Trust Issues: Believing the world is inherently dangerous and no one is safe.
• Emotional Anesthesia: The inability to feel joy, love, or connection, leading to isolation.

4. Hyperarousal (The "ON" Switch)

Living in a state of permanent red-alert.

• Hypervigilance: Sitting with your back to the wall; tracking exits.
• Startle Response: Jumping significantly at loud noises.
• Irritability: Sudden outbursts of anger with little provocation.

The Hidden Diagnosis: Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

"While PTSD is a reaction to a terrifying event, C-PTSD is a reaction to a terrifying environment."

Many of the patients we see in Columbus do not fit the standard mold of a "single event" trauma. They suffer from Complex PTSD. This condition arises from prolonged, repeated trauma from which there was no escape—often occurring in childhood (Adverse Childhood Experiences) or long-term domestic abuse.

In C-PTSD, the survivor may not have "flashbacks" in the traditional sense. Instead, they experience Emotional Flashbacks—sudden, overwhelming regressions to the feeling states of the abandoned or abused child (fear, shame, helplessness) without the visual memory attached. Treatment for C-PTSD requires a delicate, phased approach that prioritizes "Safety First" before any trauma processing can begin.

Our Clinical Approach to Recovery

At Real Psychiatric Services, we utilize a holistic, evidence-based protocol to treat trauma. We recognize that since trauma lives in the body, talk therapy alone is often insufficient.

Phase 1: Stabilization & Medication Management

Before we can process the past, we must stabilize the present. If your nervous system is firing at 100mph, therapy will not "stick."

• SSRIs & SNRIs: Medications like Zoloft (Sertraline) or Effexor (Venlafaxine) help rebuild the serotonin pathways depleted by chronic stress.
• Prazosin for Nightmares: This alpha-blocker specifically targets the adrenaline receptors in the brain, often stopping trauma nightmares and allowing for restorative sleep.
• Beta-Blockers: Used to lower physical heart rate and trembling, helping the body "learn" that it is safe.

Phase 2: Processing & Integration

Once the foundation is set, we use therapeutic modalities designed for trauma:

• Trauma-Informed CBT: Identifying and dismantling the "cognitive distortions" (lies) the trauma taught you, such as "I am to blame."
• Narrative Therapy: Reclaiming your story. Moving from being a "victim" of circumstance to a survivor with agency.
• Somatic Awareness: Learning to recognize where trauma sits in your body (tight chest, clenched jaw) and using tools to release it.

Why Seek Care in Columbus?

Whether you are navigating the high-stress environment of corporate life in downtown Columbus, are a student at OSU facing burnout, or a veteran reintegrating into civilian life in Franklin County, our practice understands the local landscape.

We are uniquely positioned at 4770 Indianola Ave to provide a discreet, safe haven. We combine the clinical rigor of a large hospital system with the warmth and personalized attention of a private practice. We accept most major insurance plans because we believe expert trauma care should be accessible, not a luxury.