PTSD
(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

When it comes to PTSD treatment, Dr. Howard Cohen understands that therapy and medication may not always alleviate symptoms. At Mind + Body Medicine in Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, he offers innovative treatments for hard-to-treat post traumatic stress disorder, including Ketamine Therapy and Brain Stimulation. Through Dr. Cohen, people struggling with PTSD have the opportunity to diminish their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Find relief from PTSD. 

What is PTSD?

PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition that may affect people who have experienced or witnessed trauma. While everybody experiences trauma on some level at some point in their lives, reactions to this trauma typically ease with time. In people with PTSD, symptoms endure for months or even years and can have a significant impact on their daily functioning and quality of life.1

Military personnel, veterans, and first responders show the highest incidence of PTSD, but post traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone. PTSD can be a reaction to an isolated trauma such as an assault, stressful event such as an accident, or life-threatening situation or severe injury. However, PTSD may also be a response to a series of events, such as war experiences or long-term abuse.

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD may appear immediately after a traumatic event, or they may not appear until much later. Sometimes, a new experience can trigger memories of a past traumatic event and the onset of PTSD symptoms. PTSD affects different people in different ways, but there are some key symptoms that are common to PTSD and can lead to a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD symptoms may include:

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Involuntary memories

  • Flashbacks

  • Nightmares

  • Avoidance of people, places, situations, activities or other factors that may trigger memories of trauma

  • Refusal to talk about traumatic events

  • Negative thoughts

  • Mood changes

  • Irritability

  • Outbursts

  • Reckless or self-destructive behavior

  • Distorted thoughts

  • Distorted perception of self

  • Intense guilt

  • Paranoia

  • Hypervigilance

  • Detachment

  • Memory problems

  • Difficulty Sleeping

To arrive at a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must experience symptoms for more than one month and these symptoms must significantly impact that person’s day-to-day life and relationships.2

PTSD Treatment

Neuropathy is often connected to another underlying illness. Early and accurate diagnosis and proper management are critical in helping patients overcome their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Neuropathy-related conditions include:

For some people with PTSD, healing occurs over time. For others, treatment is necessary to allow them to live fulfilling lives. Treatment for PTSD may include:

Psychological Treatment for PTSD

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of therapy that has been beneficial for patients with PTSD. CBT encourages people to reframe negative thoughts and emotions as they work with therapists to confront emotions and memories that cause them distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people “unlearn” unhealthy patterns as they gain more effective coping mechanisms.3 Exposure therapy involves controlled exposure to PTSD triggers as a means of helping people overcome their fear and distress.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy where a specific traumatic memory is activated while the eyes are moved in a specific way. This changes the way memories are stored in the brain, helping diminish their traumatic impact.4

Medication for PTSD

There are a number of types of medications that may be prescribed to reduce PTSD symptoms, including:

  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-anxiety medications
  • Sleep medications

Ketamine Infusion Therapy for PTSD

Ketamine Infusion Therapy is increasingly used in the treatment of PTSD. Ketamine stimulates receptors in the brain, which can promote neural plasticity and regulate mood to help alleviate PTSD symptoms. In a recent study conducted by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, 67% of patients given Ketamine Infusion Therapy reflected a reduction in PTSD symptoms of 30% or more within two weeks. Patients reported a rapid improvement in symptoms, often after 24 hours, and patients who underwent a series of Ketamine infusions showed a marked reduction in PTSD symptoms.5

Brain Stimulation for PTSD

Dr. Cohen has considerable experience using Brain Stimulation to treat PTSD. This type of therapy uses electromagnetic currents to increase blood flow and stimulate the brain and nervous system. Specifically, the form of Brain Stimulation known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been found to be very helpful for patients with PTSD. TMS stimulates the areas of the brain responsible for mood, and has been shown to increase blood flow to key areas of the brain in addition to increasing the density of brain gray matter.6 Many of Dr. Cohen’s patients who undergo TMS report that they feel more energy and motivation after as few as five sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD

Can PTSD resolve on its own without treatment?

For some people, it is possible to move past PTSD symptoms without formal treatment, especially if they have a strong support system. However, many people with PTSD experience a worsening of symptoms over time and are more likely to achieve peace through PTSD treatment.

How long does PTSD treatment typically last?

The duration of PTSD treatment can vary widely depending on individual needs and the severity of symptoms. Some people may experience relief in a few months, while others may require longer-term treatment that lasts several months to years.

Are there any self-help strategies that can complement PTSD treatment?

Yes, self-help strategies such as mindfulness, relaxation techniques, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and connecting with a support network can complement formal PTSD treatment and aid in recovery.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD, even if symptoms have not abated through traditional treatments like therapy and medication, don’t lose hope. Dr. Cohen has devoted his career to helping individuals with PTSD achieve an improved quality of life. He offers novel PTSD treatment options such as Ketamine Therapy and Brain Stimulation, helping his patients from Dallas, Fort Worth, TX and beyond life more fulfilled and productive lives. To learn more about PTSD treatment options, please contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohen. 

1 Mayo Clinic. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967. Accessed November 22, 2023.
2 American Psychiatric Association. What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Available: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd. Accessed November 22, 2023.
3 American Psychological Association. What is cognitive behavioral therapy? Available: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral. Accessed November 22, 2023.
4 Cleveland Clinic. EMDR therapy. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy. Accessed November 22, 2023.
5 Feder A, Costi S, Rutter SB, Collins AB, Govindarajulu U, Jha MK, Horn SR, Kautz M, Corniquel M, Collins KA, Bevilacqua L, Glasgow AM, Brallier J, Pietrzak RH, Murrough JW, Charney DS. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 1;178(2):193-202. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050596. Epub 2021 Jan 5. PMID: 33397139. Available:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33397139/. Accessed November 22, 2023.
6 Mayo Clinic. Transcranial magnetic stimulation. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/. Accessed November 22, 2023.