Understanding PTSD: Beyond Trauma
Today is PTSD Awareness Day, a time to shine a light on a condition that affects millions but is often misunderstood. At our practice, we believe education fosters compassion—and compassion fosters healing. So, let’s take a moment to understand what PTSD really is, who it affects, how it differs from trauma, and how people can—and do—heal.
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. These events might include abuse, assault, accidents, natural disasters, combat exposure, or sudden loss. While many people experience trauma in their lives, not everyone develops PTSD. What distinguishes PTSD is that the emotional and physiological responses to the trauma do not resolve over time—they persist and interfere with daily functioning.
Symptoms often fall into four main categories:
Intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares)
Avoidance (of people, places, or conversations that trigger memories)
Negative changes in thinking and mood (feeling numb, hopeless, or disconnected)
Arousal and reactivity symptoms (being easily startled, on edge, or having difficulty sleeping)
Trauma vs. PTSD: What’s the Difference?
Trauma is the experience of emotional or psychological injury resulting from a distressing event. It’s a normal human response, and for many, symptoms fade with time and support.
PTSD, on the other hand, is a disorder—meaning the symptoms are more severe, last longer (typically over a month), and impact daily life in significant ways. Think of PTSD as trauma that gets "stuck" in the nervous system. While trauma is common, PTSD requires clinical attention and support.
Who is Most Affected by PTSD?
PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. However, certain populations are at higher risk:
Veterans and first responders, due to the nature of their work
Survivors of abuse, including childhood abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault
People who have experienced sudden loss or serious accidents
Indigenous communities and marginalized groups, who often face intergenerational trauma, systemic injustice, and under-resourced care
It’s important to recognize that PTSD doesn’t always show up immediately—it can surface months or even years after the trauma occurred.
How is PTSD Treated?
The good news: PTSD is treatable. With the right support, individuals can regain a sense of safety, control, and connection.
Common evidence-based treatments include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Helps the brain process and release trauma.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): A form of cognitive behavioral therapy focused on reframing harmful beliefs linked to the trauma.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): Gradually and safely reduces fear by revisiting memories in a controlled way.
Somatic-based therapies:somatic-experiencing-edmonton Such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or Somatic Experiencing, which help regulate the nervous system through body awareness.
Healing from PTSD is not about forgetting the trauma—it’s about integrating it, reducing its power, and reclaiming one’s life.
To Those Living with PTSD
If you’re living with PTSD: you are not broken. Your brain and body are doing their best to protect you based on what you’ve been through. PTSD is not a sign of weakness—it’s a response to surviving something overwhelming.
Today, we honour your strength. We see the courage it takes to face each day. Whether you’re just beginning to understand your symptoms or are deep in the work of healing, please know: help is available, and healing is possible.
If you're ready to take the next step in your healing journey, our therapists are here to support you—with compassion, care, and expertise.
Let’s keep the conversation going—not just today, but every day.
If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, reach out. You are not alone.