Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It causes intrusive memories, hypervigilance, avoidance, and disrupted sleep, and it also dysregulates the body's stress system, producing abnormal cortisol levels and chronic inflammation. Effective care addresses both the psychological and physiological sides of the condition.
Understanding PTSD
Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It causes intrusive memories, hypervigilance, avoidance, and disrupted sleep, and it also dysregulates the body's stress system in ways that have measurable physiological effects.
Not everyone who goes through trauma develops PTSD, but for those who do, the condition can significantly disrupt daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life. It may surface immediately after the event or emerge months or years later, and it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background.
PTSD is not only a psychological experience. Trauma can alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the system that governs the body's stress response, producing abnormal cortisol levels, chronic low-grade inflammation, and a heightened threat-detection response that no longer matches the actual environment. At AgeRejuvenation, we evaluate that hormonal, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory state so care can address the physiological root alongside the psychological one.
What causes PTSD?
Answer: PTSD is triggered by exposure to a traumatic event, but it develops through changes in the brain's fear circuitry and the body's stress hormones, which is why some people develop it after trauma and others do not.
Common triggers include combat, assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, and childhood adversity, and the intensity and duration of the trauma influence the likelihood that symptoms persist. Underlying biology matters too. Trauma disrupts neurotransmitters and hormones, including cortisol and thyroid hormone, while a personal or family history of mental health conditions, limited social support, and added life stressors raise risk. As the Mayo Clinic explains in its overview of PTSD causes, the disorder reflects a mix of life experiences, inherited risk, and the way the brain regulates stress chemicals.
How is PTSD diagnosed?
Answer: PTSD is diagnosed clinically by a qualified mental health or medical professional based on your symptoms, their duration, and their impact after a traumatic event. There is no single blood test that confirms it.
A diagnosis generally requires that symptoms such as intrusion, avoidance, negative mood changes, and heightened arousal last more than a month and interfere with daily life. The National Institute of Mental Health describes these symptom clusters used to recognize the condition. At AgeRejuvenation, laboratory evaluation of cortisol, thyroid, and inflammatory markers does not replace that clinical diagnosis. Instead, it maps the physiological state behind your symptoms so any supportive care can be tailored precisely.
What are the treatment options for PTSD?
Answer: PTSD is most effectively treated with evidence-based psychological therapy, often paired with medication and, where appropriate, physiological support that calms an overactive stress response.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy is the foundation of care. Alongside it, addressing the dysregulated stress physiology can help with the sleep disruption, hypervigilance, and tension that talk therapy alone does not always resolve. The table below compares the physiological supports we use to complement, not replace, mental health treatment.
| Treatment | How it works | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Nervous system reset with stellate ganglion block | An injection near a sympathetic nerve cluster calms the fight-or-flight response | People with persistent hypervigilance, anxiety, and exaggerated startle |
| PEMF therapy | Pulsed electromagnetic fields support cellular function and a calmer stress response | People with poor sleep and physical tension |
| NAD+ therapy | Supports cellular energy and neurological function | People seeking mood, clarity, and recovery support |
Each plan is individual, and your provider personalizes the timing and intensity of these options to your lab results and clinical picture rather than applying a single protocol to everyone.
How does PTSD affect the body's hormones and stress system?
Answer: Trauma can leave the HPA axis stuck in a heightened state, shifting cortisol levels and fueling chronic inflammation, disrupted sleep, and a startle response that stays switched on.
The HPA axis is the body's central stress thermostat. When it is dysregulated, the downstream effects ripple outward. Abnormal cortisol patterns interfere with sleep architecture, low-grade inflammation can affect mood and energy, and the threat-detection system keeps firing in safe situations. The Cleveland Clinic notes how the stress response and cortisol regulation shape physical and emotional health. Restoring balance in this system is why physiological care can complement psychological treatment, and why energy, sleep, and reactivity often improve together once the stress response settles.
Can PTSD be cured, and what is the outlook?
Answer: PTSD is highly treatable, and many people experience substantial relief, though the realistic goal is lasting management and recovery of function rather than a guaranteed permanent cure.
Outcomes vary with symptom severity, the type of trauma, and how early care begins. Some people recover within months, while others manage symptoms over a longer period with ongoing support. Many patients report gradual improvements in sleep, mood, and anxiety as both the psychological and physiological drivers are addressed. Progress is monitored closely so the plan can be adjusted as you respond.
When should you see a professional for PTSD?
Answer: Seek professional care when symptoms last longer than a month, intensify, or interfere with work, relationships, or daily routines, and seek emergency help immediately for thoughts of self-harm.
Early evaluation can make recovery smoother, so there is no need to wait until symptoms become severe. If you are in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, contact emergency services or a crisis line right away. For non-emergency PTSD care, our medical team reviews your full health history and appropriate laboratory testing before recommending any plan. You can book an evaluation to discuss how physiological support might fit alongside your mental health treatment.
Why choose AgeRejuvenation for PTSD support?
Answer: We focus on the measurable physiological side of PTSD, including HPA axis dysregulation, cortisol imbalance, inflammation, and disrupted sleep, as a complement to evidence-based psychological care.
Care is led by Chief Medical Director Dr. Dawn Ericsson, MD, alongside a team experienced in physiological and regenerative therapies. Every plan begins with laboratory evaluation, because understanding your specific hormonal and inflammatory state shapes the entire strategy. We do not apply one protocol to everyone, and we recognize that effective PTSD care often includes mental health professionals. Our role is to support the body's recovery so that the work you do in therapy has the steadiest possible foundation.
Common symptoms
Symptoms evaluated at AgeRejuvenation include:
How we treat ptsd
Care plans are personalized to the root cause. Treatments include:
- Nervous system reset with stellate ganglion block: A stellate ganglion block targets the sympathetic nerve cluster that drives the fight-or-flight response. By calming an overactive sympathetic nervous system, this reset can reduce hypervigilance, anxiety, and exaggerated startle responses that persist in PTSD.
- PEMF therapy: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy supports cellular function and may help calm a dysregulated stress response, supporting better sleep and reduced physical tension that often accompany PTSD.
- NAD+ therapy: NAD+ therapy supports cellular energy production and neurological function. It is used as part of a broader physiological protocol to support mood, mental clarity, and recovery alongside trauma-focused care.
