Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a natural human response to experiences that overwhelm a person’s sense of safety, such as actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Many people find themselves re‑living aspects of the trauma through intrusive memories, nightmares, or sudden emotional or physical reactions to reminders of what happened. Others notice themselves avoiding thoughts, feelings, places, or conversations connected to the event because it feels too painful or overwhelming. These reactions are not signs of weakness—they are signs that the nervous system has been deeply impacted and is working hard to protect you, even if those protections no longer feel helpful.

PTSD can also show up in shifts in mood and thinking, such as feeling disconnected from others, struggling to experience positive emotions, or carrying heavy self‑blame or negative beliefs about oneself or the world. Many people experience changes in arousal and reactivity as well—feeling on edge, startling easily, having trouble sleeping, or becoming irritable or hypervigilant. When these symptoms last longer than a month and begin to interfere with daily life, they may fit the DSM‑5 criteria for PTSD. Evidence‑based treatments can help people process what happened, regain a sense of safety, and reconnect with the parts of life that matter most.

Dr. Schafer uses Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy to treat PTSD.