PTSD Therapy
Conditions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
At Dayrise Wellness, we understand that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have debilitating effects on people of every age, from teens to adults. This condition may develop after experiencing a traumatic event, and if left untreated, it can lead to difficulties in emotional regulation, severe anxiety, depression, and even self-harming behavior.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition affecting individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Traumatic events may include physical or sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, combat exposure, or other life-threatening situations. Understanding the various treatment options for PTSD is crucial to recovery.
Signs of PTSD
The symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be grouped into four main categories:
- Intrusion: Recurrent, involuntary distressing memories, intrusive thoughts or images, or nightmares of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance/Numbing: Efforts to avoid anything that reminds the person of the traumatic event, including talking about it, people or places related to it, and any activities that may cause distressing memories. They may also experience emotional numbing or have difficulty feeling positive emotions.
- Negative moods and feelings: Persistent negative emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, shame, or distress. These moods can distort the individual’s sense of self or overall outlook on life.
- Arousal and Reactivity: Increased irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and hypervigilance.
It’s also important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. Factors such as the intensity and duration of the trauma, along with a person’s resources, play critical roles in the development of this condition.
Causes and Triggers
Understanding the causes and triggers of PTSD is essential for effective treatment. Common causes include exposure to trauma, personal vulnerability, and lack of social support. Triggers such as reminders of trauma or anniversaries can evoke distress in those affected. Recognizing these triggers is a key aspect of our treatment options for PTSD.
Common Causes
- Traumatic Events: The primary cause of PTSD is exposure to a traumatic event(s). These events can be life-threatening, involve serious injury, or result in sexual violence.
- Personal Vulnerability: Some may be more susceptible to developing PTSD due to pre-existing factors. A history of previous trauma, childhood adversity, a family history of mental health conditions, or a pre-existing anxiety disorder can increase the likelihood of PTSD development.
- Lack of Social Support: The availability of a strong social support network can play a significant role in preventing or mitigating the effects of trauma. If a person does not have access to such support, they may be more likely to develop PTSD.
Common Triggers
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Reminders of the Trauma: Certain cues can trigger memories of the traumatic event and cause distress. These may include people, places, objects, smells, sounds, or conversations related to the trauma.
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Anniversaries: Dates or anniversaries associated with the trauma can evoke intense emotions and flashbacks.
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Stressful Life Events: Even events that are unrelated to the original trauma can be triggering if they remind a person of the traumatic experience. Major life changes, loss of a loved one, or other significant stressors can impact a person’s coping mechanisms.
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Media or News Exposure: Seeing or hearing about similar traumatic events through the media or news can trigger memories and reactions.
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Substance Use: Alcohol or drug use can temporarily numb emotional distress, but substance use may also trigger or worsen PTSD symptoms in the long term.
How PTSD Differs by Age
PTSD can develop at any age. The events behind it and the way it shows up change with the stage of life.
PTSD in teens and young adults
Common causes include abuse or neglect, bullying, school or community violence, serious accidents, sudden loss, and online exploitation. Teens often show PTSD through irritability, school avoidance, trouble sleeping, nightmares, risk-taking, or a drop in grades, and these signs are easy to mistake for typical teenage behavior. Reminders such as a hallway, a phone notification, or a certain person can set off strong reactions.
PTSD in adults
Common causes include assault, intimate partner violence, car accidents, medical emergencies, combat or first-responder exposure, workplace violence, and childhood trauma that never got treated. Adults often show PTSD through constant alertness, flashbacks, emotional numbness, avoiding places or conversations, strain in relationships, trouble at work, and using alcohol or other substances to cope. Many adults live with PTSD for years before they link it to what happened.
Treatment works at every age. Our clinicians match the approach to your history, your pace, and your goals.
Treatment of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging condition, but there are effective treatments available to help individuals manage and overcome its symptoms.
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Psychotherapy– Therapy techniques like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Group Therapy can be beneficial. We tailor our psychotherapy to suit individual needs. Learn more about different types of therapy we provide here.
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Medication– Different medications can be used to alleviate the symptoms of PTSD. Commonly prescribed medications include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and mood stabilizers.
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Self-Help Strategies– Developing healthy habits such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, and getting enough sleep can help with managing PTSD. Mindfulness meditation, relaxation exercises, avoiding substance abuse, and building a supportive network are all important self-care strategies to try.
With the right support and treatment options for PTSD, we at Dayrise Wellness believe that individuals can develop coping mechanisms to improve their quality of life and navigate the challenges associated with PTSD.
Clinically reviewed by Megan Bomicino, LCPC, Director of Operations. Last reviewed September 28, 2026.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
PTSD doesn’t only look like flashbacks and nightmares. It often shows up in the body, muscle tension, digestive issues, a racing heart, a constant sense of being on edge, and in behaviors that don’t look trauma-related at first glance: irritability, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or difficulty trusting others. These are a nervous system trying to keep you safe, not a character flaw, and that distinction is where trauma therapy at Dayrise starts.
Before processing what happened, we focus on grounding and regulating the nervous system, since trying to process trauma without that foundation tends to feel overwhelming rather than helpful. From there, most people work with EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or somatic approaches, often in combination, and it’s common for things to feel harder before they feel easier as that work begins.
Megan Bomicino, a clinician at Dayrise, puts it this way: the goal isn’t erasing what happened, that’s not possible. The goal is helping the nervous system recognize that the danger is over, so it stops replaying the same loop.
If you are in Lombard or Naperville, IL, our Lombard trauma therapists and Naperville trauma therapists are here to help, in person or online across Illinois.
The DayRise Path and Team’s Journey
The DayRise Path
There is no set timeline for trauma recovery, everyone’s nervous system and history are different, so the DayRise Path is built around building safety, confidence, and coping skills at each client’s own pace rather than a fixed number of sessions. It also means being upfront that progress often dips before it rises, especially once processing begins, so a harder stretch reads as expected, not as failure.
The goal running through the whole Path is helping clients thrive, not just get by. Not being erased, but knowing how to interrupt the loop when it starts.
The Team’s Journey
Trauma recovery rarely rests on therapy alone, so the Team’s Journey coordinates the rest of it: a referral to a prescriber or nurse practitioner if medication would help with panic or sleep, a nutritionist if appetite has been affected, and support systems like parents, spouses, or close friends brought in deliberately to help build a genuinely safe environment.
Clients are never navigating this alone. We stay with clients through the setbacks as well as the progress, and we’re upfront that the path isn’t always a straight line forward.
PTSD Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be to develop PTSD?
PTSD can occur at any age, but it is most commonly diagnosed in adulthood. However, children and adolescents can also be affected by the condition.
What kind of events can trigger PTSD in people?
PTSD can be triggered by a variety of events, including physical or sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, combat exposure, or other life-threatening situations. It is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. The condition’s development can be influenced by various factors such as the intensity and duration of the traumatic event and the
Where can I find more resources on PTSD?
Does everyone with PTSD require medication?
Not necessarily. Medication may be recommended in some cases, but not everyone will need to take medication for their PTSD. It is best to talk to a medical professional.
Can PTSD be cured?
While there is no “cure” for PTSD, it can be effectively treated and managed. Treatment typically involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and self-help strategies. With the right approach to treatment, individuals can develop effective coping mechanisms to reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life.