Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to a traumatic event—something that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but for those who do, the condition can profoundly affect daily life through intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thinking and mood, and heightened physical reactions. Understanding what happens in the brain and body during PTSD, why some people develop it while others don't, and how the condition shows up differently across individuals helps explain both the experience and the path forward.
These articles explore how PTSD is diagnosed, what treatments have evidence behind them, how symptoms change over time, and what approaches help people manage the condition. You'll find information about therapy options, medications, how trauma affects sleep and relationships, and practical strategies that research supports—along with honest discussion of what we know and what remains uncertain about recovery.