Compassionate, Evidence-Based Psychiatric Care for Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural response to overwhelming or threatening events. Trauma alters how the brain and nervous system function — it is not a sign of weakness.
You may feel on edge, disconnected, easily startled, numb, or flooded with intrusive memories. These are normal responses to abnormal experiences.
At Arizona Mental Wellness, our psychiatric providers offer trauma-informed evaluation, medication support, and nervous-system stabilization to help you reclaim safety, clarity, and emotional grounding.
Trauma may shape your past, but it does not define your future.
Understanding PTSD From a Psychiatric Perspective
Trauma impacts key brain and nervous-system regions:
- Amygdala: heightened fear and threat response
- Hippocampus: memory flooding, gaps, or confusion
- Prefrontal Cortex: reduced emotional regulation
- Autonomic Nervous System: chronic fight/flight/freeze activation
PTSD can follow:
- Abuse, assault, or violence
- Childhood trauma or neglect
- Accidents, medical trauma, or sudden loss
- Military trauma or first-responder exposure
- Emotional or psychological trauma
- Repeated relational trauma (C-PTSD)
Symptoms vary depending on biology, history, stress load, and support systems.
Common co-occurring conditions:
Common PTSD Symptoms We Treat
Discover trauma-informed, personalized treatment approaches.
Intrusion
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- intrusive thoughts or memories
- Emotional flooding
- Sudden physiological anxiety spikes
Hyperarousal
Complex Trauma / C-PTSD
- Emotional dysregulation
- Fear of abandonment
- Unstable relationships
- Identity struggles
Avoidance
- Avoiding people, places, or reminders
- Numbing or detaching
- Emotional “shutdown”
Cognitive & Mood Changes
- Shame, guilt, or self-blame
- Negative self-beliefs
- Concentration or memory issues
- Feeling disconnected from self or body
- Hopelessness or depression
We treat all trauma with respect, gentleness, and clinical precision.
Understanding PTSD Treatment
Discover the compassionate, personalized approach we take to assess, treat, and support your journey toward healing from trauma.
Psychiatric Evaluation for PTSD
Our trauma-informed evaluations move at your pace — no pressure to share details you are not ready for.
We explore:
- Symptoms, patterns, and current triggers
- Sleep disturbance or nightmares
- Dissociation or panic
- Nervous-system sensitivity
- ADHD- or anxiety-like symptoms
- Co-occurring concerns such as:
- Hormonal, medical, or metabolic contributors
- Safety and stabilization needs
Your story stays in your control.
How Psychiatry Helps Beyond Medication
Psychiatric care also supports:
- Psychoeducation on trauma and the brain
- Stabilization after acute trauma
- Sleep and circadian rhythm regulation
- Managing panic or hyperarousal
- Reducing dissociation
- Developing grounding and nervous-system skills
- Identifying personal triggers
- Supporting readiness for trauma therapy
Psychiatry helps the body regulate so the mind can heal.
Psychiatry + Therapy = The Strongest PTSD Outcomes
Medication reduces symptom intensity.
Therapy facilitates deeper emotional and relational repair.
We collaborate with trauma therapists who specialize in:
Attachment-based approaches
- EMDR (gold standard)
- Trauma-informed CBT
- DBT for emotional regulation
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Somatic trauma therapy
Medication Support for PTSD
Medication can help calm the nervous system, reduce intrusive symptoms, and support meaningful engagement in therapy.
SSRIs / SNRIs (First-line)
Help regulate fear circuits, mood, and anxiety:
- Venlafaxine
- Sertraline
- Paroxetine
- Fluoxetine
Prazosin
Useful for:
- Trauma-related sleep disturbance
- Nightmares
- Night sweats
Atypical Antipsychotics (Low Dose)
Helpful when intrusive symptoms persist:
- Risperidone
- Quetiapine
- Aripiprazole
ADHD Medications
When trauma intersects with ADHD, we differentiate trauma-based inattention from executive dysfunction.
Sleep Medications
Used sparingly and short-term.
Medication doesn’t erase trauma — but it makes healing safer and more attainable.
You Can Heal From Trauma
PTSD & Neurodivergence
Trauma often interacts with
- ADHD
- Autism / Neurodivergence
- OCD
- or sensory sensitivity.
We differentiate:
- Autistic shutdown vs trauma freeze
- ADHD inattention vs dissociation
- OCD fear loops vs trauma hypervigilance
- Sensory overload vs panic
Your diagnosis is approached with nuance, care, and accuracy.
When to Seek Psychiatric Care
You may benefit if you experience:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Panic or hyperarousal
- Sleep disturbance or nightmares
- Dissociation or “out of body” feelings
- Emotional numbness or shutdown
- Difficulty functioning day-to-day
- Overwhelming irritability or anger
- Self-harm impulses
- Trouble engaging in therapy due to symptom intensity
You deserve support that feels safe.
A psychiatric provider evaluates trauma symptoms, identifies triggers, and creates a treatment plan that may include medication, grounding strategies, and therapy coordination. The goal is stabilization, emotional safety, and long-term healing.
First-line treatments include SSRIs and SNRIs. Medications such as prazosin, mood stabilizers, or low-dose atypical antipsychotics may also support sleep, nightmares, irritability, or intrusive symptoms.
No. You never need to share details unless you choose to. Evaluations focus on your symptoms, safety, and needs—not retelling traumatic experiences.
Medication can reduce symptom intensity, but trauma-focused therapy (such as EMDR or CBT) is essential for deeper recovery. A combined approach offers the strongest outcomes.
PTSD can resemble anxiety, depression, ADHD, or panic disorders. A psychiatric provider can assess your history, triggers, and symptom patterns to offer accurate diagnosis and personalized care.