Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is often linked to experiences in war, but it can arise from a variety of intense traumatic events. This disorder is characterized by symptoms such as increased avoidance of reminders related to the trauma, heightened negative thoughts, and mood fluctuations that lead to changes in arousal in response to certain stimuli (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). While the exact mechanism behind PTSD remains unclear, research has enhanced our understanding of its underlying processes. Our general knowledge of PTSD largely stems from the interaction between two main brain structures such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex along with other associated areas. The amygdala is responsible for most of our survival instincts, whereas the prefrontal cortex is responsible for reasoning. In PTSD as with other traumas the prefrontal cortex is suppressed for longer periods of time (Harnett, N. A., Goodman A. M., & Knight D. C., 2020). There is an indication that the trigger mechanism is more complex often involving coupling CEN and SN before the involvement of DNS system (Dossi, G., Delvecchio, G., Prunas C., Soares J. C. & Brambilla, P., 2020). Effective treatment for PTSD typically involves both top-down and bottom-up approaches, involving the incorporation of several therapeutic methods such as hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and pharmaceutical interventions.

Keywords:  ptsd; trauma; therapy

Alexander J Shadikhan became interested in how the brain functions, laying the cornerstone for pursuing a B.A. (Honors) in Psychology at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, and a subsequent M.S. degree in Psychology at California Coast University in Santa Ana, California, USA. He is currently working in the capacity of Psychiatric Counselor and has been employed at Northwestern Medicine CDH in Behavioral Health for the past four years. He has also served on the Editorial Board of Raft publication as Editor-in-Chief for International Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health (2020 - Present). His experience in the mental health has spanned more than 25 years. He has published several articles including Hypnosis: A Brief review of Current Research (2023), Unveiling the Unconscious: A Brief Overview (2024), Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Mechanisms (2025).