Indore, MP
Trauma can reshape how you see the world, yourself, and others. PTSD is not a sign of weakness, it is your brain struggling to process an overwhelming experience. Recovery is possible with the right treatment.
Recognising the Signs
If you experience any of the following, talk to a professional.
Immediate support
PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is your brain struggling to process an overwhelming experience. The symptoms you are experiencing, flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, are your nervous system trying to protect you. They made sense at the time. The goal of treatment is to help your brain understand that the danger has passed, so these responses are no longer needed.
About this Condition
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to a traumatic event, and in India, the range of experiences that can lead to PTSD is wide. Road accidents, sexual assault, domestic violence, natural disasters, childhood abuse, military combat, witnessing violence, sudden loss of a loved one, or receiving a terrifying medical diagnosis. What makes an experience traumatic is not what happens but how overwhelming it is to the person experiencing it.
An estimated 2-3% of the Indian population lives with PTSD at any given time, though the true prevalence is likely higher because many people never come forward. Rates are significantly higher among specific populations, survivors of sexual violence, accident survivors, military personnel, and people who have experienced childhood adversity. The National Mental Health Survey (NIMHANS, 2015-16) found that lifetime prevalence of PTSD in India is approximately 3.5%.
PTSD is not about being 'weak' or 'unable to move on'. It involves measurable changes in brain function, the amygdala (fear centre) becomes hyperactive, the prefrontal cortex (rational thinking) becomes less active, and the hippocampus (memory processing) functions differently. These changes keep traumatic memories from being properly processed and stored, causing them to intrude into daily life as if they are happening in the present.
Symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:
Intrusion symptoms, unwanted, distressing memories of the trauma that feel like they are happening now. Flashbacks, where you temporarily lose awareness of your current surroundings and feel immersed in the traumatic event. Nightmares related to the trauma. Intense emotional or physical reactions when reminded of the event.
Avoidation, actively avoiding people, places, activities, conversations, or thoughts that remind you of the trauma. This can become so pervasive that your world shrinks. Some people avoid thinking about the trauma entirely, which prevents processing.
Negative changes in thoughts and mood, persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world ('nowhere is safe', 'I am broken'), distorted blame, persistent negative emotional states (fear, horror, anger, guilt), detachment from others, and inability to experience positive emotions.
Hyperarousal, being constantly 'on guard' (hypervigilance), an exaggerated startle response, difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and reckless or self-destructive behaviour.
PTSD frequently occurs alongside depression, anxiety, substance use, and insomnia. These co-occurring conditions are not separate problems, they are often part of the same response to overwhelming experience.
Understanding the roots
Any event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence can lead to PTSD. But trauma is subjective, what overwhelms one person may not affect another. Your response is not a measure of your strength.
Trauma causes measurable changes in the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. These changes keep traumatic memories from being properly processed, causing them to intrude as flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional reactions.
Persistent ongoing stress, chronic adversity, or repeated trauma (as in domestic violence or childhood abuse) can increase vulnerability to PTSD and make symptoms worse.
Previous trauma, pre-existing mental health conditions, lack of social support, and the severity of the traumatic event all influence whether PTSD develops. None of these are personal failures.
Clinical Profile
These are the most commonly reported signs.
By the numbers
Lifetime Prevalence in India
~3.5%
of Indians will experience PTSD in their lifetime
Source: NIMHANS Mental Health Survey, 2015-16
Treatment Response
60-80%
of patients improve significantly with trauma-focused therapy
Source: National Centre for PTSD
Co-occurring Depression
~50%
of people with PTSD also have depression
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress
Outcomes
Before Your Visit
Knowing what to expect can ease the anxiety of your first appointment.
The Process
A clear path from your first visit to feeling better.
A thorough 45-60 minute evaluation conducted at your pace. I assess current symptoms, their impact, safety concerns, and any co-occurring conditions. You are in control of what you share.
Before processing trauma, I ensures you have basic coping skills and safety in place. If sleep is severely disrupted or co-occurring conditions are prominent, these are addressed first.
Evidence-based trauma therapy (prolonged exposure, cognitive processing, or EMDR-informed approaches) is introduced at a pace you can manage. Sessions balance challenging work with maintaining stability.
Once trauma processing is substantially complete, the focus shifts to consolidating gains, rebuilding relationships and activities, and developing a plan for ongoing wellbeing. Medication adjustments are made as appropriate.
Our Method
The first appointment is a thorough 45-60 minute evaluation. I explore the nature of the trauma (at your pace, you are never pushed to disclose more than you are ready for), current symptoms, their impact on your daily life, and any co-occurring conditions. Safety is prioritised throughout.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy is central to PTSD treatment. I use approaches informed by Prolonged Exposure therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) principles. These are the most evidence-backed treatments for PTSD, with decades of research supporting their effectiveness.
Prolonged Exposure helps you gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding. Through repeated, controlled exposure, the emotional power of the memories diminishes. Cognitive Processing Therapy helps you identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs that developed because of the trauma ('the world is completely dangerous', 'it was my fault').
Medication (SSRIs such as sertraline or paroxetine) can reduce symptoms and support the therapeutic process. Medication is particularly helpful when symptoms are severe, when sleep is significantly disrupted, or when co-occurring depression or anxiety is prominent.
Treatment is paced according to your readiness and comfort. I does not believe in forcing people to talk about trauma before they feel safe enough to do so. Building trust and stability comes first; processing comes when you are ready.
Questions
Your Doctor
I provide trauma-informed psychiatric care, combining evidence-based trauma therapies with careful medication management. He prioritises safety, trust, and patient autonomy throughout treatment. My clinic is based in Indore and sees patients from across Madhya Pradesh, both in person and online.
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