PTSD: understand why your mind and body feel stuck on high alert
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing something deeply distressing, leaving your body and mind feeling stuck on high alert. Understanding PTSD is a powerful first step toward feeling safer and more in control again.
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What does the PTSD Mini Course cover?
What PTSD is, why the fight-or-flight system can stay on high alert after trauma, the four symptom groups of re-experiencing, avoidance, changes in mood and thinking, and hyperarousal, how PTSD is assessed, and the trauma-focused therapies that help.
Who is this PTSD Mini Course for?
Helpful if you:
😨 Have been through something frightening or overwhelming
🔔 Still feel on edge, have flashbacks or avoid reminders
🧭 Want to understand what is happening before seeking support
For therapists:
Assign this course as psychoeducation before trauma-focused CBT or EMDR, alongside the PCL-5 PTSD test. The client's answer on what helps them feel grounded gives a starting point for stabilisation work. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Dr Harriet Mellotte
Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP
“Offload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”
Frequently asked questions
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing something extremely frightening, overwhelming or life-threatening. The nervous system stays on high alert long after the event, so everyday situations can feel unsafe. This course explains why that happens and what helps.
What are the main symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms fall into four groups: re-experiencing through flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive memories; avoiding reminders; negative changes in mood and thinking such as numbness or hopelessness; and hyperarousal such as being easily startled or on edge. They can begin soon after the trauma or months and even years later.
Can PTSD be treated?
Yes. PTSD is treatable and many people improve with the right support at any stage. Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are the treatments recommended by NICE. They do not erase what happened but reduce the emotional charge so the trauma feels manageable. If you think you may have PTSD, speak to a GP or mental health professional.
Can my therapist assign this course?
Yes. Therapists on Offload can assign this course as psychoeducation before trauma-focused work, alongside the PTSD Test. Your answer on what helps you feel grounded gives a starting point for stabilisation. Your responses are available for them to review before your next session. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Are you a therapist?
Assign this therapy tool and 200+ other interactive tools directly to your clients. Build personalised care plans, customise tools, and review client responses before sessions. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Explore Offload for therapistsReferences
Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin. - Introduced Emotional Processing Theory, forming the foundation of exposure-based PTSD treatments. Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy. - Landmark cognitive model explaining how negative appraisals and memory processing maintain PTSD. Brewin, C. R., Dalgleish, T., & Joseph, S. (1996). A dual representation theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological Review. - Influential theory distinguishing between verbally accessible and situationally accessible trauma memories.
