PTSD has been making headlines in recent months following President Donald Trump’s willingness to further U.S. research into ibogaine.
The psychedelic drug can be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, except in the U.S., where it is illegal. If approved, the executive order opens the door for active-duty soldiers to receive treatment, reports the Guardian.
Ibogaine, a powerful psychoactive compound derived from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, has long attracted the attention of the psychiatric world. Stanford Medicine published a paper last year on the drug’s effectiveness in treating traumatic brain injury in special ops military vets.
And the stats are telling among military vets. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about seven out of a 100 vets suffer from PTSD. That number is climbing. PTSD diagnosis in the past year is 15 out of 100 (15%).
Should the drug gain federal approval? Beyond the headlines, PTSD isn’t confined to military vets and active-duty soldiers. The mental health condition can affect anyone. Even you.
Below, we’ll explain what it feels like for people living with this profoundly isolating illness.
Reliving Your Trauma Every Day
Viswashkumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the 2025 Air India plane crash. Shortly after take-off, the flight crashed, killing 241 people.
One would count Ramesh “lucky”. He walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries. For him, luck isn’t a word in his vocabulary when recounting that fateful day. He told BBC News that since his return to his Leicester, UK home, he was unable to speak to his wife and son.
Ramesh lost his brother, who was sitting a few seats away from him. He was his backbone, his support. Diagnosed with PTSD, all he felt was pain in the weeks following the incident. Unable to speak about the events, he broke down several times during the interview.
Unwilling to talk to anyone, he spent most nights reliving the tragedy over and over in his head.
This is the reality for PTSD sufferers. Many describe it as living in a 24/7 state of fear or being stuck in a time loop.
Misconceptions About PTSD
Despite conversations around the conditions becoming less stigmatized, many believe that PTSD only occurs when you suffer a horrific event, like war combat.
Psychology Today explains that one doesn’t have to experience extreme violence for PTSD to manifest. You could experience, witness, or be confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury.
PTSD Primarily Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents
In the United States, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of PTSD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Research shows that more than 39% of accident survivors go on to develop the condition.
And it’s not merely the PTSD and trauma victims undergo. Often, the accident causing the injuries and PTSD is the result of someone else’ s negligence.
Suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence can bring physical, emotional, and financial strain, and financial stress at the same time. In major accidents, the aftereffects usually extend past the accident itself. In a recent incident in Little Rock, Arkansas, which had multiple fatalities, many people had to deal with emotional and legal issues. In cases like this, it is helpful for individuals to speak with a Little Rock personal injury lawyer to understand their next steps
The aftermath includes mounting medical bills, lost income, and disruptions to daily life. All of this can feel overwhelming and isolating, says Keith Law Group, which is why a personal injury law firm should be on your radar.
Symptoms of PTSD
Mayo Clinic explains that PTSD symptoms can show up within the first three months after a traumatic experience. For some people, it may take years to surface.
When they do appear, they tend to last longer than a month and can disrupt work, relationships, and everyday life.
Symptoms usually fall into four main groups:
- Intrusive memories
- Avoidance
- Negative shifts in thoughts and mood
- Changes in physical or emotional reactions
They don’t look the same for everyone and can change over time.
When to Seek Professional Help
Most individuals who suffer from PTSD say that it’s not having control over their own lives that is the most difficult.
The main treatment is talk therapy. Psychotherapy is usually used to treat children and adults, and is conducted by a mental health professional. When combined with antidepressants, the approach lessens the symptoms of PTSD.
Exposure Therapy
A form of psychotherapy, exposure therapy, is an effective treatment for addressing PTSD symptoms.
The behavioral treatment focuses on learned responses (particularly avoidance) that develop in reaction to situations, thoughts, or memories perceived as threatening.
For instance, a survivor of sexual assault may begin to avoid relationships or dating out of fear of experiencing another attack.
MDMA
Ibogaine isn’t the only psychoactive drug used to treat PTSD. MDMA, a synthetic compound commonly known as ecstasy, is another option.
Australia became the first country in the world to allow healthcare professionals to use it in 2023. The synthetic compound causes the body to release high levels of serotonin. Like ibogaine therapy, the method combines the use of MDMA with psychotherapy.
Finding Small Anchors
Ibogaine isn’t the only psychoactive drug used to treat PTSD. MDMA, a synthetic compound commonly known as ecstasy, is another option.
Australia became the first country in the world to allow healthcare professionals to use it in 2023. The synthetic compound causes the body to release high levels of serotonin. Like ibogaine therapy, the method combines the use of MDMA with psychotherapy.
FAQs About PTSD
How do you know if you have PTSD or just stress?
Stress is a normal response to difficult situations. PTSD involves symptoms that last longer than a month and interfere with daily life. These may include intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, mood changes, and heightened reactions.
Can PTSD go away on its own?
In some cases, symptoms may lessen over time, but PTSD requires treatment to be managed fully. Without support, they can persist for years or even worsen.
What are the most common causes of PTSD?
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Common causes include military combat, car accidents, and physical or sexual assault.
PTSD Statistics at a Glance
| Statistic | Insight | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 7 out of 100 veterans | Estimated percentage of U.S. veterans affected by PTSD | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 15 out of 100 (15%) | Increase in PTSD diagnoses among veterans in the past year | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 39% of accident survivors | The percentage of motor vehicle accident survivors who develop PTSD | National Institute of Mental Health |
| 186 service personnel | Estimated number of individuals who may undergo MDMA-assisted therapy if approved | News report (Guardian) |
A Triggering Condition
PTSD is often associated with triggering events or occurrences. But the condition is more complicated than that.
What we know is that it affects anyone regardless of their age. And yet gaps persist. Why do only some trauma survivors develop the disorder? How does it alter brain biology? Why can symptoms appear years after an event?
Until we can fill in the blanks, the best thing to do is consult a mental health expert who can help you better understand your symptoms.
References:
- The Guardian: Military psychedelic PTSD drug therapy. Military psychedelic PTSD drug therapy gains traction in the U.S. (2026).
- Stanford Medicine: Ibogaine research. Ibogaine shows promise in treating PTSD and traumatic brain injury. (2024).
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: PTSD in veterans. How common is PTSD in veterans?
- CBS News: Ibogaine executive order. Trump expected to sign an executive order on psychedelic drug ibogaine for PTSD treatment. (2026).
- BBC News: Air India crash survivor story. Air India crash survivor recounts trauma and aftermath. (2025).
- Reddit: What PTSD feels like (community discussion). What does PTSD feel like? (User discussion thread).
- Psychology Today: PTSD myths. 5 common myths about PTSD. (2020).
- PubMed Central: PTSD research study. Peer-reviewed research on PTSD and trauma-related outcomes (2025).
- Reddit: Arkansas trooper incident discussion. Discussion of Arkansas trooper PIT maneuver incident (2026).
