Published: July 7, 2026
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9News spoke with Porch Light Health’s Steve Carleton about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — what it is, why anyone can develop it, and how it can be effectively treated. Airing in the days after the Fourth of July, the conversation touched on why holiday fireworks can be especially difficult for those living with PTSD, and offered guidance on recognizing the condition and finding support.
9News: For the first time ever, veterans with PTSD are getting the chance to treat it with the help of wearable technology. Earlier this year, the FDA approved a device that delivers low-level electrical stimulation to the brain in sessions. Right now, veterans are the only ones who can access it — but we know PTSD affects millions of people who aren’t only veterans. With that in mind, we bring in Steve Carleton with Porch Light Health to talk more about this. So for starters, Steve, we really just want you to define what PTSD is, because some people only see it portrayed in certain ways, but I want that full definition.
Steve Carleton: Absolutely. So when you’re thinking about PTSD, it’s post-traumatic stress disorder, and it’s caused by people not being able to recover from a traumatic event.
9News: It’s not just a veteran. It’s not just coming back from war. It can relate to a bunch of things.
Steve Carleton: Yeah, that’s right. We most commonly associate it with veterans, but this can happen to anyone. In fact, 50% of Americans will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime. Only about 15% of those people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
9News: Obviously with veterans you can understand where they get PTSD from, but what about other people? How do they develop PTSD?
Steve Carleton: It’s a great question. It comes from a traumatic event, and there are two different types of trauma to think about. There’s physical trauma — a vehicle accident or an assault. And there’s psychological trauma, which is when an experience overwhelms your nervous system and becomes toxic to your body.
9News: So we just saw a moment ago — the devices. Can you talk about that form of treatment? And if you don’t have access to that, how else can PTSD be treated?
Steve Carleton: Absolutely. The good news is that PTSD is very treatable — it’s one of the most treatable mental health disorders there is. There are two things you have to address. First, you have to confront avoidance. Secrets keep you sick, and the more you subdue it and try to shove it down, the worse it gets over time. Second is stuck thinking. Trauma changes the way people view themselves and view the world — the world all of a sudden becomes a very unsafe place, and that’s the other thing you have to treat.
9News: So it’s very treatable, like you said — but what happens if it goes untreated?
Steve Carleton: If it goes untreated, it’s really the avoidance strategies — like drinking and slowly isolating more and more — that start to cause people significant problems. It’s those short-term avoidance solutions that become the bigger problem ultimately.
9News: Like many things, one bad thing can lead to more bad things. Can we talk about some of the signs — for friends and loved ones? If you’re with someone you think may be suffering from this, what are the signs you can look for?
Steve Carleton: There are four quick things. First is re-experiencing — you start to see people isolating because that trauma keeps playing in their mind. Second is avoidance — people pulling away from all the normal things they usually do. Third is changes in how they talk and feel. And fourth is hyperarousal — that constant sense of being on edge and tense. Those are some of the signs.
9News: So PTSD obviously affects millions of people, not just veterans, and it is very treatable. If someone’s watching this and thinking, “I know someone,” or “I’m personally struggling” — where can they go?
Steve Carleton: Seeking a mental health professional is the best idea. If it’s developed into a substance use disorder, Porch Light Health is a great resource for you. The National Center for PTSD, which is a Veterans Affairs website, is also another tremendous resource.
9News: Steve, always love having you on the show. Thanks for all that good information today.
