If you’re searching for a PTSD hotline or an anxiety hotline, you probably want two things: a number you can call and some idea of what to expect when you reach out. This page provides both.
PTSD is more common than many people realize. According to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, about 6 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives, and roughly 5 in 100 adults have it in any given year, or around 13 million Americans in 2020. Lifetime rates are about 8% for women and 4% for men.
Two things are important to know. Most people who live through a traumatic event don’t develop PTSD. PTSD is treatable, and several trauma-focused therapies have strong evidence behind them.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you’re in a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. The National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 is a non-emergency line for information, support and referrals.
PTSD, Trauma and Anxiety Hotline Resources
These lines are free, confidential and don’t require insurance, a diagnosis or a referral.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, or chat online. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7 nationwide and can help if you’re in severe emotional distress, having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a crisis you don’t feel able to manage on your own. You don’t need to be in immediate danger to call. If you’re worried that you’re heading toward a crisis, you can reach out.
Veterans Crisis Line
Call 988 and press 1, text 838255 or chat online. The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed by people trained in military and veteran issues, and you don’t need to be enrolled in VA health care or have a service-connected condition to use it. A TTY line is available at 800-799-4889.
DoD Safe Helpline
For service members, veterans and their families affected by sexual assault, the DoD Safe Helpline is available 24/7 at 877-995-5247, with phone, text and online chat options. It’s anonymous and operates independently of the military chain of command.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
For civilians, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-656-4673, with confidential support and referrals to local services.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741. This can be useful if speaking aloud feels difficult or you’re somewhere you can’t talk freely.
What Happens When You Call
Not knowing what to expect can keep people from calling, so here is the plain version. You’ll be asked what’s going on. You are not required to describe what happened to you. You won’t be asked to relive anything, and you can say as much or as little as you want. For many callers, simply saying that something is wrong can be helpful.
You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t have to give your full name. Nobody will pressure you into making a decision on the phone, and calling once doesn’t obligate you to anything. If another line is a better fit for your situation, you can be pointed there.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, that’s also a valid reason to reach out. Our guide on how to help a loved one covers how to talk with them without adding pressure.
What PTSD Is
PTSD can develop after you experience or witness a shocking or dangerous event, such as combat, assault, a serious accident, a disaster, sudden loss or ongoing abuse. It isn’t limited to veterans, and it isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a recognized mental health condition with established treatments.
Symptoms generally fall into four areas: intrusive memories or dreams, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in mood and thinking and feeling persistently on edge. This may include trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating or an exaggerated startle response. Reactions like these are common in the weeks after trauma and often improve on their own. When they last for more than a month and interfere with daily life, it may be time to seek an assessment.
PTSD doesn’t always appear right away. Symptoms can surface months or even years after the event, sometimes after a reminder or trigger. A long gap doesn’t mean your symptoms are unrelated to the trauma, and it doesn’t mean it’s too late to seek treatment.
PTSD Treatment That Works
The VA’s National Center for PTSD identifies trauma-focused talk therapies as some of the most effective treatments for PTSD. Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing all have substantial evidence behind them. Treatment length varies by approach. Prolonged Exposure usually takes eight to 15 weekly sessions, while Cognitive Processing Therapy usually takes 12 weekly sessions.
These therapies involve working with traumatic memories, which can feel difficult or intimidating. Treatment is structured and should move at a pace you can tolerate. Medication is also an option, including certain SSRIs, and may be used alone or alongside therapy.
Veterans can get PTSD care through VA medical centers, community-based clinics and Vet Centers. Vet Centers also serve eligible combat veterans and their families. Civilians may be able to find sliding-scale care through community mental health centers, and the VA provides guidance on how to find a provider whether or not you’ve served.
PTSD and Substance Use
Alcohol and drugs can become ways of coping with trauma symptoms, including sleep problems and hypervigilance. The VA also provides guidance on substance use alongside PTSD. Substance use may provide short-term relief, but it can also worsen symptoms over time. Treating PTSD and substance use together may be more effective than addressing them separately.
We cover this topic in more depth in our guides to PTSD and addiction and trauma and addiction.
PTSD Hotline
The National Rehab Hotline is available 24/7 at 866-210-1303. The call is free and confidential, and you can get information, guidance and referrals to options in your area, including trauma-focused providers, free and low-cost programs and services that address PTSD and substance use together.
It’s a non-emergency line. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, or call 988 and press 1 if you’re a veteran. If you’re trying to understand your treatment options, what they may cost or how to get started, the National Rehab Hotline can help you explore your next steps. Our mental health hotline and substance abuse hotline pages are also places to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions: PTSD
- Is There a Free PTSD Hotline? Yes. If you’re looking for a PTSD hotline or anxiety helpline during a crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24/7 by call, text or chat. Veterans can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1. The National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 is also free and confidential and provides information, guidance and referrals. It’s a non-emergency line.
- Do I Have to Be a Veteran to Have PTSD? No. PTSD can follow any shocking or dangerous event, including assault, accidents, disasters, sudden loss and ongoing abuse. According to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, PTSD is slightly more common among veterans than civilians, but you don’t have to serve in the military to develop it.
- Do I Have to Talk About What Happened to Me? Not on a hotline call. You can say as little as you want. Trauma-focused therapy does eventually involve working with the memory, but that happens gradually with a provider and at a pace you can tolerate, not on a first phone call.
- How Long Does PTSD Treatment Take? Treatment length depends on the therapy. Prolonged Exposure usually takes eight to 15 weekly sessions, while Cognitive Processing Therapy usually takes 12 weekly sessions.
- Can PTSD Show Up Years After the Event? Yes. Symptoms sometimes surface months or years later, sometimes after a reminder or trigger. A delayed onset doesn’t mean the symptoms are unrelated to the trauma, and it doesn’t mean it’s too late to seek treatment.
- Is the Call Confidential? Yes. Calls to the National Rehab Hotline are free and confidential, and you don’t have to give your full name.
PTSD can improve with treatment. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988. When you’re ready to explore your options, call the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 for free, confidential information and referrals, available 24/7.