Simone Swartz: Sharing Solutions to PTSD that work! “PTSD is Treatable, never give up!”

NATIONWIDE - JANUARY 2026 - (USAnews.com) When PTSD is talked about in the media, it can be portrayed as a lifelong sentence of despair with little options for help other than therapy. Usually treatments are experimental and offered by a professional who has never experienced PTSD themselves. Simone Swartz has found a more encompassing approach to this epidemic that affects large populations. She calls this approach her ‘whole human’ approach. Her book details almost all and every form of therapy and modalities available for PTSD today, leaving it up to the reader and their care team to decide which therapies are best for them. 

Swartz was diagnosed with SA-PTSD (sexual assault post traumatic stress disorder or injury) acquired during her time serving in the United States Army. She was attacked by a fellow soldier and found herself suffering from many of the same symptoms as her fellow soldiers that had been to war. What this told her was that PTSD can be acquired from many other traumas other than just combat. Simone’s research has also found vast similarities to corporate burnout and PTSD symptoms as well. Living in America, citizens can experience similar exposure to gun violence as going to war. The difference is civilians did not sign up for such traumatic experiences. This proves that PTSD can affect a much greater population than only combat Veterans. Simone believes that awareness can lead to more people getting help for their symptoms. Today, Simone Swartz is not only a PTSD survivor but a passionate advocate for trauma recovery and the use of service dogs. Through her book, PTSD and What Helped Me, and the accompanying PTSD and What Helped Me  Workbook and awareness she offers hope and tangible solutions for those suffering from PTSD.

The Mission: Awareness that PTSD affects large populations not typically talked about and offer encompassing solutions for these marginalized communities

Post traumatic stress disorder or injury, is a condition that affects millions of people that include survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual violence, veterans, first responders, incarcerated individual's and those who have witnessed traumatic events such as gun violence. Black communities suffer from a disproportionate amount of gun violence compared to other communities and women are twice as likely to develop PTSD compared to men due to the increased violence that they experience from the hands of men. Awareness of the growing populations that PTSD can affect should lead us to search for more solutions to PTSD. Swartz believes PTSD not only affects the mind, but all aspects of the person, including mind, body and spirit. Thus, the one dimensional solutions offered by only traditional talk therapy is just not good enough for many. Swartz’s published a chapter in Elsevier’s book “Animal Assisted Therapy Use Application by Condition”, edited by Eric Altschuler, documents her research and effectiveness over service dogs and sexual assault PTSD survivors. Simone herself had a service dog that was a life-changer for her. The addition of Gunner to her life, alongside her other therapy modalities she regularly participated in ( talk therapy, martial arts and massage),  led her to start Service Dog Strong nonprofit. The nonprofit's mission was to ensure all survivors, military and civilian, who needed medical equipment for their PTSD, in the form of a service dog, would be provided one. The nonprofit is still in operation today. Simone is now on a new mission since exiting the nonprofit to raise global awareness and solutions over PTSD. She speaks on global stages, refusing to let PTSD define her. "PTSD is treatable," she says, emphasizing that many paths to recovery exist and that support is available when you look to include modalities beyond traditional therapy.

Swartz realized that many others were suffering in silence, feeling isolated by their trauma. "What we don't hear enough in the news are the recovery stories and folks who have learned a healthier way to live even after experiencing trauma, PTSD does not have to be a lifelong struggle if you reach out for help as soon as possible." Simone explains. Motivated by this, she began sharing her journey and the solutions she had discovered for overcoming PTSD symptoms in her step-by-step guide and accompanying journal, both available on amazon.

Turning Pain into Purpose

With PTSD being a global epidemic, and a rising problem with gun violence increasing in America, it surprised Swartz that there were not more options for recovery. Unlike many memoirs written about PTSD, her book, PTSD and What Helped Me, is not a recounting of her traumatic past or memoir, but a practical guide laced with personal experience for anyone looking to heal quickly and live healthier. The book outlines a range of therapeutic methods—from Western medicine to Eastern practices—that she personally found effective in her recovery and lists many she has not tried. The goal was to make an easy to read guide for those overwhelmed with finding PTSD modalities that actually work. The book and workbook, PTSD and What Helped Me, offer a complete list of PTSD solutions that is not found anywhere else due to the nature of medical professionals being limited by their scope of practice.

Simone's book isn’t just about the "what" of recovery; it's about the "how." It offers step-by-step instructions, accessible tools, and a sense of hope for anyone struggling with trauma. “I’m not a medical professional, yet I have thoroughly gone through the medical system to help with my PTSD. I wanted to find quicker and more effective solutions to PTSD other than just talk therapy.  My research led me to find a ‘whole human’ approach to healing. This thoroughly addresses all aspects of PTSD such as a cleansing of diet, substances, spirit, mental cleansing and encourages a deep physical release of emotions that have been held onto by the body and muscles due to trauma. If you do not address the physical aspect related to trauma, healing will come much slower if at all totally. “I have lived through PTSD. That’s the unique perspective I bring—solutions that actually worked for me from the perspective of someone who has been there and done that,” she says.

Breaking Down Barriers

A significant part of Simone's mission is to make the conversation around PTSD more inclusive. PTSD isn’t only a condition experienced by combat veterans, as many might think. "PTSD can be acquired from any trauma," Simone emphasizes. "It’s not just the soldiers who come back from war. It’s the people experiencing gun violence in America, intimate partner violence, or childhood trauma. PTSD affects us all, personally or through someone we know."

This understanding is at the core of her work. Simone’s advocacy extends beyond her book. 

What Makes Simone Swartz Stand Out?

What differentiates Simone’s approach from others in the PTSD space is her authenticity. She offers practical, life-tested advice rather than abstract theories. "My book is not a memoir. It’s a step-by-step guide for recovery. There are so many people out there who feel hopeless because they’ve been told that PTSD is something they’ll just have to manage for the rest of their lives," Simone shares. "I’m here to show that recovery is possible. You can feel better, and there are ways to heal quicker than ever before in history."

In addition to being a survivor, Simone brings unique insights from her nonprofit work and professional writing. She has written extensively for Elsevier about PTSD, sharing her expertise and insights with a broader audience. Simone’s work is constantly evolving, and she’s dedicated to making her findings as accessible as possible to those in need. You can follow her journey and discover more on her TikTok and YouTube.

A Supportive Message of Healing

Simone Swartz’s journey from a PTSD survivor to a leader in the trauma recovery space is nothing short of inspiring. Through her book, nonprofit work, and public speaking, she continues to challenge the stigma surrounding PTSD and offer practical solutions for those suffering. Her commitment to spreading the message that PTSD can be managed and treated offers hope to many who feel they have nowhere to turn.

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, Simone’s resources may be a helpful starting point. Explore Simone's journey, her book, and the many tools she offers to help trauma survivors reclaim their lives by visiting PTSD and What Helped Me.

Healing is possible, and Simone Swartz is living proof that recovery is achievable.