Many people have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they may not know exactly what it is. PTSD is a mental health condition that can be triggered by exposure to a Traumatic event, such as war, natural disaster, sexual assault, or a car accident. People with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts about the event. They may also feel depressed, anxious, or angry. PTSD can lead to problems with work, relationships, and everyday activities. But there are treatments that can help.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD can be caused by any type of Traumatic event. Some events that may cause PTSD are:
- War
- Natural disasters
- Car accidents
- Terrorist attacks
- Rape or other forms of sexual abuse/assault
- Child abuse or neglect
These are just some examples—any event that leads to intense fear, helplessness, or horror can cause PTSD.
Not everyone who experiences a Traumatic event will develop PTSD. And it's not always clear why some people develop the disorder while others don't. But there are some risk factors that may make it more likely for someone to develop PTSD after a Traumatic event, including:
- previous exposure to Trauma
- having another mental health condition
- being female
- having little social support after the Traumatic event
- experiencing ongoing stressors after the event
- having difficulty coping with the event soon after it happened.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD can start immediately after the Traumatic event or may not appear until months or even years later. The symptoms can also come and go over time, and they may get worse when something triggers memories of the Traumatic event. The main symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories: reliving the event (also called reexperiencing symptoms), avoiding situations that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings (also called negative alterations in cognitions and mood), and feeling more reactive than usual (also called hyperarousal). Let's take a closer look at each category.
Reliving the Event: People with PTSD often have flashbacks in which they relive the Traumatic experience as if it were happening again in the present. Flashbacks can be so real and intense that people lose touch with what's going on around them. They might feel like they're going crazy or dying. People also commonly have nightmares about the traumatic experience. These nightmares usually happen during REM sleep—the stage of sleep when we dream—and they tend to be very vivid and realistic. People with PTSD often have trouble sleeping because they're afraid of having nightmares about the trauma.
Avoiding Situations That Remind You Of The Event: After a traumatic experience, it's common for people to try to avoid anything that reminds them of what happened—including people, places, objects, or situations. For example, someone who was in a car accident might avoid driving or getting into cars. Or someone who was raped might avoid being alone with men. It's normal for people to want to avoid reminders of a traumatic experience at first. But for people with PTSD, avoidance becomes a problem when it starts to interfere with their daily lives.
Negative Changes In Beliefs And Feelings: One of the hallmarks of PTSD is feeling detached from other people—like you're an outsider looking in on your own life. You might feel numb, disconnected, or unable to trust anyone. You might also feel like there's no hope for the future. Other common changes in beliefs and feelings after a traumatic experience include feeling guilt, shame, or self-blame; feeling permanently damaged or changed; having trouble experiencing positive emotions; and losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
Feeling More Reactive Than Usual: People with PTSD often find themselves on edge—startled easily, always on guard for danger, or feeling “keyed up”. This increased level of arousal is known as hyperarousal. Hyperarousal symptoms can make it hard to concentrate or sleep, and you might startle more easily. You might also become irritable or have outbursts of anger. Hyperarousal symptoms usually lessen over time but can persist long-term if not treated.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms—especially if they're interfering with daily life—it's important to seek professional help. A therapist who specializes in trauma can diagnose PTSD and develop a treatment plan tailored specifically for you. With treatment, most people with PTSD are able to manage their symptoms and live full, productive lives.
Blog written by:
Lisa Anderson
Owner of A Healing Place