Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that sometimes occurs after experiencing a traumatic event.
Most people feel some PTSD symptoms in the days after a traumatic event. But the symptoms of trauma usually pass with time. Other people may find these PTSD warning signs worsen, last for months or years, and disrupt their everyday life. Around 6% of the US population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
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Causes of PTSD
To be diagnosed with PTSD, the person must have been exposed to a horrific event and had a trauma response for longer than a month. They could have witnessed the event first hand, heard about it from another person, or been exposed repeatedly to others' trauma. The event usually causes a person to think their life or others' lives are in danger.
The most common kinds of traumatic events that lead to PTSD include:
- Physical assault
- Sexual violence
- Exposure to combat
- Childhood physical abuse
- Being threatened with a weapon
- Being in an accident
But many other events can also cause PTSD, such as:
- Being kidnapped
- A robbery or mugging
- A natural disaster
- Being diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition
- A terrorist attack
Risk factors
Doctors don't know exactly why people get PTSD, but they can look to other mental health problems for clues. Probable risk factors for developing PTSD symptoms include:
- The amount, severity, and length of trauma in their past
- Being an active sufferer or having a family history of anxiety and depression
- Having a job like a first responder or being in the military
- Lacking a strong support system
- The way their brain regulates the chemicals released in response to stress
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
Complex PTSD symptoms can start within a month of a traumatic event or years later. They cause difficulty with relationships, work, social situations, or completing daily tasks.
The effects of PTSD can also change or come and go over time. Someone may experience more intense PTSD symptoms when they're stressed overall. Or reminders of the event (PTSD triggers) may make them feel overcome with memories. They might hear sirens from an ambulance or see a particular news report and feel like they're under threat again.
Signs and symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person, but they generally fall into four categories.
- Repeated, unwelcome, and distressing memories of the traumatic event;
- Emotional distress or a strong physical reaction to PTSD triggers;
- Disturbing dreams or nightmares about the event;
- Vivid flashbacks of the event.
- Blocking out memories of the traumatic event, so they don't have to think about it;
- Avoiding talking about the event or how they feel about it;
- Staying away from places, people, activities, objects, or situations that may make them remember the event.
- Memory problems, like not being able to remember important details about the event;
- Irrational thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event and wrongly blaming themselves or other people;
- Negative thoughts and feelings about themselves, others, or the world, and distorted beliefs;
- Overwhelming shame, guilt, or sadness;
- Feeling distrustful of, or estranged from, friends and family;
- Lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy;
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions like happiness or satisfaction;
- Feeling detached and numb;
- Hopelessness about the future.
- Easily startled or frightened by noises, movement, or touch;
- Watchful of their surroundings and on guard for danger;
- Feeling irritable or aggressive or prone to angry outbursts;
- Self-destructive or reckless behavior, like drinking and driving, risky sexual activity, or leaving a young child unattended;
- Difficulty concentrating;
- Sleep problems.
Conditions Related to PTSD
There are types of traumas besides PTSD, each with its own symptoms. Here are some examples of conditions related to PTSD:
Acute stress disorder develops after a traumatic event, and the symptoms can be similar to those of PTSD. People often have flashbacks and nightmares, they feel numb, and they avoid reminders of what happened. Acute stress disorder can present a few hours after the traumatic event and last for up to a month. Around half of all people with the condition develop PTSD, so fast treatment is important.
Adjustment disorder can be caused by a single event, like the breakdown of a relationship or multiple events affecting the person cumulatively. The condition can even affect entire communities, like after a natural disaster. People with adjustment disorder can feel sad and hopeless, withdraw from others, or demonstrate impulsive behavior. The condition can also manifest through palpitations, headaches, or tremors.
Rarely, when children experience severe social neglect before they reach the age of two, they develop disinhibited social engagement disorder. Commonly caused by depriving the child of comfort, stimulation, and affection, or through repeated changes in caregivers, the child becomes unable to form stable attachments with others. The child engages in overly familiar or inappropriate behavior with adults they don't know, like walking off with them without hesitating. Cognitive and language delays can also occur.
Reactive attachment disorder is another condition that can occur when a young child is deprived of fundamental emotional needs. Reactive attachment disorder appears before the child is five, but it's very uncommon. The child often doesn't seek caregivers for comfort or protection and doesn't respond to a consolation when distressed. Developmental delays are common with this condition.
When to Seek Help for PTSD
Maybe you're experiencing some of the PTSD warning signs. PTSD can happen to anyone, and it isn't a sign of weakness.
If you're having prolonged disturbing thoughts or feelings about an event, or you feel you can't get your life under control, you may be asking yourself, "Do I have PTSD?" Speak to your doctor or counselor to explore options for diagnosis and trauma therapy. It's better to seek treatment for PTSD early, as symptoms can worsen over time.
If you're having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself or others, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to speak to a trained professional immediately. If you think you might attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number now.
Where to Find Help for PTSD
If you're in the process of understanding PTSD and its possible effects on your life, visit Sofia Health to access therapy. We also have specialists in grief trauma, depression, and many other areas. Through our search engine, you can find a practitioner who can help you overcome past trauma and put you on a path to recovery.
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