Trauma and PTSD

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms may show up within three months after a tragic event such as an auto accident, the death of a loved one, natural disaster or combat. It may also be delayed and occur many years after.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms include four categories:

• Intrusive memories: These are the most common PTSD symptoms and are frequently portrayed in the media. These include flashbacks where people “see” the traumatic event again. At night, the person may find it difficult to sleep because of the repeated flashbacks. These vivid recurring experiences trigger a stress response with extreme physical reactions.
• Avoidance: The person makes continuous efforts to avoid the intrusive symptoms and all trauma-related experiences. This includes trying to avoid discussing or thinking about the traumatic experience and staying away from places, activities and people that can bring back old memories of the trauma.
• Drastic mood swings: A person with PTSD will experience symptoms of depression regularly. These include guilt, low self-esteem and loss of interest in social activities. Also, the person may feel isolated from others and experience memory loss and negative feelings about themselves.
• Emotional reactions: A common sign of PTSD is overreacting to people and events. The brain activates the stress response system frequently. This could make people feel aggressive, irritable, reckless or cause them to act in a self-destructive way. They may also misuse drugs or alcohol.

Who Is at Risk for Developing PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences trauma has PTSD. Different factors heighten the risk of developing this disorder:

• A family history of mental illnesses
• Poor social support
• Having few close relationships
• Pre-existing substance use disorder
• A history of abuse during childhood
• Experiencing other stressors after the tragic event such as the death of a family member, physical injury or job loss