Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition in which individuals find it difficult to recover long after experiencing or witnessing a profoundly traumatic event.

Previously, symptoms of PTSD were referred to as “shell shock,” “battle fatigue,” and other terms. However, it’s now known that other types of traumas (not just war trauma) can lead to this condition. These traumas may include natural disasters, sexual violence, or an accident. ¹

Throughout this article, we’ll take a deeper look at PTSD, its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

PTSD Defined

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that develops after a person has experienced, witnessed, or endangered by a traumatic event. ²

People with PTSD will experience flashbacks (or nightmares) and avoid situations that remind them of their traumatic event. They’ll also struggle with other negative emotions, including:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Sadness

These emotions make it more difficult to connect with others and maintain daily responsibilities (i.e. school and work).

PTSD Statistics

Half of all American adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. While it’s natural to struggle with despair in the wake of trauma, only a small fraction of people go on to develop PTSD.

Some statistics concerning this population include:

• Of the U.S. population, 7-8% will show signs of PTSD at some point in their lives.

• Black, Latino, and American Indian populations are more affected by this condition.

• Women are 2-3x more likely to develop PTSD than men. ³

• Men and women handle PTSD differently. Men will approach their PTSD symptoms through problem-solving, whereas women will seek social support.

• Young children can experience PTSD and may show signs through play. ⁴

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD is a complex disorder that hosts a variety of different symptoms. These are grouped into four categories:

• Avoidance
• Changes in emotional and physical reaction
• Intrusive memories
• Negative changes in mood and thought

Not everyone experiences the same set of symptoms. Furthermore, people will find their symptoms are more intense at certain times rather than others.

It should be noted that children ages six and under may experience other symptoms. These include:

• Re-enacting the distressing experience through play
• Terrifying dreams of the distressing experience

Avoidance

Avoidance symptoms include: ⁵

• Attempt to stay away from conversations and thoughts about the distressing event
• Avoid places, people, and/or activities that remind you of the traumatic event

Changes in Emotional and Physical Reaction

Also referred to as arousal symptoms, changes in emotional and physical reactions include: ⁶

• Aggressive behavior or angry outbursts
• Becoming easily startled or frightened
• Constantly on guard for harm
• Difficulty concentrating
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Overwhelming guilt or shame
• Self-destructive behavior

Intrusive Memories

Intrusive memory symptoms include: ⁷

• Experiencing flashbacks of the event
• Intense emotional anguish or physical reaction to something that brings up the memory of the distressing event
• Reoccuring and undesired distressing memories of the event
• Terrifying dreams or nightmares of the distressing event

Negative Changes in Mood and Thought

Negative changes in mood and thought symptoms include: ⁸

• Difficulty keeping close relationships
• Emotionally numbness
• Feelings of hopelessness (especially about the future)
• Inability to experience positive emotions
• Lack of interest in activities and people the victim once hung around
• Separation from family and friends

When to Seek Help

The intensity of these symptoms varies from person to person. Sometimes, symptom severity is based on outside factors (i.e. school pressure). Other times, it’s based on the type of trauma you struggle with. ⁹

In either case, if you experience PTSD symptoms after you experience a traumatic event, it’s important to find support. By avoiding medical treatment, symptoms severity can worsen. In some cases, it may lead to symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation. ¹⁰

If you have suicidal thoughts you must get help immediately. Available resources include:

• Calling the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Contact your spiritual leader or someone within your faith community.
• Go to the emergency room or make an appointment with your doctor.
• Reach out to a loved one or someone you trust.

Types of PTSD

Researchers have identified several specific types of PTSD, including:

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

To diagnose PTSD, you must show symptoms at least four weeks after the traumatic event. However, with acute stress disorder (ASD), you can be diagnosed immediately after the trauma and up to four weeks after.

If you’re diagnosed with ASD, you’re more at risk of developing PTSD. However, if provided with the right treatment, PTSD may be preventable following ASD. ¹¹

Uncomplicated PTSD

Uncomplicated PTSD occurs when there are no additional co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. It’s also linked to one traumatic event rather than multiple events (i.e. childhood abuse). ¹²

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is caused by prolonged traumatic periods (i.e. childhood abuse). It also may be developed through interpersonal traumas. ¹³

Due to its complexity, it usually takes longer to treat C-PTSD compared to PTSD. However, treatment will involve similar tactics found in PTSD measures.

Dissociative PTSD

Dissociative PTSD is marked by experiences of dissociation, including depersonalization and/or derealization. You may have moments where you feel as though you’re reliving the trauma. Or, you may dissociate emotions when reminded of the trauma (common among rape victims). Dissociative PTSD is most common in those who experience trauma early in life. ¹⁴

What Causes PTSD?

PTSD is a unique mental health condition because medical professionals can directly link it to a specific traumatic event. This event is what triggers the illness and is usually marked by intense emotions from:

• The threat of death
• Severe injury
• Sexual violation

As of this time, researchers aren’t sure why some people experience PTSD and others don’t. What we do know is PTSD is most likely caused by the following factors:

• Brain Differences – Various regions of the brain were found to be altered in patients with PTSD. This made it difficult for their brain to adapt to stress and fear conditioning. ¹⁵

• Genetics – If a close family member (i.e. parent, sibling) has PTSD, you may be 30-40% more likely to receive it yourself. ¹⁶

• Stressful Experiences – If your life is already stressful, you may be more susceptible to developing PTSD following a traumatic event.

PTSD Risk Factors

There is no select age group for people who are at risk of PTSD – it can affect anyone at any given time. In most cases, the traumatic experience that triggers the illness comes at unexpected moments. The risks involved in receiving PTSD are: ¹⁷

• Experiencing distress at an early point in life (i.e. child abuse)
• Family history of mental health problems
• Going through severe and/or long-lasting trauma
• Having substance abuse problems
• Holding a job that raises the risk of exposure to distressful events (i.e. military personnel and first responders)
• Possessing other mental health complications
• Lack of a healthy family and friend support system

The most common events that lead to PTSD include:

• An accident
• Being threatened with a weapon
• Childhood abuse
• Combat subjection
• Physical assault
• Sexual abuse

Can You Prevent PTSD?

The only way to prevent PTSD is to intercept the trauma that triggers the disorder. Naturally, most traumatic events happen suddenly and cannot be warded off.

However, it has been observed that there are ways to prevent PTSD from becoming severe immediately after a traumatic event. These include theory-driven preventive interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or stress hormone-targeted pharmacological interventions. ¹⁸

PTSD Treatment

There are two different ways to treat PTSD: medication and psychotherapy. Upon diagnosis, your healthcare provider will devise a course that best suits your needs.

It’s also important to recognize that individuals with PTSD may have other complications in their lives. These can include additional mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, or difficult situations, like being in an abusive relationship. In such cases, it is essential to address both issues simultaneously.

Medication

The most common medication for people with PTSD is antidepressants. The purpose of these medications is to control the following symptoms: ¹⁹

• Anger
• Feelings of numbness
• Sadness
• Worry

There are other medications which may be prescribed for specific symptoms. For example, Prazosin has been found helpful for people facing sleep problems, such as insomnia and nightmares. However, it’s unapproved by the FDA. ²⁰

You should work with your doctors to determine which medications and doses are best for you.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy (also referred to as “talk therapy”) is a type of treatment found with many mental illnesses. You can expect to talk to a mental health professional and figure out the root of your disorder. Through this, the goal is to identify triggers and find ways to treat symptoms. ²¹

Several different psychotherapies may be used for PTSD. Some of these aim to aid people with their symptoms. Others look to find causes within social, family, or job-related complications. It may be in your best interest to try a combination of therapies. Experiment around and see which ones work best for you.

The most common psychotherapy for PTSD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which may be offered in the following:

• Cognitive Restructuring – To help you understand the memory your trauma stems from. There are some cases where people with PTSD remember the trauma in a worse manner. The goal is for you to address your bad memory and begin looking at it realistically. ²²

• Exposure Therapy – Through this practice, you’ll be exposed to your fears and learn how to control the anxiety that follows. This is all done safely, though it may take time to become adjusted to this exposure. You may be asked to write, imagine, or visit the location where your trauma occurred. ²³

What Can You Do Outside Treatment?

Many people with PTSD try to help themselves before seeking help from a medical professional. Though it’s always suggested to receive proper treatment, there’s no harm in helping yourself outside this. Some suggestions are:

• Discuss with your doctor about treatment options.
• Divide larger tasks into smaller ones to better handle them.
• Don’t expect your symptoms to improve immediately. Give it time and be patient.
• Exercise to help reduce stress.
• Identify situations, people, and places where you feel most comfortable. Don’t be afraid to seek them out.
• Set realistic goals.
• Spend time with people you trust and inform them about your triggers and symptoms.

If you need to talk to someone immediately, check out the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Help for Mental Illnesses page.

Join a Study

There are several clinical studies out there that seek to find new ways of preventing, detecting, and treating mental health conditions. Some of these include new drugs, surgical procedures, and experimental therapy.

If you’d like to be a part of the future and help future generations handle mental illness, check out ClinicalTrials.gov and search for PTSD.

NOTE: Before deciding to join a study, it’s important to talk to your licensed healthcare professional.

References

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