Ten Signs You Might Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If you’ve been having nightmares or intrusive thoughts, acting jumpy, or feeling irritable, it’s important to take those symptoms seriously. It’s possible you’re experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that can arise in anyone who experiences or witnesses traumatic events. Many people think that PTSD only develops in soldiers, but the most common cause of PTSD actually is sexual assault, including sexual assault that happens between intimate partners. As a result, women develop PTSD at twice the rate of men.  Other PTSD triggers can be witnessing a traumatic event, car accidents, relationship betrayals, natural disasters, physical violence, or combat.

If you do develop PTSD, it isn’t a sign of weakness. Rather, it indicates that in the face of trauma, your system became so overwhelmed that your brain couldn’t process the events you witnessed or experienced. Please note that PTSD involves a complex of symptoms, not just one or two symptoms from the list below. If you suspect that you might have PTSD, find a trauma therapist who can administer a PTSD assessment to help you know not only if you have PTSD, but to what extent, and who can help you heal if you do turn up positive.

Key Signs of PTSD

1. Memories That Won't Leave You Alone

PTSD sufferers may find themselves suddenly remembering a traumatic event, even when they’re trying to focus on something else? This is one of the most common signs of PTSD. You might:

• Find yourself reliving the event in vivid, unwanted flashbacks.

• Have nightmares about what happened.

• Feel your heart racing when something reminds you of the trauma.

• Experience physical reactions like sweating or nausea when memories surface.

Reliving traumatic events in this way is experiencing what therapists call "intrusive memories." They can be scary and disruptive, but they're a normal response to trauma.

2. Trying Hard to Avoid Certain People, Places, or Things

Have you noticed yourself going out of your way to avoid specific places, people, or situations? Maybe you're:

• Taking the long way home to avoid driving past a certain spot.

• Making excuses to skip events that might trigger memories.

• Changing the channel when certain topics come up on TV.

• Finding it hard to talk about what happened, even with people you trust.

This avoidance is your mind’s way of trying to protect you, but over time it can limit your world in ways you don't deserve.

3. Hypervigilance and a Heightened Startle Reaction

If you feel compelled to scan your environment for danger even when you know you’re in a safe place, or if you jump at every little sound or movement, you're not being silly. Hypervigilance or a heightened startle response can occur with PTSD. You might:

• Jump at sudden noises like doors closing or phones ringing.

• Feel your heart racing when someone approaches you unexpectedly.

• Find yourself constantly scanning rooms for danger.

• Have trouble relaxing in public places.

4. Mood Changes

PTSD can significantly impact how you feel day to day. You might notice:

• It's harder to feel happy or excited about things you used to enjoy.

• You're feeling numb or disconnected from people around you.

• You're more irritable or quick to anger than before.

• You're having trouble believing good things can happen in your future.

These changes in your emotional landscape are real, and they make perfect sense given what you've been through.

5. Sleep Just Isn't the Same

Having trouble sleeping? You're not alone. Many people with PTSD find that:

• Getting to sleep feels impossible.

• Staying asleep is a challenge.

• Nightmares wake them up.

• They feel anxious about going to bed.

• They're exhausted but can't relax enough to rest.

6. Your Mind Feels Foggy

If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering things, it's not your fault. PTSD can make it hard to:

• Focus on tasks you used to handle easily.

• Remember recent conversations or appointments.

• Make decisions—even small ones.

• Follow along in meetings or conversations.

• Keep track of daily tasks.

7. You’re Anxious and/or Depressed

Trauma sufferers often fear that the event could recur, and that can lead to high levels of anxiety. Likewise, it can lead to withdrawal and isolation, which in turn shows up as depression. This chronic anxiety and depression can:

·       Increase feelings of helplessness and isolation

·       Hinder daily functioning

·       Disrupt relationships

·       Diminish overall quality of life.

·       The interplay between PTSD, anxiety, and depression creates a complex cycle that can be difficult to break without appropriate therapeutic interventions.

8. You’re Dissociating

Dissociation can be another prominent sign of PTSD. This may manifest as feeling detached from your body or surroundings, making it hard to connect with reality. You might:

• Feel like you’re observing yourself from outside your body.

• Experience memory gaps regarding the traumatic event or periods surrounding it.

• Sense a disconnection from your emotions or feel numb.

These experiences can be alarming and further complicate your emotional landscape.

9. You’re Doing Risky or Self-Destructive Things

If you notice changes in your behavior, this could also be a sign of PTSD. You might find yourself:

• Increasing substance use as a way to cope.

• Engaging in risky behaviors to escape or distract yourself.

• Withdrawing from activities you once enjoyed or isolating from friends and family.

These behaviors can be a way of managing overwhelming feelings but often lead to additional challenges.

10. You're Having Physical Symptoms

PTSD can manifest through various physical symptoms that signal your distress. Common issues include:

• Chronic pain or tension in muscles.

• Gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

• Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest.

• Increased susceptibility to illnesses.

Your body often reacts to emotional pain in physical ways, making it crucial to address both aspects of your health.

How Many Signs of PTSD Does it Take to Signal You Need Trauma Counseling?

It's completely normal to experience some of these symptoms right after a traumatic event. Many people develop a constellation of stress symptoms right after a trauma, and those systems typically last a few months as the person experiences a state called acute trauma. Getting trauma counseling within the first few months after a trauma, or even sooner, sharply reduces the risk of developing the more acute symptoms that characterize PTSD. PTSD is diagnosed when trauma symptoms such as those described above persist at least six months. after the traumatic event

Certainly consider reaching out for trauma counseling if you have three or more of the signs of PTSD above, and:

• These symptoms have lasted longer than a month.

• You're finding it hard to work or maintain relationships.

• You're having thoughts of harming yourself.

• Daily tasks feel overwhelming.

• You feel isolated or alone.

• You've started using alcohol or other substances to cope.

What to Look for in Trauma Counseling

PTSD is treatable, and you deserve to feel better. Many effective treatments are available, including:

• Therapy approaches specifically designed for trauma, such as EMDR.

• Support groups where you can connect with others who understand.

• Techniques to help you manage symptoms.

• Medication options, if you and your healthcare provider decide they're right for you.

You don't have to figure this out alone. Whether your trauma came from a car accident, assault, abuse, natural disaster, medical emergency, or any other frightening experience, help is available. Many people with PTSD go on to live full, meaningful lives with the right support.

EMDR Associates can help. We’re trauma specialists who provide PTSD assessment and treatment, including EMDR, flash, Tapas Acupressure Technique, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and hypnosis. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation today.