“I was 25 years old when I was diagnosed with PTSD. My best friend was a victim of domestic violence and admitted to the hospital with a broken jaw and other facial trauma. I wanted to go to the hospital to visit and support her, but I could not get myself to go there. Just remembering the smells and sounds of the hospital was enough to make me nauseous. She was eventually discharged, but I felt like an emotional mess. I couldn’t close my eyes to go to sleep at night without remembering the violence toward my mother that I witnessed as a child.
All these years later, I thought I had moved on from that pain. Yet, here I was having a panic attack and sweating profusely in my car while driving to visit my friend. This was not the first time something triggered this type of response in me. Only this time, I had enough. I’m so glad I reached out for help and received the proper diagnosis and treatment. I am no longer a victim of the past and moving forward in my life, even through the hard things!”
This is the story of Veronica (name changed for privacy). So many other adults have their own stories of how past traumatic events are still plaguing them years later. If this resonates with you, you are not alone. You don’t have to suffer in silence from symptoms of PTSD.
How To Recognize The Symptoms Of PTSD
There are many different symptoms in those who develop PTSD, however, they are usually grouped into four types of symptoms. It’s important to know that the symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months of a traumatic event, although many times, they can emerge later. If you experience symptoms for longer than one month and symptoms interfere with your daily life, work, or relationships, you may want to talk to someone to see if you meet the criteria of PTSD. Let’s take a look at the top four symptom groups of PTSD.
Re-experiencing Symptoms Of PTSD
The following are examples of re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD:
- Recurring memories or dreams related to a traumatic event.
- Flashbacks that cause you to relive the traumatic event. You may also experience physical symptoms such as heavy breathing, sweating, and a racing heart.
- Unwanted, distressing memories and thoughts of the traumatic event that seem to come back over and over again.
Avoidance Symptoms Of PTSD
The following are examples of avoidance symptoms of PTSD:
- Staying away from people, places, and activities that remind you of a traumatic event.
- Trying not to think or talk about the traumatic event.
Reactive Symptoms Of PTSD
The following are examples of reactive symptoms of PTSD:
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Irritability, angry outbursts, and aggressive behavior
- Being easily startled, feeling tense and on guard for danger
Cognition And Mood Symptoms Of PTSD
The following are examples of cognition and mood symptoms of PTSD:
- Negative thoughts about yourself and the world around you
- Exaggerated feelings of blame directed toward yourself and others
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Feelings of loneliness and social isolation, feeling detached from family and friends
- Difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness and satisfaction
- Feeling emotionally numb
What To Do If You Think You Have PTSD
The first step would be to call a mental health provider that can treat PTSD to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. There are a variety of treatment options available, and your mental health provider can evaluate your symptoms to help determine the best course of treatment for you.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is one of the talk therapies that usually works best for patients with PTSD. CPT teaches you how to change the upsetting thoughts and feelings you have had since the trauma happened.
Medications can also be helpful to manage your symptoms of PTSD. There are a variety of medications that can be used in addition to psychotherapy to help with your cognitive and mood symptoms.
Find the support and compassionate care you deserve with Becoming Behavioral Health & Wellness. We offer convenient online counseling appointments so you can talk to a mental health professional from the comfort of your own home. We also offer plant-based wellness options such as herbs, supplements, and essential oils to use either alongside or instead of psychotropic medications. To learn more, check out our website or schedule a call today!
