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How to Identify the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Key takeaways PTSD symptoms fall into categories like re-experiencing, avoidance, changes in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity, but the experience varies. Common symptoms may include flashbacks, distressing memories, nightmares, irritability, anxiety, and avoiding certain places, people, or objects. To meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, you must experience at least one intrusion symptom, one avoidance symptom, two hyperarousal symptoms, and two cognition and mood symptoms for at least 1 month. Traumatic events like abuse, accidents, military combat, natural disasters, and assault can cause PTSD, but support networks and positive coping skills may reduce the risk. It's thought that 1 out of every 11 people will receive a diagnosis of PTSD at some point in their lives. PTSD can make it difficult to function day to day, affecting your quality of life. However, with treatment, PTSD symptoms can become far more manageable. Mental health professionals use a handbook called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) to diagnose mental health conditions. The DSM-5-TR groups PTSD symptoms into four categories: reexperiencing avoidance persistent negative alterations in cognitions and mood alterations in arousal and reactivity You'll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of 'male' and 'female' or 'men' and 'women.' Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings. Unfortunately, the studies and surveys referenced in this article didn't report data on, or include, participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless. Intrusive memories or reexperiencing Intrusion-related PTSD symptoms involve memories intruding into your everyday life. Without trying to remember the traumatic event, you may feel like you're reexperiencing the event or that you can't stop thinking about certain details. Intrusive symptoms may include: frequent nightmares about the event strong, unwanted, distressing memories of the event cropping up when you're thinking about seemingly unrelated thoughts flashbacks, where you feel like you're reliving the event You may find that certain things — an object, a song, a smell — may trigger these symptoms. Sometimes, the trigger isn't obvious and seems to come out of nowhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children with PTSD might reenact the traumatic event through play or in thought. PTSD symptoms in children may be similar to those of other mental health conditions, including oppositional defiant disorder, depression, and ADHD. Avoidance or emotional numbing This symptom can involve avoiding anything that reminds you of the traumatic event. You might avoid places, situations, objects, and people who remind you of the event. You might also avoid thoughts and feelings you associate with the event. While many people with PTSD recognize why they're avoiding those reminders, not everyone is aware. In some cases, the association might not be obvious. When to consult a doctor or other healthcare professional Many people experience trauma and do not go on to develop PTSD. Although therapy can be useful for some, experiencing trauma doesn't mean you automatically need or will benefit from therapy. Therapy may be beneficial if your symptoms interfere with your day-to-day functioning or persist for several weeks after the event. A consultation with a qualified mental health professional can help you determine whether you'd benefit from therapy or other mental health help. Tools for diagnosis and treatment To receive a PTSD diagnosis, a qualified medical professional needs to assess your symptoms. It's best to talk with a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or psychiatric nurse, because they are more familiar with the symptoms of PTSD and other mental health conditions. Mental health professionals use a variety of tests and questionnaires to evaluate symptoms. To meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, you must experience the following symptoms for at least 1 month: at least one intrusion/re-experience symptom at least one avoidance symptom at least two hyperarousal/reactivity symptoms at least two cognition and mood symptoms You don't need a PTSD diagnosis to seek therapy and support. It's possible to find treatment and begin your healing journey without a diagnosis. Frequently asked questions What causes PTSD? Being exposed to any traumatic event can cause PTSD, especially an event that involves a real or perceived threat of injury or death. In other words, the event can include any situation where you feel that you or another person could have died or been injured. This can include events like: abuse or neglect car accidents bereavement, depending on the circumstances life threatening illness military combat natural disasters severe injury sexual or physical assault terrorism traumatic birth witnessing violence, suicide, or death Some research indicates that people who experience interpersonal crimes, such as assault, are more likely to develop PTSD than those who experience non-interpersonal traumas, such as natural disasters. Why do some people develop PTSD and others do not? It's not always clear why some people develop PTSD and others do not, but researchers have identified some factors that increase your risk of developing PTSD after experiencing trauma. After experiencing trauma, you may be more likely to develop PTSD if you: have a history of mental health conditions don't receive support from loved ones experience further stress around the event You might be less likely to develop PTSD if you: have a support network, which can include loved ones, a counselor, or a support group learn positive coping skills, which could be learned through therapy Genetics may also play a role in whether you develop PTSD, according to a large-scale 2019 study. While there's evidence suggesting the lifetime prevalence of exposure to trauma is lower among women than men, women are about twice as likely to develop PTSD than men. It's not clear why, although genetics and hormones may play a role. In the United States, research suggests that PTSD is more common among people who are Black, Latino, and Native American than among non-Latino white people. What's the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD? A single event can cause PTSD, while complex PTSD (C-PTSD) can occur from repeated trauma, especially ongoing trauma over many months or years. Childhood trauma often causes C-PTSD, especially child abuse perpetrated by parents or caregivers. People who have C-PTSD may experience similar symptoms to PTSD. Other C-PTSD symptoms include: PTSD is more well researched than C-PTSD. Additionally, C-PTSD may be more difficult to treat. That said, both PTSD and C-PTSD can be treated and managed.