Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that arises in individuals who have encountered a distressing, frightening, or perilous event. It is a natural response for the body to feel fear in such situations, triggering the innate “fight-or-flight” response aimed at evading, or confronting possible threats.
Re-experiencing symptoms include:
- Experiencing flashbacks—reliving the traumatic event
- Nightmares, or dreams related to the event
- Having distressing thoughts
- Experiencing an increase in heart rate and/or sweating
Avoidance symptoms include:
- Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders
- Suppressing thoughts, or feelings related to the traumatic event
- Change of routines, such as avoiding driving, or riding in a car after a serious car accident
Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:
- Being easily startled
- Feeling tense, on guard, or on edge
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Having difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep
- Feeling irritable and having angry, or aggressive outbursts
- Engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior
Cognition and mood symptoms include:
- Having trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
- Having negative thoughts about oneself, or the world
- Having exaggerated feelings of blame directed toward oneself, or others
- Having ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame
- Losing interest in enjoyable activities
- Having feelings of social isolation
- Having difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness, or satisfaction
