Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

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Who gets post-traumatic stress disorder?

The strict definition of PTSD is that the trauma you had or witnessed must be severe. For example: a severe accident, rape, a life-threatening assault, torture, seeing someone killed, etc. However, symptoms similar to PTSD develop in some people after less severe traumatic events.

It is estimated that up to 1 in 10 people may develop PTSD at some stage in life. It is much more common in certain groups of people. For example, some studies have found that PTSD develops in about:

1 in 5 fire-fighters.
1 in 3 teenager survivors of car crashes.
1 in 2 female rape victims.
2 in 3 prisoners of war.

What are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder?

Recurring thoughts, memories, images, dreams, or 'flashbacks' of the trauma which are distressing.
You try to avoid thoughts, conversations, places, people, activities or anything which may trigger memories of the trauma as these make you distressed or anxious.
Feeling emotionally 'numb' and feeling 'detached' from others. You may find it difficult to have loving feelings.
Your outlook for the future is often pessimistic. You may lose interest in activities which you used to enjoy and find it difficult to plan for the future.
Increased 'arousal' which you did not have before the trauma. This may include:
difficulty in getting off to sleep or staying asleep.
being irritable which may include outbursts of anger.
difficulty concentrating.
increased vigilance.
you may be 'startled' more easily than before.

Note: it is normal to feel upset straight after a traumatic event. But for many people the distress gradually eases. If you have PTSD the distressing feelings and symptoms persist. In some cases the symptoms last just a few months, and then ease or go. However, in many cases the symptoms persist long-term.

Up to 4 in 5 people with PTSD also have other mental health problems. For example, depression, persistent anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, drug or alcohol abuse. Having a mental health disorder before the trauma seems to increase your chance of developing PTSD. But also, having PTSD seems to increase your risk of developing other mental health disorders.

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