Now that the danger has passed, it is natural to think you can put it all behind you and assume your body and mind have healed. But unfortunately, trauma doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes, our bodies and brains keep scores and allow trauma to live in our muscles and organs, causing problems in every facet of our day-to-day lives. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may not appear until sometime after the traumatic event. It can be months or even years before they finally start popping up, and unlike a broken limb or a skin rash, psychological wounds that have yet to heal can be much harder to identify. Psych Healing Counseling Center uncovers how to recognize you are suffering from PTSD.
How do I recognize PTSD in myself or others?
Most people that witness or experience terrifying events may have temporary difficulties coping and adjusting. However, with time and proper self-care, it’s possible to get better. So, not everyone who experiences trauma will develop post-traumatic stress disorder. For an individual to be diagnosed with PTSD, the symptoms must get worse, last for more than a month, and cause considerable distress or problems in their day-to-day functioning. Specific symptoms of PTSD can vary over time or vary from one person to the next. An affected person may only express some, none, or all of these things. Everyone’s experience is different.
However, they are generally grouped into four types below.
1. Re-experience
What are the hallmark symptom and a way to recognize you are suffering from PTSD? That would be the one that causes you to involuntarily and vividly re-experience the traumatic event. Whether you’re thinking about it or not, unwelcome snapshots or brief snippets can arise out of the blue, invading your usual thinking pattern and affecting your ability to carry on your everyday activities at work, school, and social engagements. These tend to be in the form of the following:
- Flashbacks: feeling as though your traumatic event is happening again, in the here and now, right before your eyes.
- Nightmares: distressing dreams about the event, playing out in various scenarios.
- Repetitive and upsetting images or sensations: severe emotional distress or physical reactions triggered by sounds, sights, and even smells that remind you of the traumatic event.
Having your own thoughts and memories turn against you can be terrifying, especially when you’re trying to put them behind you. If you’ve ever had a flashback, you know that it can feel like, suddenly, you’re there, facing the original threat. This threat can be so vivid that it can cause a whirlwind of negative thoughts and emotions like fear, anxiety, guilt, suspicion, and shame. Sometimes, these emotions may play out physically in the form of panic attacks, heart palpitations, shaking, chills, and headaches. And sometimes, the person may even react suddenly and aggressively, trying to protect themselves or escape.
2. Avoidance and emotional numbness
Some people run to their supporters, trying to deal with their feelings and get through it together. Others grin and bear it, deciding it’s easier to keep their tears hidden behind closed doors. And then, there are those who deal with their feelings by trying not to feel anything at all. They avoid crying, yelling, or acknowledging any emotion whatsoever. They don’t want to talk about it, think about it, or remember it. All they want is to steer clear of everyone and everything that may trigger distressing memories.
In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, this is a perfectly understandable response. And, for a while, it appears like a viable option. But only for a while. If you over-rely on avoidant coping strategies, it can hinder your natural healing process – even more so if you’re highly reactive to trauma cues. It can cause you to feel isolated and withdrawn, sap your energy, and make life more difficult to manage.
Your body and mind want to heal, and emotions have a precious role to play. So, it’s important to let them. A local certified professional can help you identify, address and release heart-corroding emotions. But, sometimes, extreme feelings of shame and not tend to freeze a person with PTSD enough. This makes reaching out for therapy easier said than done. Fortunately, choosing an online therapy provider is always an option. It’s essential to turn to experts for this. Online therapy puts potential support just one click away and removes the need for physical exposure, which makes taking that step more easily.
3. Alterations in cognition and mood
The emotional experience of psychological trauma can have long-term effects on an individual’s cognitive processes and mood. For instance, they may experience:
- pervasive emotions of shame, guilt, anger, or ongoing fear,
- a void of satisfaction or happiness,
- feelings of detachment and estrangement from people in their surroundings,
- less interest in previously enjoyed activities,
- et cetera.
Negative emotionality can have a detrimental effect on the individual’s cognitive functioning. This, in turn, may lead to problems with memory, attention, planning, and problem-solving. For instance, one may be unable to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, which can lead to negative evaluations and distorted beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.
#4 Alterations in arousal and reactivity
Another way to recognize you are suffering from PTSD is the symptom of hyper-vigilance. Not long after experiencing a terrifying event, you may start feeling irritable and on edge. It feels like danger could be lurking around the corner and that everyone is a potential threat. So, you constantly have to be “on guard”. Related symptoms include:
- Trouble concentrating or sleeping
- Impulsive, reckless, and self-destructive behavior
- Irritability, aggressive behavior, and angry outbursts
- Abrupt changes in heart rate
- Difficulty feeling at ease
- Heightened startle response
- Being overly watchful and suspicious of everything and everyone in one’s surroundings
Experiencing “arousal symptoms” is completely normal in the days or weeks after a traumatic event. However, if the symptoms continue for more than a month and seem to interfere constantly with your day-to-day functioning, you may be diagnosed with PTSD.
A word from PsychHealing Counseling Center
Sometimes, life throws at us more than we can handle. Therefore, if you recognize you are suffering from PTSD, or notice some of the symptoms in your loved one, do not be hesitant to seek out the help and support you need. Reaching out and getting treatment can be tough, but it’s a necessary step to take in order to prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse. You can give us a call at (800) 683-2945, get in touch by email at info@healingpcc.com, and schedule online today!
Meta Description: If you or your loved one has recently experienced a traumatic event, here’s how to recognize you are suffering from PTSD.
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