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What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma.
PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later.
Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be terrifying. They may disrupt your life and make it hard to continue with your daily activities. It may be hard just to get through the day.

Types of symptoms.

Reliving the event (re-experiencing of trauma symptoms):
Bad memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. You may have nightmares. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback. Sometimes there is a trigger: a sound or sight that causes you to relive the event.
· Hearing a car backfire, which can bring back memories of gunfire and war for a combat veteran
· Seeing a car accident, which can remind a crash survivor of his or her own accident
· Seeing a news report of a sexual assault, which may bring back memories of assault for a woman who was raped

Avoiding situations that remind you of the event:
You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
· A person who was in an earthquake may avoid watching television shows or movies in which there are earthquakes
· A person who was robbed at gunpoint while ordering at a hamburger drive-in may avoid fast-food restaurants
· Some people may keep very busy or avoid seeking help. This keeps them from having to think or talk about the event.

Feeling numb:
You may find it hard to express your feelings. This is another way to avoid memories.
· You may not have positive or loving feelings toward other people and may stay away from relationships
· You may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy
· You may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them.

Feeling keyed up (hyperarousal):
You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyperarousal. It can cause you to:
· Suddenly become angry or irritable
· Have a hard time sleeping
· Have trouble concentrating
· Fear for your safety and always feel on guard
· Be very startled when someone surprises you

Symptoms of PTSD that tend to be associated with C-PTSD include: problems regulating feelings, which can result in suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, or passive aggressive behaviors; a tendency to forget the trauma or feel detached from one's life (dissociation) or body (depersonalization); persistent feelings of helplessness, shame, guilt or being completely different from others; feeling the perpetrator of trauma is all-powerful and preoccupation with either revenge against or allegiance with the perpetrator; and severe change in those things that give the sufferer meaning, like a loss of spiritual faith or an ongoing sense of helplessness, hopelessness, or despair.

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What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder or emotional illness that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. PTSD develops as a result of a terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experience. These events can include:
- Combat or military exposure
- Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake.
- Child sexual or physical abuse
- Terrorist attacks
- Serious accidents, such as a car wreck.
- Sexual or physical assault
The more severe the trauma and the longer the person is exposed to it, the greater the likelihood of developing PTSD. Other important facts about PTSD include the estimate of 5 million people who suffer from PTSD at any one time in the United States and the fact that women are twice as likely to develop PTSD as men.