Common symptoms of PTSD

Some people find it very easy to recognise and admit to a trauma in their lives. Others may find themselves feeling ashamed, guilty or embarrassed by the trauma or by continuing to feel distressed by a memory, often years after the actual event. Whilst many people will have heard of the term PTSD, most people will not know the symptoms of PTSD, or how to recognise it in themselves or others. People can also think that you only get PTSD if you are a soldier, or you have been physically harmed. However, PTSD can occur if you have suffered or witnessed any event which you have experienced as traumatic, including serious road accidents, traumatic childbirth, violent personal assaults such as a sexual assault or mugging, or losing someone who is close to you in upsetting circumstances. Furthermore, PTSD can occur soon after the trauma, or even months or years later (delayed onset PTSD).

Some common symptoms of trauma include:

• Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)

• Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)

• Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma

• Hypervigilance (being on constant ‘red alert’)

• Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)

• Difficulty concentrating

• Panic attacks/ anxiety/ depression/ mood swings/ anger

• Inability to remember important aspect of the trauma

• Loss of interest in activities and life in general

• Sense of a limited future

• Feeling numb and empty

• Avoidance of people or places that can be reminders of the traumatic experience

If are experiencing some of these symptoms on a regular basis, and you have experienced or witnessed a trauma at some point in your life, do seek help. PTSD can be treated.