Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is PTSD?TypesSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCopingComplicationsNext in PTSD GuideWhat Are the Signs of PTSD? 4 Ways to Tell
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is PTSD?
Types
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Complications
Next in PTSD Guide
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition where people struggle to recover long after they experience or witness a deeply terrifying event.
In the past, the symptoms that comprise PTSD have been called “shell shock,” “battle fatigue,” and other names.It is now understood that any trauma–not war trauma alone–can cause the syndrome that is now called PTSD. Events that can lead to PTSD include a natural disaster, accident, combat, or sexual violence.
In this article, learn more about PTSD, including symptoms to look out for, what causes it, how to receive a diagnosis, treatment options, means of coping, and more.
If you’re living with PTSD, you may have flashbacks and nightmares, avoid situations that bring back unwanted memories, and struggle with anxiety, sadness, or anger.
You might feel like it’s harder to connect with others or keep up with school or work like you used to.
PTSD is not a sign of weakness but a mental health condition that can be diagnosed and treated. With the help of a mental health professional, you or your loved one can begin to heal.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
Types of PTSD
Clinicians have described several distinct types of PTSD:
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): While PTSD is typically diagnosable four weeks following a trauma, acute stress disorder is diagnosable immediately following a trauma and up to four weeks after. People with ASD have a higher chance of developing PTSD, but if given appropriate treatment, those with ASD might be able to prevent PTSD.
Uncomplicated PTSD: Uncomplicated PTSD occurs when there are no other co-occurring mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): C-PTSD usually results from a prolonged traumatic period, such as child abuse or neglect, and often stems from interpersonal trauma.Treatment for C-PTSD may involve the same things as for other types of PTSD but might take a longer time to recover from.
Dissociative PTSD: In dissociative PTSD, individuals might experiencedissociation, which includes depersonalization and/or derealization. They may feel as though they are re-experiencing the trauma. It is more likely in those who experience trauma early in life.
PTSD Symptoms
It’s common to experience distressing memories and feelings immediately after a traumatic event and occasionally as life progresses.
However, for people living with PTSD, these intrusions last longer and disrupt your ability to function in day-to-day life.
Symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories and include:
Intrusive symptoms:
Avoidance:
Increased arousal:
Changes in thoughts and feelings:
Often, people with PTSD also have other physical and mental health problems, including depression and substance abuse. Symptoms of PTSD can waver in intensity or become worse over time.
PTSD in Different Populations
About half of American adults experience at least one traumatic event. While many people have a difficult time coping in the wake of trauma, only a small portion go on to develop PTSD.
The DSM-5 has, for the first time, set diagnostic criteria for young children experiencing PTSD. Younger children are more likely to exhibit signs of PTSD through play.
If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSD, reach out for help immediately. You can contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 to find support and treatment facilities in your area.
When PTSD symptoms listed above last for more than a month and cause significant distress or impairment, you may be diagnosed with PTSD.Usually, mental healthcare providers will diagnose PTSD, including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. Family medicine doctors, also known as primary care physicians, can also diagnose the condition.
Remember that there’s no need to check off every box for a diagnosis of PTSD. You only need to experience a certain number of symptoms from each category for an official diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional.
They’ll review your symptoms and history with you to determine your diagnosis and what you need to cope and recover.
People may develop PTSD after experiencing or being exposed to an exceptionally stressful event that involves someone’s death or the threat of it, serious injury, or sexual violation.
It’s unclear exactly why some people develop PTSD and others don’t. As is true for many mental health conditions, there is likely a slew of potential causes at the root of this condition, including:
Certain risk factors could also increase your chances of developing PTSD, such as:
Fortunately, many research-backed treatments can help people living with PTSD cope with symptoms and begin to recover. Effective treatments for PTSD include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) helps you learn how to recognize thought patterns that fuel negative beliefs about yourself, deal with reminders and emotions associated with the trauma, and help reduce maladaptive behaviors associated with PTSD.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapyrepeatedly exposes you to memories and reminders of trauma to learn how to cope effectively with distressing symptoms of PTSD like anxiety and avoidance.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) allows you to process traumatic memories in a new way with the help of guided eye movements.
Medication
Medication can help ease symptoms of PTSD and may improve your ability to participate in psychotherapy.
You may be prescribed antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like Zoloft (sertraline) or Paxil (paroxetine), anti-anxiety medications (though generally only for a short period due to the potential for dependence or abuse), or other medications to help reduce sleep disturbances like nightmares.
Psychedelic Therapy
Certain psychedelic agents, such as ketamine, psylocibin, and MDMA, show promise in the treatment of PTSD. These medications change the way the brain processes fear, and can also help treat co-existing mental health disorders such as depression.
Can Wearable Tech Ease Anxiety During Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for PTSD?
Complementary Therapies
Additionally, there are several promising alternative therapies to consider adding to your treatment regimen, such as animal-assisted therapy and trauma-sensitive yoga.
Learning to cope with symptoms of PTSD can be challenging, which is why seeking treatment and developing healthy ways of managing your symptoms is essential.
Here are a few coping strategies to add to your skillset:
People with PTSD are more likely than others to experience other mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and suicidal thoughts.Some evidence even shows it can reduce overall lifespan, although more research needs to be done to determine the mechanism of these findings.
Summary
After experiencing trauma, people are at increased risk of developing PTSD. Symptom types include intrusive symptoms (nightmares and flashbacks), avoidance (staying away from reminders of the trauma), increased arousal (being startled easily, trouble concentrating, or difficulty sleeping), and changes in thoughts or feelings (believing you are “bad” or loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy).
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.History of PTSD in Veterans: Civil War toDSM-5.American Psychiatric Association.What is posttraumatic stress disorder?.Meiser‐Stedman R, McKinnon A, Dixon C, Boyle A, Smith P, Dalgleish T.Acute stress disorder and the transition to posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: Prevalence, course, prognosis, diagnostic suitability, and risk markers.Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(4):348-355. doi:10.1002/da.22602Giourou E, Skokou M, Andrew SP, Alexopoulou K, Gourzis P, Jelastopulu E.Complex posttraumatic stress disorder: The need to consolidate a distinct clinical syndrome or to reevaluate features of psychiatric disorders following interpersonal trauma?World J Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):12-19. doi:10.5498/wjp.v8.i1.12van Huijstee J, Vermetten E.The dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder: research update on clinical and neurobiological features.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;38:229-248. doi:10.1007/7854_2017_33National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.PTSD and DSM-5: DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?.Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Kolaitis G.Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351198. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351198National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Post-traumatic stress disorder.Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258Landin-Romero R, Moreno-Alcazar A, Pagani M, Amann BL.How does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work? A systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1395. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395Elsouri KN, Kalhori S, Colunge D, et al.Psychoactive drugs in the management of post traumatic stress disorder: a promising new horizon.Cureus. 14(5):e25235. doi:10.7759/cureus.25235Song K, Xiong F, Ding N, Huang A, Zhang H.Complementary and alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(28):e21142. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021142Nilaweera D, Phyo AZZ, Teshale AB, et al.Lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23:229. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04716-wAdditional ReadingBeetz A, Schofmann I, Girgensohn R, Braas R, Ernst C.Positive effects of a short-term dog-assisted intervention for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder—A pilot study.Front Vet Sci.2019 Jun 7. do:10.3389/fvets.2019.00170
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.History of PTSD in Veterans: Civil War toDSM-5.American Psychiatric Association.What is posttraumatic stress disorder?.Meiser‐Stedman R, McKinnon A, Dixon C, Boyle A, Smith P, Dalgleish T.Acute stress disorder and the transition to posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: Prevalence, course, prognosis, diagnostic suitability, and risk markers.Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(4):348-355. doi:10.1002/da.22602Giourou E, Skokou M, Andrew SP, Alexopoulou K, Gourzis P, Jelastopulu E.Complex posttraumatic stress disorder: The need to consolidate a distinct clinical syndrome or to reevaluate features of psychiatric disorders following interpersonal trauma?World J Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):12-19. doi:10.5498/wjp.v8.i1.12van Huijstee J, Vermetten E.The dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder: research update on clinical and neurobiological features.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;38:229-248. doi:10.1007/7854_2017_33National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.PTSD and DSM-5: DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?.Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Kolaitis G.Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351198. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351198National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Post-traumatic stress disorder.Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258Landin-Romero R, Moreno-Alcazar A, Pagani M, Amann BL.How does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work? A systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1395. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395Elsouri KN, Kalhori S, Colunge D, et al.Psychoactive drugs in the management of post traumatic stress disorder: a promising new horizon.Cureus. 14(5):e25235. doi:10.7759/cureus.25235Song K, Xiong F, Ding N, Huang A, Zhang H.Complementary and alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(28):e21142. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021142Nilaweera D, Phyo AZZ, Teshale AB, et al.Lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23:229. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04716-wAdditional ReadingBeetz A, Schofmann I, Girgensohn R, Braas R, Ernst C.Positive effects of a short-term dog-assisted intervention for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder—A pilot study.Front Vet Sci.2019 Jun 7. do:10.3389/fvets.2019.00170
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.History of PTSD in Veterans: Civil War toDSM-5.American Psychiatric Association.What is posttraumatic stress disorder?.Meiser‐Stedman R, McKinnon A, Dixon C, Boyle A, Smith P, Dalgleish T.Acute stress disorder and the transition to posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: Prevalence, course, prognosis, diagnostic suitability, and risk markers.Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(4):348-355. doi:10.1002/da.22602Giourou E, Skokou M, Andrew SP, Alexopoulou K, Gourzis P, Jelastopulu E.Complex posttraumatic stress disorder: The need to consolidate a distinct clinical syndrome or to reevaluate features of psychiatric disorders following interpersonal trauma?World J Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):12-19. doi:10.5498/wjp.v8.i1.12van Huijstee J, Vermetten E.The dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder: research update on clinical and neurobiological features.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;38:229-248. doi:10.1007/7854_2017_33National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.PTSD and DSM-5: DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?.Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204Kolaitis G.Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351198. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351198National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Post-traumatic stress disorder.Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258Landin-Romero R, Moreno-Alcazar A, Pagani M, Amann BL.How does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work? A systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1395. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395Elsouri KN, Kalhori S, Colunge D, et al.Psychoactive drugs in the management of post traumatic stress disorder: a promising new horizon.Cureus. 14(5):e25235. doi:10.7759/cureus.25235Song K, Xiong F, Ding N, Huang A, Zhang H.Complementary and alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(28):e21142. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021142Nilaweera D, Phyo AZZ, Teshale AB, et al.Lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23:229. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04716-w
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.History of PTSD in Veterans: Civil War toDSM-5.
American Psychiatric Association.What is posttraumatic stress disorder?.
Meiser‐Stedman R, McKinnon A, Dixon C, Boyle A, Smith P, Dalgleish T.Acute stress disorder and the transition to posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: Prevalence, course, prognosis, diagnostic suitability, and risk markers.Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(4):348-355. doi:10.1002/da.22602
Giourou E, Skokou M, Andrew SP, Alexopoulou K, Gourzis P, Jelastopulu E.Complex posttraumatic stress disorder: The need to consolidate a distinct clinical syndrome or to reevaluate features of psychiatric disorders following interpersonal trauma?World J Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):12-19. doi:10.5498/wjp.v8.i1.12
van Huijstee J, Vermetten E.The dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder: research update on clinical and neurobiological features.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;38:229-248. doi:10.1007/7854_2017_33
National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.PTSD and DSM-5: DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.
National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?.
Olff M.Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351204. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204
Kolaitis G.Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2017;8(sup4):1351198. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1351198
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258
Landin-Romero R, Moreno-Alcazar A, Pagani M, Amann BL.How does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work? A systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1395. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395
Elsouri KN, Kalhori S, Colunge D, et al.Psychoactive drugs in the management of post traumatic stress disorder: a promising new horizon.Cureus. 14(5):e25235. doi:10.7759/cureus.25235
Song K, Xiong F, Ding N, Huang A, Zhang H.Complementary and alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(28):e21142. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000021142
Nilaweera D, Phyo AZZ, Teshale AB, et al.Lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23:229. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04716-w
Beetz A, Schofmann I, Girgensohn R, Braas R, Ernst C.Positive effects of a short-term dog-assisted intervention for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder—A pilot study.Front Vet Sci.2019 Jun 7. do:10.3389/fvets.2019.00170
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