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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibrarySigns & Symptoms of PTSDSigns & Symptoms of PTSDSigns & Symptoms of PTSDOverviewTypes of PTSDSymptomsCausesDiagnosingTreatmentTherapyMedications
OverviewTypes of PTSDSymptomsCausesDiagnosingTreatmentTherapyMedications
Overview
Types of PTSD
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosing
Treatment
Therapy
Medications
Table of Contents:OverviewSigns of PTSDMain Symptoms of PTSDSymptoms in Men vs WomenWhen to Seek a Professional
Published On: October 17, 2019
Reviewed On: October 17, 2019
Updated On: May 3, 2024
OverviewPanic attacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, depression, and insomnia are all common symptoms ofpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop in anyone who’s experienced a dangerous, shocking, or life-threatening traumatic experience. War, rape, sexual assault, childhood abuse, an abusive relationship, or even a serious accident can all be acause of PTSD.One of the most characteristic and debilitating PTSD symptoms involves “flashbacks,” or the feeling of re-experiencing a traumatic event. It’s really important to understand that PTSD can evolve, and symptoms can worsen over time. This is one reason why understanding the disorder and seeking treatment is so essential.Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of PTSD and to learn when it’s time to get help.
Panic attacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, depression, and insomnia are all common symptoms ofpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop in anyone who’s experienced a dangerous, shocking, or life-threatening traumatic experience. War, rape, sexual assault, childhood abuse, an abusive relationship, or even a serious accident can all be acause of PTSD.
One of the most characteristic and debilitating PTSD symptoms involves “flashbacks,” or the feeling of re-experiencing a traumatic event. It’s really important to understand that PTSD can evolve, and symptoms can worsen over time. This is one reason why understanding the disorder and seeking treatment is so essential.
Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of PTSD and to learn when it’s time to get help.
Signs of PTSDAlthough many people associate PTSD with service in the military, it can actually stem from any type of trauma. That might include an abusive relationship, or being the victim of or witnessing a violent crime.PTSD is more prevalent than you might think. An estimated60% of men and 50% of womenwill experience some form of trauma in their lives. Not all of them will then go on to develop PTSD, though. Despite the large percentage of the population who will face trauma, only approximately6% of Americanswill go through trauma that results in PTSD, according to the National Center for PTSD.No two people experience PTSD in the same way. The signs may be subtle, or they may be acute. Below are some of the PTSD symptoms to look for if you suspect that you or someone you care about is suffering from this mental health condition after experiencing severe trauma in life.
Signs of PTSD
Although many people associate PTSD with service in the military, it can actually stem from any type of trauma. That might include an abusive relationship, or being the victim of or witnessing a violent crime.
PTSD is more prevalent than you might think. An estimated60% of men and 50% of womenwill experience some form of trauma in their lives. Not all of them will then go on to develop PTSD, though. Despite the large percentage of the population who will face trauma, only approximately6% of Americanswill go through trauma that results in PTSD, according to the National Center for PTSD.
No two people experience PTSD in the same way. The signs may be subtle, or they may be acute. Below are some of the PTSD symptoms to look for if you suspect that you or someone you care about is suffering from this mental health condition after experiencing severe trauma in life.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), BCD, C-DBTAshley Ertel
Main Symptoms of PTSDThe main symptoms of PTSD can be divided into four categories. Note that not everyone will experience PTSD symptoms in every category.Re-experiencing symptomsRe-experiencing symptoms will include flashbacks and reliving a traumatic event over and over. This might happen in dreams or when unexpected (and unwelcome) thoughts suddenly come to the surface. Sounds, sights, and even smells can trigger a flashback.Re-experiencing symptoms can occur any time, any place, without warning. Any of the following might trigger a flashback:SoundsSightsSmellsA songA scene in a movieA placeA personWords or conversationsNoisesAvoidance symptomsAvoidance symptoms are seen when someone with PTSD takes extreme measures in an effort tonotbe reminded of the trauma. This often leads to them ultimately becoming withdrawn and isolated.
Main Symptoms of PTSD
The main symptoms of PTSD can be divided into four categories. Note that not everyone will experience PTSD symptoms in every category.
Re-experiencing symptoms
Re-experiencing symptoms will include flashbacks and reliving a traumatic event over and over. This might happen in dreams or when unexpected (and unwelcome) thoughts suddenly come to the surface. Sounds, sights, and even smells can trigger a flashback.
Re-experiencing symptoms can occur any time, any place, without warning. Any of the following might trigger a flashback:
Avoidance symptoms
Avoidance symptoms are seen when someone with PTSD takes extreme measures in an effort tonotbe reminded of the trauma. This often leads to them ultimately becoming withdrawn and isolated.
Avoidance symptoms can involve:
Hyperarousal symptoms
Hyperarousal symptoms can cause someone to be:
Cognition & mood symptoms
The fourth cluster of PTSD symptoms affects a person’s memory and emotions. Sometimes people with PTSD might not recall the traumatic event they experienced. They also may feel guilty about what happened and blame themselves, even if being at fault is impossible or illogical. This can cause them to alienate from others, including people they care a great deal about.
Cognition & mood symptoms might be less obvious, but they can involve:
Symptoms in Men vs WomenWhile men and women both can experience similar PTSD symptoms, including an extreme sense of shame, there are some differences in how their symptoms show up.We don’t have a lot of research looking at how PTSD affects men vs. women, but there are a few things we do know. For example, women are more inclined to exhibit feelings of guilt than men are. While both sexes have anger over the trauma they went through, men are usually more outwardly aggressive and visibly angry.
Symptoms in Men vs Women
While men and women both can experience similar PTSD symptoms, including an extreme sense of shame, there are some differences in how their symptoms show up.
We don’t have a lot of research looking at how PTSD affects men vs. women, but there are a few things we do know. For example, women are more inclined to exhibit feelings of guilt than men are. While both sexes have anger over the trauma they went through, men are usually more outwardly aggressive and visibly angry.
Symptoms in menAccording toone recent study, men tend to experience more anger and rage with PTSD than women do. They’re also likely to express their PTSD symptoms with more aggression than women. It’s more common for men to be irritable with PTSD.Studies showthere’s also a higher chance that they’ll turn to excessive drug and alcohol use to self-medicate when trying to cope with the realities of living with PTSD.Symptoms in womenWhile women can also be (rightfully so) angry about their trauma, they might express less rage. However, they’ll often feel a lot more guilt and shame than men do.One studyfound thatwomen with PTSDare more likely to feel anxious and depressed than men. At times, an anxiety disorder can even coexist with PTSD.For both sexes, PTSD can wreak havoc on relationships. Divorce rates are high among those with PTSD. Someresearchshows that the divorce rate is up tothree times higherfor veterans with PTSD than it is for those without.
Symptoms in men
According toone recent study, men tend to experience more anger and rage with PTSD than women do. They’re also likely to express their PTSD symptoms with more aggression than women. It’s more common for men to be irritable with PTSD.Studies showthere’s also a higher chance that they’ll turn to excessive drug and alcohol use to self-medicate when trying to cope with the realities of living with PTSD.
Symptoms in women
While women can also be (rightfully so) angry about their trauma, they might express less rage. However, they’ll often feel a lot more guilt and shame than men do.One studyfound thatwomen with PTSDare more likely to feel anxious and depressed than men. At times, an anxiety disorder can even coexist with PTSD.
For both sexes, PTSD can wreak havoc on relationships. Divorce rates are high among those with PTSD. Someresearchshows that the divorce rate is up tothree times higherfor veterans with PTSD than it is for those without.
When to Seek a ProfessionalIf you check for all or more of these symptoms, the next step is to get aPTSD diagnosis. After getting an official diagnosis, it’s important you learnhow to treat PTSDproperly. The good news is there are very effective treatments for PTSD. In-person/online therapyandPTSD medicationhave both been proven effective for many people.When should you seek help? The National Center for PTSD recommends you seek a treatment option if you’ve had at least 1 re-experiencing symptom, 3 avoidance symptoms, and 2 hyperarousal symptoms within one month. Too often people with PTSD symptoms wait to get treatment and suffer unnecessarily.Consulting a therapist can be a great first step in determining the best PTSD treatment for you or a loved one. An experienced therapist can guide you and provide further education aroundcognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and other techniques that are known to be effective in treating PTSD. A therapist can also help determine the cause of your PTSD. Once you find the source of trauma, you can work towardsdealing with PTSD.If you suspect you’re showing signs of PTSD, learn more with aPTSD testfrom Talkspace.
When to Seek a Professional
If you check for all or more of these symptoms, the next step is to get aPTSD diagnosis. After getting an official diagnosis, it’s important you learnhow to treat PTSDproperly. The good news is there are very effective treatments for PTSD. In-person/online therapyandPTSD medicationhave both been proven effective for many people.
When should you seek help? The National Center for PTSD recommends you seek a treatment option if you’ve had at least 1 re-experiencing symptom, 3 avoidance symptoms, and 2 hyperarousal symptoms within one month. Too often people with PTSD symptoms wait to get treatment and suffer unnecessarily.
Consulting a therapist can be a great first step in determining the best PTSD treatment for you or a loved one. An experienced therapist can guide you and provide further education aroundcognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and other techniques that are known to be effective in treating PTSD. A therapist can also help determine the cause of your PTSD. Once you find the source of trauma, you can work towardsdealing with PTSD.
If you suspect you’re showing signs of PTSD, learn more with aPTSD testfrom Talkspace.
See ReferencesPTSD is More Likely in Women Than MenVernor D. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nami.org. Published 2019. Accessed May 10, 2022.How Common Is PTSD in Adults?PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Published 2022. Accessed May 10, 2022.Sex differences in recovery from PTSD in male and female interpersonal assault survivorsGalovski T, Blain L, Chappuis C, Fletcher T. Behav Res Ther. 2013;51(6):247-255. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.02.002. Accessed May 10, 2022.Post-traumatic stress disorder: symptom profiles in men and womenGreen B. Curr Med Res Opin. 2003;19(3):200-204. doi:10.1185/030079903125001604. Accessed May 10, 2022Understand PTSDPTSD: National Center for PTSD. Published 2022. Accessed May 10, 2022.
See References
Vernor D. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nami.org. Published 2019. Accessed May 10, 2022.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Published 2022. Accessed May 10, 2022.
Galovski T, Blain L, Chappuis C, Fletcher T. Behav Res Ther. 2013;51(6):247-255. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.02.002. Accessed May 10, 2022.
Green B. Curr Med Res Opin. 2003;19(3):200-204. doi:10.1185/030079903125001604. Accessed May 10, 2022
Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCDAshley Ertel, LCSW, is a Nationally Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has over a decade of experience specializing in trauma and depression, working primarily with first responders, military personnel, and veterans, and sexual assault survivors.
Ashley Ertel, LCSW, is a Nationally Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has over a decade of experience specializing in trauma and depression, working primarily with first responders, military personnel, and veterans, and sexual assault survivors.
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