How trauma becomes PTSD
Trauma is exposure to an event that poses actual or threatened death or injury and overwhelms an individual's ability to cope.
Scroll
Clinical trauma occurs
Clinical traumas include
Domestic violence
Sexual assault
Childhood abuse
Medical trauma
Car accidents
Natural disasters
Physical violence
War and combat
Pregnancy loss
Gun violence
Initial trauma response
Normal reactions to a trauma include anxiety, avoidance, guilt, intrusive thoughts, and muscle tension
Often these symptoms resolve on their own
After 1 month 5.6% of people develop PTSD
PTSD
If symptoms continue after 1 month, it may be PTSD
PTSD symptoms include
Intrusive thoughts & flashbacks
Avoidance
Negative changes in thoughts & mood
Hyper-arousal and alertness
How trauma becomes PTSD
Trauma is exposure to an event that poses actual or threatened death or injury and overwhelms an individual's ability to cope.
Clinical trauma occurs
Clinical traumas include
Domestic violence
Sexual assault
Childhood abuse
Medical trauma
Car accidents
Natural disasters
Physical violence
War and combat
Pregnancy loss
Gun violence
Acute Stress
Normal reactions to a trauma include anxiety, avoidance, guilt, intrusive thoughts, and muscle tension
Often these symptoms resolve on their own
After 1 months 5.6% of people develop PTSD
If symptoms continue after 1 month, it may be PTSD
PTSD
If symptoms continue after 1 month, it may be PTSD
Intrusive thoughts & flashbacks
Avoidance
Negative changes in thoughts & mood
Hyper-arousal and alertness
Clinical traumas can lead to PTSD
Clinical traumas include
Domestic violence
Sexual assault
Physical violence
Medical trauma
Childhood abuse
Natural disasters
Car accidents
War and combat
Pregnancy loss
Gun violence
What are PTSD symptoms?
Intrusive thoughts & flashbacks
- Flashbacks: Vivid sensory experiences that feel like re-living the trauma again
- Nightmares: Disturbing dreams related to a traumatic incident
- Intrusive thoughts & emotions: Unwanted thoughts and emotions that pop into mind at any moment
- Profound distress to triggers: Strong emotional or physical responses to reminders of a trauma
Hyperarousal & alertness
- Hypervigilance and startle response: A perpetual feeling of tension, being on edge, and worrying
- Sleep disturbance: Challenges with falling or staying asleep
- Heightened behavioral reactions: Increased irritable or angry outbursts at others
- Concentration issues: Difficulties concentrating and focusing on tasks
- Reckless behavior: Engaging in risky or dangerous behaviors, such as driving too fast and substance abuse
Avoidance
- Dodging certain reminders: Avoiding places, peoples and cues (like smells) that are reminders of a trauma
- Evading conversations and thoughts: Skirting around discussions and avoiding thoughts about the incident
Negative changes in thoughts & mood
- Pervasive negativity: Feeling constantly angry, irritable, and disinterested in life
- Anhedonia: An inability to experience positive emotions, such as happiness, hope, and creativity
- Distorted beliefs: Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs of oneself, others, or the world (e.g., βI am bad,β βThe world is a dangerous place,β or βItβs my fault it happenedβ)
- Emotional detachment: Feeling distant from loved ones and disconnected from oneself
- Profound distress to triggers: Strong emotional or physical responses to reminders of a trauma
- Memory challenges: Difficulty recalling important aspects of an incident