What are the signs of PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and responds to everyday situations after a traumatic experience. This often occurs long after the event itself.

Experiences can range from flashbacks and nightmares to ongoing anxiety, emotional numbness, or sudden anger. PTSD can affect anyone at any age. It isn't limited to professions where work can be traumatic, as is often stereotyped.

What is PTSD, and what does it stand for?
Signs of PTSD
How to manage PTSD
Things you can do to help with PTSD
How to get diagnosed with PTSD
Looking for support with PTSD?

What is PTSD, and what does it stand for?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses something traumatic.

This could include an accident, assault, natural disaster, trauma experienced in a profession, or more. The condition can cause ongoing emotional and psychological experiences that interfere with day-to-day life, even long after the event has passed.

Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but for those who do, experiences associated with the condition can become hard to manage without intervention. That’s why early recognition and care are important.

Signs of PTSD

PTSD signs generally fall into a few key categories. However, they can vary from person to person. Some signs can arise soon after a traumatic event, while others may not surface until months or even years later.

The most common signs include:

Re-experiencing: People with PTSD often relive aspects of the trauma. This can happen through distressing memories, vivid nightmares, or intrusive flashbacks that feel as though the event is happening again. These experiences can be triggered by sounds, smells, places, or even certain words.
Physical signs: Many signs of PTSD are physical. People may experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, or anxiety attacks. Sleep issues and fatigue are also common, especially in those who feel constantly tense.
Avoidance: Avoidant behaviours are a key sign of PTSD but are also common with anxiety. These behaviours might include steering clear of places, people, or conversations that bring back traumatic memories. Some people may try to repress thoughts or feelings linked to the event altogether.
Alertness: Many people with PTSD feel constantly on edge. This state of hyperarousal can lead to irritability, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and being easily startled. It’s a survival response that doesn’t switch off, even when there’s no danger. This means you can be in a constant state of anxiety, which can also lead to burnout.
Co-existing mental health conditions: PTSD often occurs alongside other mental health conditions. These can include anxiety, depression, substance misuse, or signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There may also be cases where untreated PTSD can increase the risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

How to manage PTSD

PTSD is manageable, and many people make a full recovery with the right support. The most important part of managing PTSD is processing the trauma. This will lead to regaining a sense of control over your daily life.

The two most common and effective therapies are:

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a type of talking therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts related to the trauma. It encourages you to gradually face reminders of the event in a safe and supportive environment. This process helps reduce avoidance and builds confidence in managing the trauma and the experiences associated with it.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR uses guided eye movements while you recall the traumatic memory and speak through it with a trained professional. This approach is designed to help the brain reprocess the memory in a less distressing way, reducing the emotional impact over time. It’s often recommended for people who struggle to talk openly about their trauma.

Things you can do to help with PTSD

Although a professional management plan will help you to overcome PTSD, there are plenty of things you can do to look after yourself and make your experience more manageable.

Learn about your triggers: Learning about your triggers helps you to understand why you are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. It also helps you to build coping strategies to respond to moments of post-traumatic stress.
Take time to relax: Managing your stress, taking time for yourself, and pursuing the hobbies you love is one of the most important things you can do. Relaxing will help your body and mind to reset, and allow you to focus on activities that make you feel good.
Look after yourself: Keeping up with a healthy sleep schedule and diet is key to looking after yourself. Basic self-care needs, as well as keeping clean and tidy, can be beneficial to your mental health. Even a 20-minute walk a day can make a world of difference.
Spend time with loved ones: Staying connected with your family, friends, and relationships can offer a sense of comfort. This doesn’t mean you have to speak to them about what you are going through but, by connecting with those you care about, you can find a sense of peace.
Exercise: Although exercise is generally good for any mental health condition, it can help to reduce PTSD struggles. Enhanced cognitive function, improved stress response, and hormone regulation can improve mood, sleep, and your ability to deal with periods of anxiety.
Meditation: Meditation can help you find a sense of peace, and more control over thoughts and emotions. Practising mindfulness, this can help to reduce the negative thought patterns experienced when struggling with PTSD.

How to get diagnosed with PTSD

There are several ways to get treatment for PTSD in the UK. Options include NHS services and private treatment. You can speak to your GP, who will assess your experience and recommend treatment options and self-help resources. Alternatively, you can self-refer to the NHS for talking therapy.

Private treatment may offer quicker access to mental health support, a wider range of therapies, and more flexibility in choosing specialists.