PTSD can occur after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as abuse, assault, natural disasters, or serious accidents.
Symptoms of PTSD can be grouped into four main categories:
Individuals who have experienced trauma may exhibit a range of symptoms that can be categorized into four main types. The first type is re-experiencing symptoms, which include intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks that make the individual feel as if they are reliving the experience, and nightmares related to the trauma.
The second type, avoidance symptoms, involves steering clear of places, people, or activities that trigger memories of the trauma, as well as avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the event.
The third category encompasses negative changes in mood and cognition, characterized by persistent negative emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame, feelings of detachment or estrangement from others, difficulty in experiencing positive emotions, and the development of negative beliefs about oneself or the world.
Lastly, hyperarousal symptoms manifest as increased irritability or anger, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), hypervigilance, where the individual remains excessively alert, and an exaggerated startle response. Together, these symptoms can significantly impact a person's daily life and emotional well-being.
