If you’ve been through a traumatic event: like an accident, assault, disaster, combat, abuse, or serious injury , and you’re still struggling weeks or months later, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) could be why. It’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a normal reaction to abnormal stress.
Ask Yourself: Do I Have These Core Symptoms?
PTSD symptoms fall into four main groups. To be diagnosed, you typically need symptoms from each category that last more than one month and interfere with work, relationships, or daily life.
1. Re-experiencing the Trauma
- Unwanted, vivid flashbacks (feeling like it’s happening again)
- Nightmares about the event
- Intrusive thoughts or images that pop up without warning
- Intense distress when reminded of the trauma (a sound, smell, or place)
2. Avoidance
- Avoiding places, people, or activities that remind you of the trauma
- Pushing away thoughts or feelings about what happened
- Emotional numbness: feeling detached or “shut down”
3. Negative Changes in Thinking & Mood
- Persistent guilt, shame, or self-blame (“It was my fault”)
- Feeling hopeless about the future
- Trouble remembering key parts of the trauma
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feeling cut off from others
4. Hyperarousal (Feeling “On Edge”)
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Hypervigilance: constantly scanning for danger
- Startling easily (e.g., jumping at loud noises)
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
Important Notes
- Symptoms can start right after trauma or appear months or years later.
- Not everyone with PTSD has “flashbacks”;some feel mostly numb or irritable.
- Complex PTSD (from long-term trauma like childhood abuse) may include extra symptoms like extreme shame, relationship difficulties, or identity confusion.
What to Do Next
- Take a screening quiz (like the PCL-5) online: it’s not a diagnosis, but a starting point.
- Talk to a doctor, therapist, or counselor. PTSD is highly treatable with therapies like EMDR, CPT, or PE.
- You don’t need to “prove” your trauma was “bad enough.” If it hurt you, it matters.
PTSD can make you feel broken,but you’re not. You’re a person whose nervous system is trying to protect you from pain.
And with the right support, that protection can soften, so you can live fully again. Asking this question is already a brave step toward healing. Keep going.