The symptoms of PTSD

The main symptoms and behaviours associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include:

• Reliving the experience through flashbacks, unwanted memories, or nightmares
• Overwhelming emotions with the flashbacks, memories, or nightmares
• Often feeling like you are under threat
• You might be startled by things like unexpected noises
• Not being able to feel emotions or feeling ‘numb’
• Avoidance. This could mean that you try to distract yourself from thinking about the trauma. Or you avoid people and situations that remind you of the trauma
• Difficulties or problems in relationships
• Not feeling good about yourself, or feeling worthless
• Use of alcohol or drugs use to avoid flashbacks, unwanted memories, or nightmares.  Or to manage emotional reactions, anxiety or other symptoms
• Feelings of anger, shame, sadness or guilt, including what is known as ‘survivor guilt’
• Problems with sleeping and concentrating
• Difficulty controlling your emotions or negative mood and thinking
• Dissociation, that can include disconnecting from yourself or other people