Home Conditions Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Information, Symptoms, Treatment and More

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Information, Symptoms, Treatment and More

Modified date: May 8, 2025

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is an anxiety-based condition characterised by a traumatised reaction to being involved in or seeing a distressing or frightening event.

PTSD is a common reaction to witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Moreover, PTSD can cause a multitude of symptoms, including avoidance, re-experiencing and several psychological symptoms. As a result, PTSD is a very difficult condition to live with.

While PTSD is commonly associated with military combat – anyone can get PTSD. PTSD develops after a traumatic event, in cases of long-term trauma, Complex PTSD is a more applicable condition.

However, with the right treatment and ongoing support, recovery from PTSD is possible.

What are the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

The symptoms of PTSD tend to fall into one of three categories. Following a traumatic event, these symptoms need to be present for at least four weeks for a diagnosis of PTSD to be made. Otherwise, Acute Stress Disorder is more applicable.

The symptoms don’t necessarily need to appear straight after the traumatic event, sometimes it can take weeks, months, or even years for them to develop.

Symptoms normally involve re-experiencing, avoidance, or can be psychological.

Re-Experiencing:

Flashbacks
Nightmares
Witnessing distressing images
Disturbed thoughts
Physical feelings of pain or sickness
Ruminating over what might have been

Avoidance:

Avoiding certain people that remind an individual of the traumatic event
Avoiding certain places that remind an individual of the traumatic event
Changing the subject if a similar topic is discussed
Isolating themselves from others, trouble trusting them
Withdrawing from normal day-to-day activities

Psychological:

Anger
Poor concentration
Insomnia
Irritability
Anxiety

Feelings of guilt and shame are common with PTSD. Someone with PTSD will often adopt harmful coping strategies such as alcohol or substance abuse. Self-harm and suicidal ideation are also common in PTSD.

PTSD often runs comorbidly with other mental health conditions such as Anxiety, Depression and substance abuse.

While having some upsetting thoughts is common after a traumatic event, these thoughts will often clear up on their own in their own time. But if thoughts are intense, and last for at least a few weeks, then PTSD may be suspected.

If a reaction to a event seems abnormal or excessive, Adjustment Disorder may be a more applicable condition.

What are the causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Unlike most mental health disorders, the cause of PTSD is known. PTSD results after either witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event – which generates a traumatised reaction.

Examples of traumatic events include experiencing or witnessing warfare, military combat, a road accident, sexual abuse, extreme violence, hostage situation, terrorist attack, natural disaster, sudden death, severe injury, or being the victim of an assault.

However, there are many possible events that can qualify as ‘traumatic’, this isn’t an extensive list. We have an article that looks at what events are considered ‘traumatic’.

While the cause of PTSD is known, it isn’t however known why some people develop PTSD and others don’t. Around 1 in 3 people who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD [1].

It is believed that someone diagnosed with a mental illness in the past is more susceptible to developing PTSD after a traumatic event.

One study found that the size of the hippocampus region of the brain can be important – with the smaller the region is, the likelier an individual is to develop PTSD [2].

Finally, a family history of mental illness also acts as a risk factor for PTSD developing [3].

Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

It is crucial that a person goes to see a doctor or mental health professional if they are suffering from the symptoms of PTSD.

Sometimes, it will be up to a close friend or family member to instigate treatment, as many people with PTSD withdraw from life following a traumatic event.

At an appointment, a doctor will ask the patient several questions. Questions are normally based around the symptoms involved and the traumatic event.

If the doctor suspects PTSD is present, the individual should be sent for a full assessment. A full assessment can be undertaken by a mental health specialist. The specialist will carry out a more in-depth discussion with the individual.

For a diagnosis to be made, the following criteria should be met:

The individual has experienced re-experiencing symptoms pertaining to a traumatic event
The individual has showed symptoms of avoidance in reaction to a traumatic event
Psychological changes are evident since the traumatic event
The symptoms have caused significant distress
The symptoms have been present for at least four weeks
Symptoms cannot be attributed to substance abuse or a different mental health condition

It is possible that Adjustment Disorder, or a different mental health condition will be diagnosed, if the specialist believes this is appropriate.

In some cases, more than one condition could be diagnosed. In any case, once a diagnosis has been made, treatment can be arranged.

How is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treated?

PTSD is a serious condition, though treatment is available. In many instances, with the right treatment plan, a full recovery can be made. The level of treatment however generally depends upon how severe the depression of a patient is.

In milder cases of PTSD, an approach called watchful waiting can be used. In more severe cases of PTSD, a course of talking therapy and sometimes medication is employed.

Watchful waiting

If symptoms after a traumatic event are relatively mild, or symptoms have been present for less than 1 month, an approach called watchful waiting can be implemented.

This is where the doctor suggests that the individual waits a short period of time and see if their symptoms clear up on their own. In some cases, trauma can be short-term – normally called Acute Stress Disorder.

2 in 3 people who experience a traumatic event will not go on to develop PTSD, so this approach is worthwhile. The individual will typically return within a month of their initial assessment, where their state will be analysed.

Self help

Exercise is also an important part of treating any type of mental illness. There is evidence to suggest that regular exercise is good for helping improve low mood.

Joining a self-help group for trauma can be therapeutic as it gives the individual an opportunity to talk through their thoughts and feelings with like-minded individuals.

Talking Therapy

PTSD can be treated effectively through talking therapy. Therapy can help an individual come to terms with their traumatic event, or to understand their thoughts and behaviour on a deeper level.

It is common for grounding techniques to be taught to help an individual separate the traumatic past from the present day. There are a wide range of types of talking therapies available, but some popular therapies for PTSD include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that is used to treat a range of mental health conditions. CBT involves an individual talking face-to-face with a therapist, although sometimes CBT can be conducted in a group setting. CBT attempts to improve an individual’s wellbeing and mood. The therapy focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. This can be useful for those with low self-esteem, anxiety, unhelpful personality traits or intrusive thoughts. CBT can help an individual understand their feelings more, and in the long run should lead to an improvement in quality of life.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): While more of a newer treatment, EMDR is an exciting intervention that has helped many people cope with trauma-based conditions. This therapy involves an individual moving their eyes from side-to-side, with the therapist directing their eye movements. During this, the individual recalls their traumatic experience. EMDR is believed to help an individual change how they think about the traumatic event, with the therapist aiming to facilitate change.

Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy is a talking therapy that aims to help uncover and resolve unconscious beliefs that cause psychiatric conditions. Traumatic experiences that may or may not be buried in the unconscious mind can be highlighted and processed. Psychoanalytical psychotherapy involves talking to a trained therapist. The therapist can show the individual how early memories and past traumas have affected their thinking, behaviour and attitude in the modern day. Psychoanalytical psychotherapy is especially useful for any condition that involves past trauma. Renowned neurologist Sigmund Freud developed this therapy, which is typically completed over a long-term basis.

Therapy is useful and highly recommended, as it can help in many ways. We have more information on our Therapy section.

Medication

Trauma-based conditions can often improve with medication. Medication is only ever prescribed if the health professional deems it necessary.

The type of medication is normally an antidepressant. Only two medicines are actually licensed for use in treatment of PTSD – Paroxetine and Sertraline.

However, three other antidepressants have the potential to be effective in treating PTSD according to official guidelines. These are Mirtazapine, Amitriptyline and Phenelzine. However, Amitriptyline and Phenelzine can only be prescribed by a mental health specialist.

If an antidepressant is successful in improving symptoms, the medication should be taken for at least a year, before being gradually withdrawn.

Antidepressants: Antidepressants can help to improve and regulate mood. They should improve motivation and restore energy. SSRI Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed. They act on the brain chemical serotonin – which is thought to help in regulating mood and emotion. They may include side-effects such as a dry mouth, sexual problems and nausea, though these should hopefully be short-term. Other classes of antidepressants are available in the event of an inadequate reaction.

Summary

It is very important that anyone suffering from the symptoms of PTSD accesses treatment. Early treatment is very important, and can lead to an individual maximising their chances of recovery.

No one should have to live with a traumatic event, help is available. In the long-term, an individual should see their quality of life rise. For more content, please navigate around our website!