Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder that can develop after a traumatic event when symptoms persist and interfere with daily functioning.
Definition
After trauma, many reactions are natural and in some people they decrease over time. PTSD may include re-experiencing, avoidance, increased arousal, and changes in mood and cognition. Diagnosis requires specialist assessment; a single difficult memory does not automatically mean PTSD. If your symptoms become severe, you have suicidal thoughts or you feel threatened, you should seek immediate help.
Key ideas
- Trauma
- Symptoms that persist over time
- Need for specialist assessment
Practice and life
If post-traumatic symptoms persist, worsen, or make life difficult, write down their type and frequency, and then contact a specialist.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to self-diagnose PTSD based on one symptom. It is also a mistake to downplay post-traumatic reactions as "exaggeration".
> PTSD is not just a memory; is a situation in which the alarm returns even though the threat has passed.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Do my symptoms interfere with my work, sleep, or relationships?
- How long do they last?
- Do I need specialist or crisis help?