Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a natural emotional response to truly serious harm or threat to oneself or others. PTSD can affect people of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. PTSD can occur if someone directly experienced the traumatic event or learned that the traumatic event happened to a close family member or friend. In addition, witnessing one or more traumatic events, or experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event, as in the cases of first responders, can cause PTSD. PTSD symptoms can appear months or years later. PTSD can significantly disrupt the lives of those who suffer from it.

PTSD can lead to:

Intrusion Symptoms​

• Flashbacks

• Nightmares about the event(s)

• Intense mental or physical distress when thinking about the event (s)

 

Avoidance Symptoms

Avoidance or efforts to avoid people, places, objects, conversations, memories, thoughts, feelings or situations that recall the event(s)

 

Arousal and reactivity

• Irritability and anger

• Trouble concentring

• Hypervigilance

• Exaggerated startle response

• Sleep disturbance

 

Cognition and mood

• Intense feelings of sadness, fear, guilt, shame or confusion

• Negative thoughts about oneself

• Substantial reduction in expression of positive emotions

• Socially withdrawn behaviour

• Trouble remembering important parts of the event

 

Additionally, people living with PTSD may experience depression, suicidal behaviours, anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, other mental health problems, and distressing issues.