17 Symptoms of PTSD & Treatment Options
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It can cause a range of distressing symptoms that impact daily life. By understanding these symptoms, we can increase awareness and compassion for those who are affected and provide the support and guidance they need on their journey to healing.
Intrusive Thoughts: Individuals with PTSD may experience intrusive and distressing thoughts about the traumatic event, which can be relentless and overwhelming.
Nightmares: PTSD can lead to vivid and disturbing nightmares related to the traumatic experience, often causing sleep disturbances and further distress.
Avoidance of Reminders: Those with PTSD may deliberately avoid people, places, or activities that remind them of the traumatic event, as it may trigger intense emotional distress.
Memory Loss: People with PTSD might have difficulty recalling specific details of the traumatic event or struggle with memory gaps related to that period.
Negative Thoughts: Negative thoughts and distorted beliefs about oneself, others, or the world are common among individuals with PTSD, often leading to self-blame or feelings of guilt.
Self-Isolation or Distancing: PTSD can cause individuals to withdraw from social interactions, feeling detached or disconnected from friends, family, and loved ones.
Anger and Irritability: Uncontrolled anger, irritability, and frequent mood swings are symptoms experienced by some individuals with PTSD. These emotions can strain relationships and make it difficult to express emotions appropriately.
Loss of Interest in Pleasurable Activities: PTSD can cause a significant loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable, leaving individuals feeling emotionally numb or detached.
Hyperarousal: Constant feelings of heightened alertness, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response are common symptoms of PTSD, making it challenging to relax or feel safe.
Difficulty Concentrating: Individuals with PTSD may experience difficulties in focusing or maintaining attention, affecting their ability to perform daily tasks or engaging in meaningful activities.
Insomnia: Sleep disturbances are prevalent in PTSD, ranging from difficulty falling asleep to frequent awakenings and trouble maintaining a consistent sleep pattern.
Flashbacks: PTSD often entails vivid and distressing flashbacks, where individuals feel as if they are reliving the traumatic event, causing intense anxiety and distress.
Difficult Beliefs or Feelings: This symptom includes persistent negative emotions, such as shame, guilt, sadness, or feeling detached from oneself or others.
Casting Blame: Individuals with PTSD may struggle with assigning blame, including blaming themselves, others, or even feeling that they could have prevented the traumatic event.
Difficulty Feeling Positive Emotions: People with PTSD may find it hard to experience positive emotions or feel joy, as the trauma continues to overshadow their ability to fully engage in life's positive experiences.
Exaggerated Startle Response: PTSD can cause an increased startle response, with individuals easily startled by sudden noises or unexpected situations.
Engaging in Harmful Behaviors: Some individuals with PTSD might engage in self-destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse, gambling, or risky behaviors, as a way to cope or escape their emotional pain.
Treatment Options
EMDR
EMDR therapy can help individuals with PTSD by helping to process traumatic memories and related emotions in a safe and controlled environment. EMDR therapy is a structured approach that uses rapid eye movements or other bilateral stimuli to activate the client's brain while simultaneously focusing on the traumatic memory and its associated negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations. This process promotes the integration of the memory into a less distressing form, reducing the associated negative emotional and physiological responses1. EMDR has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD, with multiple studies demonstrating its efficacy23.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting therapy can be particularly effective for treating PTSD because it allows clients to process and resolve trauma-related memories and symptoms without re-experiencing the trauma. Clients are guided to attend to their somatic and affective experiences while maintaining a safe distance from the traumatic experience, minimizing the risk of re-traumatization 56.
CBT-TF
CBT-TF is specifically designed to address the mental health needs of individuals who have experienced trauma. It involves identifying and challenging negative beliefs and thoughts related to the traumatic event, learning coping skills to manage distressing symptoms, and gradually confronting and processing the traumatic memories in a safe and structured manner.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback has shown promising results in helping individuals with PTSD by addressing various symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hyperarousal, and difficulties with concentration and memory. By training the brain to function more efficiently, neurofeedback can lead to lasting improvements in emotional regulation and overall well-being.
By understanding the symptoms of PTSD, we can better recognize the challenges faced by individuals experiencing this condition. Remember, if you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD, seek professional help from therapists with expertise in trauma. Healing and recovery are possible, and with the right support, you can regain control of your life and find hope on the journey to wellness. You are not alone—we are here to help you recover and thrive. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.
Sources:
"Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy." American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing. ↩
Mavranezouli, I., Megnin-Viggars, O., Grey, N., Bhutani, G., Leach, J., Daly, C., & Frew, E. (2018). The clinical and cost-effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for adults with PTSD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 9(1), 1533387. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2018.1533387 ↩
Bisson, J. I., Roberts, N. P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R., & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd003388.pub4
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-are-the-17-symptoms-of-ptsd#avoidance↩
Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Acupuncture, 25(3), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2013.0989 ↩ ↩2 ↩3
Menninger, K.C. (2017). The brainspotting technique: An innovative tool for the treatment of trauma. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 28(1), 91-94. https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2017663 ↩ ↩2