Recognizing the Signs of PTSD and Seeking Support

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can deeply impact your emotional, mental, and physical well-being, but recognizing its signs is the first step toward healing. PTSD often develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, and its symptoms can manifest in various ways.

Key signs include 

• “Intrusive memories” such as flashbacks, nightmares, or the inability to stop thinking about the trauma itself. 

• “Avoidance” behaviors like steering clear of reminders of the trauma,

• “Hyperarousal” where you feel constantly on edge or irritable. 

• “Emotional reactivity” such as feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness. 

These symptoms may not appear right away, sometimes surfacing months after the trauma.

Some of my clients have told me, “yea, I went through [something horrible] but that was decades ago.” As the person living the experience, it can be difficult to connect how a trauma has created a warp and wane to your mind. 

But now your spouse says the wrong thing, and you explode … or hide … or shut down. You can’t shake the terrible feeling that you can’t protect yourself … or maybe the ones you love the most. But you have so integrated these painful experiences into daily life that you think they are normal. They are not. And you don’t have to live with them. 

PTSD can feel isolating, but you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy, including approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or EMDR, has been proven to help individuals process and move forward from trauma. 

If any of this resonates with you or someone you care about, don’t wait to reach out for help.

Seeking support is a courageous act of self-care and the first step toward reclaiming your life.