Always Feel on Edge, Have Upsetting Memories, or Trouble Sleeping: Could It Be PTSD?

This article is for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their care partners. The goal of this education activity is for you to be better able to identify the symptoms of PTSD and engage in shared decision making with your doctor and healthcare team.

You will learn about:

• What PTSD is

• Risk factors for PTSD

• Symptoms of PTSD

• The importance of talking to your doctor and healthcare team about PTSD

• Questions to ask your doctor and healthcare team about PTSD

• Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious mental health condition that’s caused by a traumatic (very stressful or scary) event.

• Examples of things that can bring on PTSD include:

     o Sexual or physical assault

     o The unexpected death of a loved one

     o An accident, a war, or a natural disaster (such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, or earthquakes)  

• PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality, or culture, and at any age.

• It's also not just the people who experience these events that can feel this way. Family members of those affected, as well as emergency workers and rescue teams, can also develop PTSD.

You may be more likely to develop PTSD after a traumatic event if:

• You have already had other traumatic events in your life

• Your job exposes you to life-threatening situations often, like first responders and military service members

• You were injured during the event

• The event went on for a long time

• You have a history of other mental health struggles

• You have blood relatives (parent, sibling, aunt, and/or uncle) with mental health struggles

• You have a history of alcohol or drug abuse

• You don't have family or close friends to talk with and help you

Symptoms of PTSD often start within the first 3 months after a traumatic event, but for some people, symptoms may take years to appear. People who are diagnosed with PTSD have symptoms from each of these 4 categories:

          1. Intrusive (upsetting) memories - reliving a traumatic event like it was happening again, having upsetting dreams or nightmares about a traumatic event, or having painful memories of a traumatic event over and over again

          2. Avoidance - trying not to think about a traumatic event or staying away from places, activities, or people that remind you of a traumatic event

          3. Changes in thinking and mood – constant (never-ending) feelings of fear, blame, guilt, anger, or shame, feeling disconnected from family and friends, and having a hard time feeling happiness or enjoyment

          4. Changes in physical and emotional reactions - being easily scared, having trouble sleeping, feeling irritable, having angry outbursts, or feeling physical reactions, like sweating, fast heartbeat, or quick breathing

To be diagnosed with PTSD, your symptoms must:

• Last longer than 1 month

• Cause a lot of stress or impact your ability to function

• Not be related (connected) to another medical illness

If you’re having upsetting thoughts about a traumatic event for more than a month, it’s important to talk to your doctor to see if treatment can help. Starting treatment as soon as possible can help keep PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

Beginning treatment can help make your symptoms better by:

• Teaching you ways to deal with your symptoms

• Showing you ways to cope if you experience symptoms again

• Helping you think and feel better about yourself and those around you

PTSD treatment may involve psychotherapy (a type of counseling), medicines, or both.

We’ve learned how talking to your doctor about PTSD can help make your symptoms better, but now you may be wondering how to have that conversation.

Below are steps that you can follow when creating a plan to talk to your doctor:

• Prepare ahead of time

          o Write down symptoms, track triggers, record how this impacts your quality of life

• Schedule a dedicated appointment

• Be direct and honest

• Discuss your history

• Ask questions

• Express your goals

• Request a referral

• Advocate for yourself

• Use support materials

• Follow up

In the short video on this page, Matt talks about his experience with PTSD and the importance of creating a plan when talking to your doctor.

• Am I having symptoms of PTSD?

• Why did I get PTSD?

• How long will I feel like this?

• I keep having flashbacks and feel as if I’m going through the traumatic event all over again. How can I stop this from happening?

• How can I explain what I’m feeling to my friends and family?

• What should I do if my symptoms don’t stop or if they get worse?

• If I need treatment, can we create a plan together?

• Are there any support groups or services that I can reach out to?

Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the program Always Feel on Edge, Have Upsetting Memories, or Trouble Sleeping: Could It Be PTSD?

View Additional Materials on this topic that you may find useful:

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American Psychiatric Association

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs