Experiencing a painful trauma leaves wounds not easily healed. Often times, both inside and out. You’re reading this article and therefore you may be wondering, “When does a traumatic event result in PTSD?”
It's important to know that in a typical year, about 8 million Americans experience PTSD, according to the National Center for PTSD. While the signs of PTSD in women do not vary greatly from those in men, women have a higher lifetime incidence of PTSD, with 1 in 10 developing PTSD. It is 1 in 25 for men.
If this seems like a high figure, consider that an even higher number of Americans experience and show signs of trauma each year.
With that, here are those (5) easy-to-spot signs that you have PTSD and should seek a helping hand from a qualified therapist.
- 1You have intrusive thoughts or memories of the event that won’t go away and keep you up at night.
- 2You feel emotionally numb, detached from others, or like a shell of your former self since the event occurred.
- 3You experience exaggerated startle responses (jumping out of your skin when someone unexpectedly speaks to you).
- 4Nightmares are common and often very graphic, realistic, and disturbing.
- 5Avoidance is your coping mechanism of choice – you try not to think about the event, talk about it, or be around anything that reminds you of it.
If you identify with any of these signs, know that you are not alone. Seeking professional help is the best step you can take to begin recovering from PTSD. For more information on PTSD, please visit the National Center for PTSD website.
SOURCE: https://www.ptsd.va.gov