Symptoms of PTSD

The symptoms that characterize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be divided into three main categories:

1. Re-experiencing
2. Avoidance
3. Hyper-arousal

Not all those exposed to trauma experience the range of symptoms detailed below. We have included an exhaustive list of symptoms, but it is important to keep in mind that a person who has experienced trauma may be suffering even if he displays only a few of the symptoms. We have provided a self test for post-traumatic symptoms, for those interested in testing themselves or someone close to them who has been exposed to a traumatic event.

The following is a list of the main symptoms of PTSD:

Re-experiencing

• Invasive memories of the trauma: pictures and thoughts related to the event, which come up again and again and cause great distress
• Frequent nightmares connected to the trauma and recurring over many nights.
• Flashbacks: a continuous and ongoing feeling that the person has, that the traumatic event has not finished, and that he is caught in the middle of it
• Feelings of stress and anxiety when exposed to stimuli that are connected to or symbolize the trauma

Avoidance

• Avoiding thoughts, conversations or feelings connected to the trauma
• Avoiding places, activities and people that are reminders of the trauma
• Loss of interest in activities that used to be considered fun
• Feeling foreign and alienated from other people
• Difficulty feeling and expressing positive emotion such as happiness or love
• Lack of desire to deal with the future or talk about it

Hyper-arousal

• Problems sleeping
• Short-tempered and fits of anger
• Difficulty concentrating and studying
• Constant feeling of alertness
• Heightened reaction to loud noises and sudden movements

Compulsive dealing with the event

• Repeated feelings of guilt connected to the results of the trauma or the behavior of the victim during the event
• Non-stop thoughts of the trauma and a narrowing of fields of interest to topics relating only to the trauma
• Behaviors that recreate the traumatic event repeatedly

Dissociation

• Forgetting significant portions of the event
• Feeling disconnected from the self: A feeling that "this isn't really me"

Top of page    Print this page    Send to friend