What is it?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. The event might have happened to you, you might have seen it happen to someone else, or you might have heard about it happening to someone close to you.
It’s normal to have upsetting and confusing thoughts after something traumatic. For most people these ease over a few weeks. PTSD is when they don’t, and they start to get in the way of everyday life.
Common signs
PTSD is different for everyone, and symptoms can start straight after the event or months, even years, later. They tend to fall into three groups.
- Reliving it. Flashbacks, nightmares, or images and sensations that keep coming back. Some people also feel it in their body, like sweating, trembling or pain.
- Avoiding it. Keeping away from people or places that remind you, not talking about it, throwing yourself into work, or feeling numb and cut off.
- Feeling on edge. Always on the lookout for danger, easily startled, irritable or angry, sleeping badly and struggling to concentrate.
Many people also feel guilt or shame, keep asking themselves whether they could have stopped it, or have headaches and stomach problems with no physical cause.
What can cause it
Any event that’s very frightening or distressing can lead to PTSD, including serious accidents, assault, abuse, war and combat, or a serious illness. Some jobs carry a higher risk, such as police, paramedics and healthcare workers.
When trauma happens over and over, such as abuse in childhood or ongoing violence, it can lead to complex PTSD. The symptoms are largely the same.
How it can affect everyday life
PTSD can put a strain on relationships, work and sleep. Some people pull away from the people around them. Others use drink or drugs to quieten things down, which tends to make it worse in the end. If that’s you, our recovery page can help too.
Getting assessed
Talk to your GP if you’re still struggling about four weeks after the event, if it’s getting in the way of everyday life, or if you’re worried at all. They’ll ask about your symptoms and what happened, and can refer you to a mental health specialist such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
You don’t have to go into every detail at the first appointment. Saying “something happened and I haven’t been right since” is enough to start.
Treatment and support
PTSD can be treated, even many years after the event. It’s never too late to get help.
- Watchful waiting. If it’s been less than four weeks, your GP may suggest keeping an eye on things first, as many people improve in that time.
- Talking therapies. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) are the main ones.
- Medicine. Usually an antidepressant, sometimes alongside therapy.
In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP. In Ireland, your GP can refer you to your local community mental health team.
If you’ve served in the armed forces, Op COURAGE is the NHS mental health service for veterans and their families in England. The charity Combat Stress also supports veterans and their families.
If you’re prescribed medicine, don’t stop taking it without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
Things that can help day to day
These won’t replace treatment, but they can help alongside it:
- Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling.
- Keep a note of what seems to set off flashbacks, like certain sounds or smells.
- Stay active, eat regularly and try to keep a sleep routine.
- Go easy on alcohol and avoid recreational drugs. They make symptoms worse.
Myths and common questions
“PTSD only happens to soldiers.” It can affect anyone who has been through something traumatic.
“If I was strong enough I’d be over it.” PTSD isn’t a weakness. It’s how the mind can react to something overwhelming, and it responds to treatment.
“It happened too long ago to do anything now.” PTSD can be treated many years later.