Trauma & PTSD Treatment

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms usually begin with 3 months of an experience but can sometimes begin years later.

Adults & PTSD

To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month:

• At least one re-experiencing symptom: Flashbacks – reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like sweating or a racing heart
• At least one avoidance symptom: Staying away from places, events or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event
• At least 2 arousal and reactivity symptoms: Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or ‘on edge’
• Difficulty sleeping
• Angry outbursts
• At least 2 cognition and mood symptoms:
  • Trouble remembering key aspects of traumatic event
  • Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
  • Distorted feelings like guilt or blame
  • Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

Children, Adolescents & PTSD

Children and adolescents can have extreme reactions to trauma but their symptoms may not be the same as adults. In very young children these symptoms can include wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet, forgetting how to or being unable to talk, acting out the scary event during playtime or being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult.

Older children and teens are more likely to show symptoms similar to those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful or destructive behaviors, including thoughts of revenge

PTSD Risk Factors

Risk factors for PTSD include people who have been through a physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster or another serious event. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 7 or 8 of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely than men and genetics may also play a factor.