Have you heard the term before? PTSD? It is a mental health diagnosis that stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You’ve most likely heard of it in conjunction with war veterans or victims of violent crimes. But yes, as you probably know from reading the first post, PTSD can come from a variety of experiences.
First let’s just go over the basic symptoms of PTSD:
- Depression
- Irritability
- Loss of interest
- Numbing
- Decreased concentration
- Insomnia
- Emotional overwhelm
- Loss of a sense of the future
- Hopelessness
- Shame and feelings of worthlessness
- Little or no memories
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Hypervigilance (increased alertness to danger)
- Mistrust
- Anxiety/Panic attacks
- Chronic pain/headaches
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- Feeling unreal or out of body
- Self-destructive behavior
- Loss of sense of “who I am”
This list is not comprehensive, but you can clearly see how a survivor of trauma might really struggle to function “normally.” The trauma they’ve experienced has also changed their perspective of the world. We base our perception of the world on our experiences and most of us expect that we can get through our day safely and without much distress or worry. For a trauma survivor, their world has been shaken and they no longer feel safe and they don’t feel that they can expect good things to happen to them.
I have found that when my clients look over a list of common symptoms of PTSD, they immediately feel some relief that what they have experienced is normal. Almost every time, I can see the understanding and peace that comes across their faces when they are validated in their experience. Now, one person will not necessarily exhibit every single one of those symptoms, although that certainly can happen. It’s important to note that these are the symptoms generally found in teenagers and adults. Trauma shows up differently in children and that information will come in it’s own post.
This is the handout I give my teenage clients and ask them to circle the symptoms they have experienced:
Do any of those symptoms seem to be familiar? Do you see them in yourself or a loved one? If you do, please seek professional help. Everyone deserves to leave a full life and to have a healed heart. YOU deserve better than to live with those symptoms every day, and it’s possible to move past your trauma and live a better life.