PTSD
Learn about the common symptoms, treatments, and resources available to people with PTSD and ASD.
PTSD
PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic, terrifying, or life-threatening event.
Individuals who experience significant duress following a traumatic episode may be diagnosed with acute stress disorder (ASD). Acute stress disorder is a mental health condition that occurs three days to a month after a traumatic event. Its symptoms, such as intrusion, avoidance, and dissociation, overlap with PTSD, but are shorter-term. If these symptoms persist longer than one month, they may develop into PTSD.
PTSD and ASD often involve nervous system dysregulation, hyperarousal, and central sensitization.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
Intrusive Memories
Intrusive memories may include flashbacks, upsetting nightmares, or unwanted distressing memories of the event. They may also experience intense emotions or physical reactions, such as a racing heart, sweating, and trembling, in response to trauma triggers.
Avoidance
Individuals experiencing PTSD or ASD may avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations, activities, places, objects or people that remind them of the trauma.
If you need counseling services but are concerned they may be beyond your financial means, there are resources available to you.
Walter’s Walk is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) counseling organization that supports the community by providing integrated mental health services to children and adults who have experienced trauma, depression and anxiety, regardless of their ability to pay. All of their providers are committed to the wellness of the community by serving those in need.
Common Symptoms of PTSD continued
Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
They may experience persistent negative beliefs about themselves, others, or the world. This may take the form of believing “the world is too dangerous“, a deep feeling that they are broken, or “no one can be trusted.”
Feelings of detachment are also common, along with emotional numbness, loss of interest in activities, or an inability to experience joy. They may experience ongoing negative emotions like fear, guilt, shame, anger, or horror.
Hobbies, interests, and passions can be negatively impacted. As a result, they may lose complete interest in activities they once enjoyed. This may result in further isolation if their interests were how they socialized with others, which may lead to a feeling of detachment or estrangement.
They may also have memory gaps regarding the traumatic event and be unable to recall specific or even general details.
Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions
People enduring PTSD or ASD may be easily startled, experience hypervigilance, be irritable, aggressive, or have angry outbursts. They may have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and engage in self-destructive and reckless actions.
Hypervigilance is a state of abnormally heightened alertness, awareness, or watchfulness in which someone excessively scans their environment for potential threats or dangers, even when at low or no risk.
People experiencing PTSD or ASD may experience other symptoms as well.
They may have physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach issues, and unexplained pain.
Disassociation is another symptom they may experience. This is when someone feels detached from themselves or their surroundings.
The symptoms of individuals with PTSD and ASD may fluctuate or worsen during times of stress or anxiety.
Only a qualified mental health professional can assess and diagnose PTSD and ASD.
PTSD Resources
Trauma-Focused Psychotherapies
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
- Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)
- Cognitive Therapy for PTSD
Online Resources For People with PTSD
Self-Care
- Safe Place Visualization: Imagine a safe, tranquil place within your mind. What does it look, feel, and smell like? Safe place visualization helps you take a breath, and breathe, giving you a brief reprieve, to calm your nervous system.
- Warm Sensory Experiences: If you love warmth, treat yourself to a hot bath or shower, cover yourself with a weighted blanket, or use a heating pad.
- 5-4-3-2-1: Pause, take a breath, and identify 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
- Body Scans: Close your eyes and feel through every nook and cranny of your body. Explore the passive sensation from your toes to the tip of your nose.
- Pleasurable Activities: Listen to calming music, read a book, garden, draw, journal, or go spend some time in nature. Do something that brings you joy and reminds you just how delightful life can be.
Take the Next Step
PTSD can keep the nervous system in a prolonged state of protection, which often intensifies the experience of pain. Pain management coaching focuses on building safety, sharpening discernment, and quieting the extra intensity that can build up when you stay on high alert.
If you would like to explore how coaching may support greater regulation and ease, you can learn more about pain management coaching.
Disclaimer
All information provided on this website, including, but not limited to, educational materials, pain neuroscience explanations, treatment suggestions, and any other content shared during sessions, classes, or coaching, is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition, nor is it a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
You should always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information you receive here.
Jennifer Brand Spa
Pain Management at 2717 Hwy K, O’Fallon, MO 63368