What are the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder?
There are three main symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, including: • Re-experiencing or “reliving” the trauma • Nightmares • Flashbacks • Interfering thoughts • Continuously avoiding reminders of the trauma • Avoiding situations • Emotional numbing • Showing less emotion • Responding less to people • Detachment from others Other common responses include: • Unhappiness • Guilt over actions taken or not taken • Overwhelming loss • Sleeping problems • Being overly defensive, watchful, or irritable If you have posttraumatic stress disorder, you may also experience anxiety, depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, or obsessive-compulsive behavior. These are not symptoms of PTSD, but they frequently occur at the same time.
