Symptoms
What can cause PTSD?
There are many different kinds of trauma that can cause it. Some trauma events that can cause it: Sexual/physical assault, war or combat experience, child abuse, natural disaster, unexpected or sudden death of a loved one.
Besides therapy and medication, people with PTSD can use daily strategies like grounding, deep breathing, reaching out for support, etc. These are called _____ ____.
Coping skills help manage symptoms in the moment and give people tools outside of therapy.
Fact! Recovery is possible
True or False: Any individual who experiences a traumatic event will undoubtedly suffer from PTSD.
False, not all people who experience a traumatic event will have symptoms of PTSD.
Bad dreams, frightening thoughts, feeling on edge, and excessive spending are all symptoms of PTSD except.
Excessive spending is not a known symptom of PTSD.
People who experience trauma in this stage of life are at higher risk for PTSD later on.
Childhood. Early trauma, especially abuse or neglect, increases lifelong risk.
In PTSD, people often have negative beliefs such as "I'm not safe"or "It was all my fault" CBT helps correct these statements, what are they called?
Trauma related thoughts or cognitive distortions.
Myth or Fact: Talking about the trauma will make PTSD worse.
Myth. Avoidance can actually keep symptoms going. Talking about trauma in a safe, therapeutic setting can help people process their experiences and heal.
True or False: About 6% of U.S. adults will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
True, lifetime prevalence is around 6%. This means that about 6 or 7 out of every 100 people in the U.S. will develop PTSD at some point in their lives.
Staying away from people, places, conversations, or activities that remind someone of trauma is called _____.
Avoidance. This is a core symptoms of PTSD but often keeps the cycle going.
A person is more likely to develop PTSD if they lack this kind of support after trauma.
Social support. Strong family, friends, and community help reduce risk.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft) for treatment of PTSD. What do these medications act as?
Both of the medications approved by the FDA act as antidepressants, which are used to treat depression.
Myth or Fact: PTSD only happens to veterans and soldiers.
Myth, while veterans can develop PTSD anyone who experiences or witnesses trauma (such as accidents, abuse, or natural disasters, etc.) can develop.
True or False: Men are more likely to develop PTSD than women because of the day to day events they experience.
False: Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men.
People with PTSD may feel numb, detached, or disconnected from themselves or others. This is called ___.
Dissociation or emotional numbing. Dissociation can make people feel like they are watching life from the outside.
Studies show that PTSD risk comes from both the trauma itself and possibly these other two influences.
Genetics and environment.
PTSD is shaped by trauma severity, family history, personality, and coping resources.
In this known effective therapy for PTSD, people gradually and safely face memories, places, and reminds they've been avoiding.
One of the most effective treatment methods for PTSD is Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, which helps individuals gradually confront and process traumatic memories and situations to reduce avoidance behaviors.
Myth or Fact: Family history and genetics can increase the risk of developing PTSD.
Fact: Studies suggest genetics and family history of mental health conditions may raise risk, but environment and trauma also play major roles.
True or False: People with PTSD are 80% more likely to have symptoms of another mental health condition, which is why PTSD may be misdiagnosed at times.
Yes, it's true that roughly 80% of people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) also have another co-occurring mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or a substance use disorder. These co-occurring conditions can complicate PTSD symptoms and make it harder to get an accurate diagnosis, as symptoms may overlap with other disorders or be mistaken for them, leading to a misdiagnosis.
For a PTSD diagnosis, symptoms must last more than this amount of time and cause significant distress or problems in daily life.
Must persist for at least one month.
Loud noises, smells, or places that bring up trauma memories are called _____.
With time, support, and treatment, many people with PTSD can ______.
Recover and have significant symptom reduction
Myth or Fact: People with PTSD are violent or dangerous.
Myth. The majority of individuals with PTSD are not violent. They are more likely to struggle with fear, depression, or anxiety than to harm others.
True or False: PTSD can develop months or even years after a traumatic event.
True, symptoms may appear right away but they can also be delayed for months or years after the trauma. Delayed onsent is common.