PTSD Symptoms
Links Between PTSD and Risk Behaviors
PTSD Facts
100

The P in PTSD stands for "psychological"

False, it stands for "post"

100

Having PTSD makes you more likely to develop substance use problems.

True

100

90% of people who survive trauma develop PTSD

False, 20-30% do. 

200

Anger is a symptom of PTSD

True, it is part of the hyperarousal symptom cluster.

200

It is best to work on becoming substance-free before working on trauma issues. 

False. It is best to address both at the same time. 

200

People don't ever recover from PTSD, they just get better at dealing with it. 

False. People can recover even from complex PTSD!

300

People who have PTSD always remember the details of the trauma.

False, many people do not. 

300

Risky behaviors makes you more vulnerable to further trauma. 

True.

300

Complex trauma means the trauma is complicated and hard to explain.

False. Complex trauma is repeated or ongoing and can come with a broader range of PTSD symptoms. 

400

You can develop PTSD from watching someone get hurt.

True, it doesn't have to happen to you directly. 

400

For most people who have both PTSD and substance abuse, the substance abuse comes first. 

False. PTSD comes first two-thirds of the time. 

400

You have to tell your trauma story in order to recover from PTSD.

False. There are multiple paths to recovery and multiple treatment modalities for PTSD. Only some of which involve the completion of a trauma narrative.