Most people associate PTSD with serving in combat. Unfortunately, this deters people from seeking the PTSD treatment they may need after a traumatic event. In fact, post-traumatic stress disorder can be caused by any kind of trauma in which your well-being is physically or emotionally threatened:
- Combat exposure
- Physical abuse
- Physical attack
- Rape
- Torture
- Childhood neglect
- Sexual molestation
- Being threatened with a weapon
- Kidnapping
- Mugging
- Robbery
- Civil conflict
- Car accident
- Plane crash
- Fire
- Natural disaster
- Life-threatening medical diagnosis
- Death of a loved one
In addition to the above-referenced incidents, children may be particularly susceptible to PTSD caused by medical interventions, adoption, divorce, and even moving.
If you or someone you know has experienced any one of these traumas, please take the time to review (and share, need be) the following list of PTSD symptoms, as outlined in Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Fear: Practical Ways To Find Peace by A Place of Hope founder Dr. Gregory Jantz.
Symptoms of PTSD may include:
- startling easily
- becoming numb emotionally
- isolating from loved ones
- having difficulty with intimacy
- becoming aggressive, hostile, or even violent
- attempting to avoid situations they fear will remind them of the trauma
- having difficulty during significant periods, such as the anniversary of the trauma
- refusing to talk about the trauma with others for fear of triggering a flashback
What you may discover is that a traumatic event had more of a lasting impact on you than you realized. On the other hand, keep in mind that not all trauma causes PTSD. So what you need to do is 1) give the traumatic event the weight it warrants, 2) review and make note of PTSD symptoms you may be experiencing, and 3) reach out to a professional counselor who can help, need be.
View our frequently asked questions on PTSD
Are you or a loved one experiencing PTSD symptoms? A Place of Hope can help. Contact us for information.
Related Posts
Runaway Thoughts and Panic Attacks
By: Dr. Gregory Jantz • December 20, 2015
Jill suffered a devastating anxiety attack. She had been depressed for months over her upcoming fiftieth birthday. Instead of being a celebration of a half-century of life, Jill dreaded the date. She forbade her family from making "a fuss." She refused to go out with friends as the date approached. ...
What is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
By: Dr. Gregory Jantz • March 2, 2023
In this article, we will be looking at trauma in detail – what it is, how it happens, the impact of trauma on individuals, and who is at risk. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) will be explained in an easy to understand way, with a description of how it...
Reverse Your Anxious Conditioning with Present-Moment Awareness
By: Dr. Gregory Jantz • May 25, 2021
A person suffering from anxiety spends most of his or her time either remembering some frightening event that’s long gone, or imagining ones yet to come. In other words, their minds habitually gravitate to the past and the future, but rarely give any thought to what is happening right here,...
Get Started Now
"*" indicates required fields
Whole Person Care
The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life:
- Emotional well-being
- Physical health
- Spiritual peace
- Relational happiness
- Intellectual growth
- Nutritional vitality