PTSD Diagnosis and Symptoms

It is important to note that PTSD symptoms usually begin within a few months of the traumatic incident, but some people can have symptoms start later.

For a PTSD diagnosis, symptoms must be severe, last for more than 1 month and interfere with your daily life.

The symptoms of PTSD are separated into four categories, shown below.

The four categories of PTSD symptoms are:

1.  Re-experiencing symptoms

Re-experiencing refers to reliving the traumatic event. These symptoms can be triggered by thoughts, places, objects, etc. that remind you of the experience.

You may experience: 

• Flashbacks (feel like you are experiencing the traumatic experience again)
• Frightening thoughts/nightmares

2.  Avoidance Symptoms

Avoidance symptoms refers to avoiding things that can remind you of the traumatic event.

You may : 

• Avoid thoughts/feelings/ related to the experience or and/or avoid thinking about the traumatic experience
• Avoid people, places, things that remind you of the trauma

For example, if you were in a car accident, you may avoid driving, or driving through the area where the car accident took place. 

3.  Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms

These symptoms are also known as hyperarousal symptoms. You may feel on alert, be easily startled or experience anger or irritability.

You may experience: 

• Difficulty sleeping
• Constantly feeling on edge or on high alert
• Difficulties concentrating

For example, you may feel very jittery and find a loud noise to be especially startling.

4.  Cognition and Mood Symptoms

These symptoms include having negative thoughts about yourself and about the world following the trauma

For example, you may experience: 

• Feeling numb/disconnected
• You may forget some aspects of the traumatic event
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Feelings of guilt/blame
• Negative thoughts about yourself and the world
• •