Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks. PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person. Intrusive memories Intrusive memories Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:  Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event  Avoidance Avoidance Symptoms of avoidance may include:  Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event  Negative changes in thinking and mood Negative changes in thinking and mood Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:  Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world Hopelessness about the future Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event Difficulty maintaining close relationships Feeling detached from family and friends Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed Difficulty experiencing positive emotions Feeling emotionally numb  Changes in physical and emotional reactions Changes in physical and emotional reactions Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:  Being easily startled or frightened Always being on guard for danger Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast Trouble sleeping Trouble concentrating Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior Overwhelming guilt or shame  For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include:  Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event  Intensity of symptoms Intensity of symptoms PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you're stressed in general, or when you come across reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome by memories of your own assault. When to see a doctor When to see a doctor If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they're severe, or if you feel you're having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse. If you have suicidal thoughts If you have suicidal thoughts If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, get help right away through one or more of these resources:  Reach out to a close friend or loved one. Contact a minister, a spiritual leader or someone in your faith community. Contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential. Make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional.  When to get emergency help When to get emergency help If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If you know someone who's in danger of attempting suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person to keep him or her safe. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Or, if you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.
post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start month traumatic event  symptoms may years event  symptoms cause significant problems social work situations relationships  can interfere ability normal daily tasks  ptsd symptoms generally grouped types: intrusive memories  avoidance  negative changes thinking mood  changes physical emotional reactions  symptoms can vary time vary person person  intrusive memories intrusive memories symptoms intrusive memories may include:  recurrent  unwanted distressing memories traumatic event reliving traumatic event happening (flashbacks) upsetting dreams nightmares traumatic event severe emotional distress physical reactions reminds traumatic event  avoidance avoidance symptoms avoidance may include:  trying avoid thinking talking traumatic event avoiding places  activities people remind traumatic event  negative changes thinking mood negative changes thinking mood symptoms negative changes thinking mood may include:  negative thoughts yourself  people world hopelessness future memory problems  including remembering important aspects traumatic event difficulty maintaining close relationships feeling detached family friends lack interest activities once enjoyed difficulty experiencing positive emotions feeling emotionally numb  changes physical emotional reactions changes physical emotional reactions symptoms changes physical emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:  being easily startled frightened being guard danger self-destructive behavior  drinking driving fast trouble sleeping trouble concentrating irritability  angry outbursts aggressive behavior overwhelming guilt shame  children 6 years old younger  signs symptoms may include:  re-enacting traumatic event aspects traumatic event play frightening dreams may may include aspects traumatic event  intensity symptoms intensity symptoms ptsd symptoms can vary intensity time  may ptsd symptoms you're stressed general  come across reminders went through  example  may hear car backfire relive combat experiences  may see report news sexual assault feel overcome memories assault  see doctor see doctor disturbing thoughts feelings traumatic event month  they're severe  feel you're trouble life back control  talk doctor mental health professional  treatment soon possible can help prevent ptsd symptoms worse  suicidal thoughts suicidal thoughts know suicidal thoughts  help right away resources:  reach close friend loved one  contact minister  spiritual leader faith community  contact suicide hotline  u s  call text 988 reach 988 suicide & crisis lifeline  24 hours day  days week  lifeline chat  services free confidential  appointment doctor mental health professional   emergency help emergency help think may hurt attempt suicide  call 911 local emergency number immediately  know who's danger attempting suicide made suicide attempt  sure stays person keep safe  call 911 local emergency number immediately  or  can safely  take person nearest hospital emergency room
post traumatic stress disorder