The American Psychiatric Association describes PTSD as “a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being. Contrary to some misbeliefs that PTSD is something experienced through war/combat, it also includes natural disasters, severe weather, serious accidents, terrorist acts, rape/sexual assault, historical trauma, intimate partner violence and bullying.” PTSD can also occur after a person is exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation.
It is common for people to feel extreme distress immediately following a traumatic event. However, if their distress lasts longer than a month, they might have PTSD. Not everyone will go on to develop a mental illness such as PTSD or depression after a traumatic event.
A common misconception is that a person must experience trauma directly to be affected. They might witness it happening to someone else, might have learned about a traumatic event occurring to someone close to them, or might have been exposed to repeated or extreme details of the event. With access to so many violent, disturbing videos on the internet, it’s vital to recognize that witnessing traumatic situations, even though we aren’t directly involved, still has an impact.
Sometimes the memories of a traumatic event will suddenly or unexpectedly return weeks, months, or even years afterward. People can also differ a lot in how they react to these events. Particular types of traumas may affect individuals more than others. A history of trauma may make some people more susceptible to later traumas, while others become more resilient as a result. A person who has experienced a traumatic event may react strongly right away, showing that they need immediate assistance, while others may have a delayed reaction.
Symptoms include: flashbacks, sleep disturbances, intrusive memories, persistently negative thoughts, low mood, anger or feeling emotionally numb, being triggered by sights, smells, sounds, thoughts or memories that remind them of the event, trouble feeling emotionally connected to family or close friends, remembering the event often and vividly, trouble remembering parts of the event or trying to avoid remembering it.
If any of these symptoms are affecting your overall functioning and relationships, it may be helpful to see a therapist. A therapist will work with you to integrate your experience yet not feel it is controlling you. They will also work with you to manage the symptoms and offer a safe environment of trust and witness to your experience.