Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforPost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Print OverviewPost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)isamentalhealthconditionthat'striggeredbyaterrifyingevent—eitherexperiencingitorwitnessingit.Symptomsmayincludeflashbacks,nightmaresandsevereanxiety,aswellasuncontrollablethoughtsabouttheevent. Mostpeoplewhogothroughtraumaticeventsmayhavetemporarydifficultyadjustingandcoping,butwithtimeandgoodself-care,theyusuallygetbetter.Ifthesymptomsgetworse,lastformonthsorevenyears,andinterferewithyourday-to-dayfunctioning,youmayhavePTSD. GettingeffectivetreatmentafterPTSDsymptomsdevelopcanbecriticaltoreducesymptomsandimprovefunction.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsPost-traumaticstressdisordersymptomsmaystartwithinonemonthofatraumaticevent,butsometimessymptomsmaynotappearuntilyearsaftertheevent.Thesesymptomscausesignificantproblemsinsocialorworksituationsandinrelationships.Theycanalsointerferewithyourabilitytogoaboutyournormaldailytasks. PTSDsymptomsaregenerallygroupedintofourtypes:intrusivememories,avoidance,negativechangesinthinkingandmood,andchangesinphysicalandemotionalreactions.Symptomscanvaryovertimeorvaryfrompersontoperson. Intrusivememories Symptomsofintrusivememoriesmayinclude: Recurrent,unwanteddistressingmemoriesofthetraumaticevent Relivingthetraumaticeventasifitwerehappeningagain(flashbacks) Upsettingdreamsornightmaresaboutthetraumaticevent Severeemotionaldistressorphysicalreactionstosomethingthatremindsyouofthetraumaticevent Avoidance Symptomsofavoidancemayinclude: Tryingtoavoidthinkingortalkingaboutthetraumaticevent Avoidingplaces,activitiesorpeoplethatremindyouofthetraumaticevent Negativechangesinthinkingandmood Symptomsofnegativechangesinthinkingandmoodmayinclude: Negativethoughtsaboutyourself,otherpeopleortheworld Hopelessnessaboutthefuture Memoryproblems,includingnotrememberingimportantaspectsofthetraumaticevent Difficultymaintainingcloserelationships Feelingdetachedfromfamilyandfriends Lackofinterestinactivitiesyouonceenjoyed Difficultyexperiencingpositiveemotions Feelingemotionallynumb Changesinphysicalandemotionalreactions Symptomsofchangesinphysicalandemotionalreactions(alsocalledarousalsymptoms)mayinclude: Beingeasilystartledorfrightened Alwaysbeingonguardfordanger Self-destructivebehavior,suchasdrinkingtoomuchordrivingtoofast Troublesleeping Troubleconcentrating Irritability,angryoutburstsoraggressivebehavior Overwhelmingguiltorshame Forchildren6yearsoldandyounger,signsandsymptomsmayalsoinclude: Re-enactingthetraumaticeventoraspectsofthetraumaticeventthroughplay Frighteningdreamsthatmayormaynotincludeaspectsofthetraumaticevent Intensityofsymptoms PTSDsymptomscanvaryinintensityovertime.YoumayhavemorePTSDsymptomswhenyou'restressedingeneral,orwhenyoucomeacrossremindersofwhatyouwentthrough.Forexample,youmayhearacarbackfireandrelivecombatexperiences.Oryoumayseeareportonthenewsaboutasexualassaultandfeelovercomebymemoriesofyourownassault. Whentoseeadoctor Ifyouhavedisturbingthoughtsandfeelingsaboutatraumaticeventformorethanamonth,ifthey'resevere,orifyoufeelyou'rehavingtroublegettingyourlifebackundercontrol,talktoyourdoctororamentalhealthprofessional.GettingtreatmentassoonaspossiblecanhelppreventPTSDsymptomsfromgettingworse. Ifyouhavesuicidalthoughts Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowhassuicidalthoughts,gethelprightawaythroughoneormoreoftheseresources: Reachouttoaclosefriendorlovedone. Contactaminister,aspiritualleaderorsomeoneinyourfaithcommunity. Callasuicidehotlinenumber—intheUnitedStates,calltheNationalSuicidePreventionLifelineat1-800-273-TALK(1-800-273-8255)toreachatrainedcounselor.Usethatsamenumberandpress1toreachtheVeteransCrisisLine. Makeanappointmentwithyourdoctororamentalhealthprofessional. Whentogetemergencyhelp Ifyouthinkyoumayhurtyourselforattemptsuicide,call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately. Ifyouknowsomeonewho'sindangerofattemptingsuicideorhasmadeasuicideattempt,makesuresomeonestayswiththatpersontokeephimorhersafe.Call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately.Or,ifyoucandososafely,takethepersontothenearesthospitalemergencyroom. RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesYoucandeveloppost-traumaticstressdisorderwhenyougothrough,seeorlearnaboutaneventinvolvingactualorthreateneddeath,seriousinjuryorsexualviolation. Doctorsaren'tsurewhysomepeoplegetPTSD.Aswithmostmentalhealthproblems,PTSDisprobablycausedbyacomplexmixof: Stressfulexperiences,includingtheamountandseverityoftraumayou'vegonethroughinyourlife Inheritedmentalhealthrisks,suchasafamilyhistoryofanxietyanddepression Inheritedfeaturesofyourpersonality—oftencalledyourtemperament Thewayyourbrainregulatesthechemicalsandhormonesyourbodyreleasesinresponsetostress RiskfactorsPeopleofallagescanhavepost-traumaticstressdisorder.However,somefactorsmaymakeyoumorelikelytodevelopPTSDafteratraumaticevent,suchas: Experiencingintenseorlong-lastingtrauma Havingexperiencedothertraumaearlierinlife,suchaschildhoodabuse Havingajobthatincreasesyourriskofbeingexposedtotraumaticevents,suchasmilitarypersonnelandfirstresponders Havingothermentalhealthproblems,suchasanxietyordepression Havingproblemswithsubstancemisuse,suchasexcessdrinkingordruguse Lackingagoodsupportsystemoffamilyandfriends Havingbloodrelativeswithmentalhealthproblems,includinganxietyordepression Kindsoftraumaticevents ThemostcommoneventsleadingtothedevelopmentofPTSDinclude: Combatexposure Childhoodphysicalabuse Sexualviolence Physicalassault Beingthreatenedwithaweapon Anaccident ManyothertraumaticeventsalsocanleadtoPTSD,suchasfire,naturaldisaster,mugging,robbery,planecrash,torture,kidnapping,life-threateningmedicaldiagnosis,terroristattack,andotherextremeorlife-threateningevents. ComplicationsPost-traumaticstressdisordercandisruptyourwholelife―yourjob,yourrelationships,yourhealthandyourenjoymentofeverydayactivities. HavingPTSDmayalsoincreaseyourriskofothermentalhealthproblems,suchas: Depressionandanxiety Issueswithdrugsoralcoholuse Eatingdisorders Suicidalthoughtsandactions PreventionAftersurvivingatraumaticevent,manypeoplehavePTSD-likesymptomsatfirst,suchasbeingunabletostopthinkingaboutwhat'shappened.Fear,anxiety,anger,depression,guilt—allarecommonreactionstotrauma.However,themajorityofpeopleexposedtotraumadonotdeveloplong-termpost-traumaticstressdisorder. GettingtimelyhelpandsupportmaypreventnormalstressreactionsfromgettingworseanddevelopingintoPTSD.Thismaymeanturningtofamilyandfriendswhowilllistenandoffercomfort.Itmaymeanseekingoutamentalhealthprofessionalforabriefcourseoftherapy.Somepeoplemayalsofindithelpfultoturntotheirfaithcommunity. Supportfromothersalsomayhelppreventyoufromturningtounhealthycopingmethods,suchasmisuseofalcoholordrugs. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment July06,2018 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Posttraumaticstressdisorder.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.Arlington,Va.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.http://www.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedDec.13,2016. Clinician'sguidetomedicationsforPTSD.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/overview/clinicians-guide-to-medications-for-ptsd.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. UnderstandingPTSDandPTSDtreatment.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/index.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. TreatmentofPTSD.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/treatment-ptsd.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. Copingwithtraumaticstressreactions.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/coping-traumatic-stress.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. HelpingafamilymemberwhohasPTSD.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/helping-family-member.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. Post-traumaticstressdisorder.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml.AccessedDec.13,2016. Posttraumaticstressdisorder.NationalAllianceonMentalIllness.https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Posttraumatic-Stress-Disorder/Support.AccessedDec.13,2016. RothbaumBO.Psychotherapyforposttraumaticstressdisorderinadults.http//www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedDec.13,2016. Whatisposttraumaticstressdisorder?AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd.AccessedDec.13,2016. LifestylechangesrecommendedforPTSDpatients.NationalCenterforPTSD.http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/coping-ptsd-lifestyle-changes.asp.AccessedDec.13,2016. KriegerCA(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Jan.10,2017. SawchukCN(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Jan.13,2017. RaskindMA,etal.Trialofprazosinforpost-traumaticstressdisorderinmilitaryveterans.TheNewEnglandJournalofMedicine.2018;378:507. Hall-FlavinDK(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.June27,2018. Related Post-traumaticstress:Howcanyouhelpyourlovedone? AssociatedProcedures Acupuncture Cognitivebehavioraltherapy Psychotherapy NewsfromMayoClinic Acutestressdisorder:Howcanyouhelpalovedone? June02,2020,04:29p.m.CDT Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic Post-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–CookWell,EatLessFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbookLiveYoungerLongerBackandNeckHealth CON-20257458 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Post-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)