Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after you survive a trauma. PTSD can cause a variety of symptoms that lead you to relive the trauma and develop reactions or behaviors to avoid trauma reminders. About 3.5% of the U.S. population lives with PTSD in any given year.
Flashbacks cause you to relive traumatic memories as if they are happening in the present moment.
Intrusive PTSD memories and dreams bring up unwanted reminders of your trauma history.
PTSD can lead you to avoid memories, thoughts or feelings related to past trauma, as well as people, places and objects.
A persistent negative outlook leads you to have negative beliefs about yourself or the world, accompanied by feelings like fear, shame and anger.
Anhedonia is the term for a loss of pleasure or interest in things you normally love as well as a lack of interest in exploring potential new sources of joy.
Dissociation makes you feel disconnected, whether it's from your experience, the world around you, other people or past memories.
Impulsive and reactive behaviors occur as a present-day response to trauma reminders. This can include irritability, unexpected angry outbursts and self-destructive behaviors.
Hypervigilance is a heightened awareness of your surroundings, which can make you feel "keyed up," on high alert to sense danger.
Depersonalization makes you feel like you are detached from or an outside observer of your mind or body.
Derealization makes you feel disconnected or detached from other people or your surroundings.