How PTSD Can Impact Anyone

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. PTSD is triggered by exposure to the traumatic event that overwhelms your coping mechanisms. The event must be perceived as life-threatening, causing intense fear, helplessness or horror. However, interpretation of what “life-threatening” is to different individuals means that anyone can develop PTSD for any reason based on what is “too much” for each person to manage on their own.

And you’re not alone. We’re here to help break the stereotype that PTSD can only develop under certain circumstances and to certain people, while educating you on symptoms and offering the support and treatment options you deserve.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you’ve experienced trauma and are suffering from some or all of the following symptoms, broken into four main categories:

1. Intrusive Thoughts and Re-Experiencing:

• Distressing thoughts or images about the event
• Flashbacks (vivid, involuntary re-experiencing of the trauma)
• Nightmares
• Physiological reactions (e.g., heart palpitations, sweating) when exposed to trauma reminders

2. Avoidance:

• Avoiding people, places or activities that remind of the trauma
• Avoiding thoughts or conversations about the event
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering aspects of the event
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached

3. Negative Changes in Cognition and Mood:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Distorted perception of safety
• Feelings of guilt, shame, or fear
• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world

4. Arousal and Reactivity:

• Easily startled with exaggerated startle response
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Hypervigilance
• Reckless or impulsive behaviors

Causes of PTSD and Risk Factors

Since we’ve clarified that experiencing or witnessing trauma can cause PTSD to develop, now we’ll help answer questions you may have such as, “Why does it happen?” “Can you get PTSD from a car accident?” and “Can emotional abuse cause PTSD?”

PTSD happens when our brains, and therefore our bodies, are overwhelmed by trauma that we can’t process all at once. When we experience something terrible, our bodies and brains suspend “normal operation” in an effort to protect us.

Trauma, Brain Changes and Types of Traumatic Stress

Traumatic stress can change our brain structure and chemistry, and studies suggest that trauma is associated with changes in key areas of the brain, including the amygdala (processes fear and other emotions), hippocampus (responsible for learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for executive functions like planning, decision-making, personality expression and social behavior). And trauma doesn’t necessarily have to take the form of physical violence. Any form of traumatic stress, including ongoing emotional abuse, can lead to these physiological changes that influence your psychology. Know that it’s not your fault.

History of PTSD

Since car accidents, natural disasters and exposure to war and violence are all traumatic events, yes, they can all lead to a person developing PTSD. But that’s not the whole story. Historically, PTSD, coined “Shell Shock” originating in World War I, was thought to be a syndrome that soldiers developed, which is partly why a stereotype still exists that PTSD mostly affects men who serve(d) in the military.

While PTSD can and does impact men who experienced war, it affects all people of any age, including women and children, as long as they were exposed to a trauma.

Examples of Trauma

Because the experience of trauma is subjective, there is no limit on what deems something a traumatic event. Here are some of the most common examples of events that can lead to a PTSD diagnosis:

• Being diagnosed with a serious illness
• Domestic violence
• Emotional abuse
• Experiencing a life-threatening situation, such as a car accident, natural disaster or serious illness
• Experiencing or witnessing violence, such as domestic abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse or war
• Exposure to the details of a distressing event through media coverage
• Imprisonment, or even the feeling of imprisonment (a situation where one feels they are trapped and cannot leave)
• Learning of a traumatic event that impacted a family member or close friend
• Living with a serious illness
• Loss of a loved one
• Witnessing a crime
• Witnessing the aftermath of a traumatic event, such as seeing injured people or destruction

PTSD Risk Factors

Risk factors that can increase the likelihood developing PTSD include genetic predisposition, history of previous trauma, childhood adversity and lack of social support. It’s so important and encouraged to seek help so you can begin to heal as soon as possible after the traumatic event.

What Is C-PTSD?

C-PTSD is a more severe form of PTSD and stands for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. C-PTSD happens to people who have experienced long-term or chronic trauma, leading to the helpless feeling that they are trapped in their situation. Examples of chronic trauma can include prolonged child abuse or domestic violence, frequent community violence, human trafficking and war.

Along with experiencing the PTSD symptoms listed above, people suffering with C-PTSD may experience exacerbated versions of them, including the following additional challenges:

• Difficulty forming and maintaining meaningful relationships
• Emotional regulation
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Impulsive behavior
• Shame and guilt
• Struggles with identity and sense of self

If you’ve experienced prolonged trauma, you don’t have to suffer in silence. There is help and you are worthy.

PTSD Treatment Options

PTSD can be treated effectively through a combination of evidence-based therapies and medications, so you can get back to living a life full of meaning and hope. According to your unique circumstances and needs, one or a combination of the following treatments may be offered to support your healing from PTSD with the support of a psychologist and/or psychiatrist:

Psychotherapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on changing negative thoughts and behaviors associated with the trauma.
• Prolonged exposure (PE) involves gradually exposing the patient to trauma-related stimuli to help them process and cope.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while recalling and processing traumatic memories.
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT) examines how the trauma has affected the patient's relationships and helps them develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Medications

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Antidepressants such as sertraline and fluoxetine can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and nightmares.
• SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): Venlafaxine and duloxetine may also be effective for treating PTSD.
• Other Medications: In some cases, other medications such as prazosin or beta-blockers may be prescribed to manage specific symptoms like nightmares or flashbacks.

Additional Treatment Options

• Support Groups: Connecting with others who have experienced similar traumas can provide support and understanding.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Exercise, healthy eating and getting enough sleep can improve overall well-being and reduce stress.
• Brain Stimulation Therapies: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are experimental treatments that may show promise for some patients.

Caring for the Whole You

At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, we strive to care for the whole person, which means keeping you well physically, mentally and spiritually. If you’re struggling with PTSD symptoms or another mental health condition, reach out to our compassionate UChicago Medicine AdventHealth behavioral health specialists for a personalized treatment plan and expert care that sees and cares for the whole you. You deserve to feel whole — in body, mind and spirit.