Key PTSD Symptoms And Triggers In Adults

Over 70% of adults living in the United States have experienced some type of traumatic event according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine. These can include traumatic situations like a car accident, an assault, a natural disaster, the sudden loss of a loved one, or another type of event dealing with extreme danger, harm, death, or shock. 

Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event has the potential to lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Ongoing trauma such as war or abuse has the potential to cause a related type called complex post-traumatic stress disorder, or c-PTSD. Both mental illnesses can manifest as a variety of symptoms related to cognition and mood that can cause distress and make day-to-day life very challenging. We’ll cover some of the most common here so you can understand when it may be time to seek professional support.

Acute stress disorder vs. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It’s important to note that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD, other mental disorders, or need treatment. Even two people who experience the same event may react to it differently, as the reason people develop an illness like PTSD can also depend on genetics, availability of professional or social support after the event, and other factors. 

In addition, it’s possible for a person to experience a different type of “trauma- and stressor-related disorder”—the category under which PTSD falls in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM—after a traumatic event besides PTSD or c-PTSD. One example is acute stress disorder. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, if symptoms of traumatic stress appear and last for less than a month, it could be acute stress disorder and not PTSD. If they persist beyond the one-month mark, a diagnosis of PTSD may be considered instead.

Key symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD in adults

There are more than a dozen potential, core PTSD symptoms in adults as outlined in the DSM-5. They may appear shortly after a traumatic event, months later, or even years later. These important aspects for the diagnosis of PTSD fall into three main categories:

1. Having flashbacks, nightmares, or another mental re-experiencing symptom related to the traumatic event that can trigger the fight-or-flight response
2. Feeling numb, experiencing avoidance symptoms related to things that remind you of the traumatic event, and feeling disassociated
3. Experiencing increased mental and emotional arousal that can manifest as things like trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and angry outbursts

To potentially be classified as PTSD, one or more of the following symptoms of traumatic stress from this first category (flashbacks and nightmares) must be present:

• Spontaneously having recurrent, involuntary, distressing memories of the event that cause extreme fear and trigger the fight-or-flight response
• Having dreams that cause traumatic stress and trigger emotions related to the event 
• Having flashbacks or other traumatic stress reactions where you feel like the traumatic event is recurring
• Feeling fear and experiencing intense distress for a prolonged period that affects your mental health
• Experiencing mental arousal and reactivity symptoms when something triggers a memory of the traumatic event

One or more PTSD signs from the second category (numbness and disassociation) must also be present:

• Not being able to remember significant details from the traumatic event
• Having persistent, negative, and exaggerated thoughts about yourself, others, or the world that prevent you from feeling happy or experiencing joy
• Continually fixating on blaming yourself or someone else for why the traumatic event occurred
• Having feelings of fear, horror, anger, shame, or guilt that persistently affect your mental health
• Not feeling up to participating in activities that you formerly enjoyed
• Feeling like you’re detached from others—even close friends and family members

Finally, your mental health must also be affected by at least two signs from the third category (arousal and reactivity symptoms):

• Regularly feeling irritable or showing aggressive behavior
• Acting out in a reckless or self-destructive manner
• Feeling hypervigilant and on edge
• Being easily startled
• Having problems concentrating
• Not being able to fall asleep or experiencing restlessness in sleep

Note that people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—particularly when it’s untreated—may also be at increased risk of substance misuse, substance use disorder (also sometimes called substance abuse), and mental health issues like anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These potentially life-threatening symptoms and risk factors are additional reasons why it’s generally important to seek treatment for PTSD symptoms right away.

Treatment for PTSD in adults per the Mental Health Services Administration

Effective Therapies

Therapy may help a person manage the results of a traumatic event (negative thoughts, avoidance symptoms, and other signs), develop a personalized coping strategy plan, and increase their emotional resilience factors. Examples of some forms of talk therapy health services that may be recommended for people with PTSD include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive processing therapy
• Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Prolonged exposure therapy
• Stress inoculation training
• Internal family systems therapy (IFS)
• Support groups
• Family therapy
• Sexual assault therapy
• Spiritual or faith-based therapy
• Attachment-based therapy

If you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, c-PTSD, acute stress disorder, or another mental health condition or are otherwise looking for support in processing a traumatic experience, help is available. Symptoms of PTSD and related illnesses typically don’t go away without treatment, and trauma of any kind can be difficult to manage on your own. In cases like these, meeting with a mental healthcare professional is recommended.

Support is available for those who have experienced a traumatic event

Locating a therapist to support you in addressing past trauma and/or symptoms of PTSD can be an arduous process. Dealing with insurance companies, calling therapy offices, spending time on a waitlist, and commuting to and from in-person appointments can seem daunting and make you feel stressed even more—especially to someone whose PTSD symptoms are interfering with their daily functioning. In cases like these, online therapy can represent a more convenient option.

Online therapy for effectively treating PTSD symptoms

With a platform like BetterHelp, you can fill out a brief questionnaire about your mental health information, needs, and preferences and get matched with a licensed therapist in a matter of days. You can then meet with them virtually from the comfort of home, and session costs are comparable to those of most insurance co-pays. Research suggests that online therapy can be an effective treatment for symptoms of PTSD, offering comparable outcomes to in-person therapy in many cases.