Trauma — resulting from a car crash, assault, natural disaster, military combat, or other distressing experience — can have lasting effects on a person’s mental health. While many people experience short-term distress after a traumatic event, others develop longer-term symptoms that may lead to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as its acronym, PTSD.
PTSD is a mental illness that can affect anyone — regardless of age or background. It often co-occurs with other conditions like anxiety, depression or substance use. An accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan are key to recovery.
What is Trauma?
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It can result from abuse, violence, serious accidents or disasters, but also from systemic issues like racism, discrimination or poverty. Everyone processes trauma differently, and healing often requires time, support and the right interventions.
Facts About PTSD
Traumatic events, such as an accident, assault, military combat or natural disaster, can have lasting effects on a person’s mental health. While many people will have short-term responses to life-threatening events, some will develop longer-term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of PTSD. PTSD symptoms often co-exist with other conditions such as substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety. A comprehensive medical evaluation resulting in an individualized treatment plan is optimal.
Key Facts About PTSD
- About 4.1% of U.S. adults (over 8 million people) experience PTSD
- Both older and more recent research suggest that women are more likely to experience PTSD than men.
- PTSD symptoms often develop within three months of trauma but can appear later
- PTSD is now classified under “Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders,” reflecting the complexity of trauma responses
Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months after experiencing or being exposed to a traumatic event. Occasionally, symptoms may emerge years afterward. For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must last more than one month. Symptoms of depression, anxiety or substance abuse often accompany PTSD. Common symptoms:
- Re-experiencing type symptoms, such as recurring, involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, which can include flashbacks of trauma, bad dreams and intrusive thoughts.
- Avoidance, which can include staying away from certain places or objects that are reminders of a traumatic event. A person might actively avoid a place or person that might activate overwhelming symptoms.
- Cognitive and mood symptoms, which can include trouble recalling the event, negative thoughts about oneself. A person may also feel numb, guilty, worried or depressed and have difficulty remembering the traumatic event. Cognitive symptoms can in some instances extend to include out-of-body experiences or feeling that the world is “not real” (derealization). They can also lead to experiencing disassociation, a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity.
- Arousal symptoms, such as hypervigilance. Examples might include being intensely startled by stimuli that resemble trauma, trouble sleeping or outbursts of anger.
Treatment and Support for Those with PTSD and Their Families
PTSD is treatable, and recovery looks different for everyone. Support, connection, and the right treatment plan can make a meaningful difference.
Treatment options may include:
- Psychotherapy, including cognitive processing therapy and group therapy
- Medication, when appropriate
- Self-management techniques like mindfulness and grounding
- Support animals, especially trained service dogs
At NAMI California, we understand that trauma affects not just individuals, but their families and communities too. We offer resources for both those living with PTSD and their loved ones.
Related Conditions
Someone with PTSD may have additional mental health conditions, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Depression
- Substance use disorders
A person with PTSD may also experience thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.
The presence of a co-occurring condition can make it more challenging to treat PTSD. It’s important to know that successfully treating PTSD almost always also improves the symptoms of these related illnesses, and successful treatment of the related illnesses usually improves PTSD symptoms.
Support for Families and Veterans
- NAMI Family Support Group: Free, peer-led support for adults with a loved one experiencing a mental health condition
- NAMI Homefront: A program for families of military service members and veterans living with PTSD or other mental health challenges
- NAMI Connection: Peer-led support groups for adults living with mental health conditions
Programs are offered throughout California, many of which are also available in Spanish. Find your local affiliate at namica.org/find-your-local-nami/