Understanding PTSD: A Closer Look at the 17 Symptoms

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing or witnessing it. Symptoms often include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), used by mental health professionals, classifies PTSD symptoms into four categories:

• intrusive thoughts
• avoidance behaviors
• negative alterations in mood and cognition
• alterations in arousal and reactivity

This article breaks down the 17 symptoms under these four categories, aiding in a deeper understanding of PTSD.

Intrusive Thoughts

1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s). People with PTSD often find themselves reliving the traumatic event in their minds, which can be distressing and cause significant anxiety.
2. Traumatic nightmares. Individuals may experience nightmares related to the traumatic event, leading to disrupted sleep and heightened fear or anxiety.
3. Flashbacks. Flashbacks are intense reactions where the person feels as though they are reliving the trauma. These can occur at any time and can be triggered by sights, sounds, or smells associated with the event.
4. Intense distress at exposure to cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s). Even minor reminders of the trauma may cause intense emotional and physical reactions.
5. Marked physiological reactions to reminders of the traumatic event(s). When reminded of the trauma, People may experience increased heart rate, sweating, or shaking.

Avoidance Behaviors

1. Avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s). Individuals may actively avoid thinking about the trauma to prevent emotional distress.
2. Avoidance of external reminders. This includes places, people, conversations, activities, objects, or situations that bring up trauma memories.

Negative Alterations in Mood and Cognition

1. Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event(s). Some people may not recall key parts of the trauma, a symptom often linked to dissociation during the event.
2. Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world. This may include thoughts such as, "I am bad," "No one can be trusted," or "The world is hazardous."
3. Persistent, distorted blame of self or others about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s). Individuals might blame themselves or others for what happened, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, or anger.
4. Persistent negative emotional state. Feelings of fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame may persist long after the trauma.
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities. Individuals might lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, contributing to feelings of isolation or sadness.
6. Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others. The trauma may cause a person to feel disconnected or distant from others, impacting relationships.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions. This symptom involves difficulty experiencing feelings of happiness, satisfaction, or love.

Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity

1. Irritable or aggressive behavior. People with PTSD may become irritable, leading to outbursts of anger or aggressive behavior.
2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior. This can include dangerous activities, self-harm, or substance abuse.
3. Hyper-vigilance. Individuals may be constantly on guard or excessively alert, even when no threat exists.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the 17 symptoms of PTSD allows for better recognition of the condition, potentially prompting early intervention and treatment. It's important to note that these symptoms can vary widely in intensity and duration. Furthermore, people experiencing these symptoms should seek professional help. There's no need to suffer alone; various treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and support groups, can aid in managing PTSD symptoms and fostering recovery.

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Grouport Offers PTSD Group Therapy and DBT Skills Group Online

Grouport Therapy provides online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups to assist individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma. Our online group therapy sessions teach members how to integrate CBT techniques into their daily lives. Incorporating these skill sets enables them to recognize triggers, counteract negative thought patterns, and adopt more positive behaviors to recover from and manage their symptoms. In addition to CBT, our PTSD treatment utilizes prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and stress inoculation training (SIT) in a group setting.

Our licensed Therapist leads weekly group sessions conducted remotely in the comfort of members' homes. According to participant feedback, 70% experienced significant improvements within 8 weeks.

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You don't have to face these challenges alone. Join our community and work together towards a brighter future. Sign up for one of our courses today and begin your journey towards meaningful, lasting change and renewed hope.

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Due to licensing restrictions, our online group therapy sessions are for Florida, New York, and New Jersey residents. If you are not a resident of either state, consider our dialectical behavior therapy skills group. It is a therapist-instructor-led online group that will teach you strategic new skills to replace behaviors and emotions causing friction in your daily life and relationships.

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