When do you get ptsd

This is called acute stress disorder, or ASD. When the symptoms last more than a few weeks and become an ongoing problem, it might be PTSD. Most people with longstanding PTSD find that the symptoms are not steady in their severity. For some people, PTSD symptoms gradually fade over time. Other people find that symptoms may increase when they encounter reminders of their traumatic events. Read the rest of Dr. Krystal's answer on our Ask an Expert page.

A doctor who has experience helping people with mental illnesses, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose PTSD. The diagnosis is made after the doctor talks with the person who has symptoms of PTSD. A number of treatment techniques, sometimes combined with one another, are being used with varying degrees of success:. Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but their symptoms may not be the same as adults. In very young children, these symptoms can include:.

Older children and teens usually show symptoms more like those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge. It is important to remember that not everyone who lives through a dangerous event experiences post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. In fact, most will not get the disorder. Many factors play a part in whether a person will get PTSD.

Some of these are risk factors that make a person more likely to get PTSD. Other factors, called resilience factors, can help reduce the risk of the disorder. Some of these risk and resilience factors are present before the trauma and others become important during and after a traumatic event.

Researchers are studying the importance of various risk and resilience factors. With further researcher, it should become possible to predict who is likely to get PTSD, how resilience can be learned and prevent it. A significant number of veterans suffer from PTSD: up to 20 percent of those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and up to 30 percent of those who served in Vietnam.

But PTSD can result from a variety of traumatic or life-threatening incidents such as sexual assault, child abuse, accidents, bombings, or natural disasters such as tornadoes, for example. The trauma will be very threatening or frightening. Most commonly from a trauma which you were not able to escape from such as:. You may respond to trauma focussed therapies if you have complex PTSD. Please see the section below on therapies and additional needs for PTSD.

You can find more information about 'Borderline Personality Disorder' by clicking here. The risk of getting PTSD depends on how the experience affects you. PTSD is more likely to develop if the traumatic event:. If you already have depression when the trauma happens you are at a higher risk of developing PTSD. You can speak to your GP about your concerns. They will be able to talk to you about treatment options and coping strategies. But you should listen to them. Make sure that you understand the pros and cons of your treatment options before you make a decision.

In some cases, your treatment maybe shared between both primary and secondary care. Healthcare professionals will agree who will monitor you. This means that you will have a care plan and care coordinator to make sure that you get the support that you need. If you need help and support to look after yourself then you can have an assessment by social services. For example, you may need support so that you can:. This may be through support groups where you can talk to other people who have PTSD and other mental health conditions.

Group support can help you find ways to manage your symptoms and understand your condition. If you would like us to look for you please contact our advice line on and let us know what sort of support you are looking for. Self-help There are things that you can do to help manage your mental health.

Drugs or alcohol can make you more unwell and more likely to try and harm yourself or take your own life. Most people with PTSD will have at least 1 other mental health condition. The most common disorders are:. Other mental health conditions have the some of the same symptoms as PTSD. This may be why PTSD is hard to diagnose. In severe cases PTSD can last long enough and have a large impact on day to day life. This can cause suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

It has also been linked to physical illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity. Drugs, alcohol and mental health by clicking here.

Depression by clicking here. Anxiety by clicking here. Suicidal feelings — How to cope by clicking here. Or you have important symptoms of PTSD. The treatment that you are offered should be the following:. You can refer yourself for trauma therapies in most areas. Click the below link to search for psychological therapy services in your area:. Watchful waiting may be suggested if you have mild symptoms of PTSD. Or the trauma has happened within the last 4 weeks. This means that your symptoms should be monitored, and you should have a follow up appointment in 1 month.

Watchful waiting is sometimes recommended because 2 in every 3 people who experience a trauma will recover without treatment. Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT helps you deal with your symptoms by making changes to how you think and act. You will make eye movements while thinking about the traumatic event. Therapists think that this works by making your brain deal with painful memories in a different way.

And if it is more than 3 months since the trauma. You should only be offered this therapy if:. You may be offered this type of CBT if you:. Your doctor might offer you venlafaxine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI if you would prefer drug treatment. The treatment will need to be reviewed regularly. You may be offered antipsychotic medication, such as risperidone at the same time as talking treatments. This may be offered if you have severe symptoms such as psychosis.

The treatment will need to be reviewed regularly by a specialist. Your depression may improve after you get treatment for PTSD. Your doctor should treat your depression first if:. Additional needs and complex PTSD.

You should not be excluded from treatment because you have a drug or alcohol issue. You should first speak to your doctor about your treatment. Explain why you are not happy with it. You could ask what other treatments you could try.

Tell your doctor if there is a type of treatment that you would like to try. Doctors should listen to your preference.

If you are not given this treatment, ask your doctor to explain why it is not suitable for you. A second opinion means that you would like a different doctor to give their opinion about what treatment you should have. You can also ask for a second opinion if you disagree with your diagnosis.

But your doctor should listen to your reason for wanting a second opinion. An advocate is independent from the mental health service. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard. There are different types of advocates available. Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns.

And help you to get the treatment that you would like. They give information and support to patients. You can find your local PALS through this website link:. There are things that you can do to help yourself.

This is also known as self-care. When it comes to what helps people, everyone is different. An experienced mental health professional can help people find the treatment plan that meets their symptoms and needs. Some people with PTSD may be living through an ongoing trauma, such as being in an abusive relationship. In these cases, treatment is usually most effective when it addresses both the traumatic situation and the symptoms. People who have PTSD or who are exposed to trauma also may experience panic disorder, depression, substance use, or suicidal thoughts.

Treatment for these conditions can help with recovery after trauma. Research shows that support from family and friends also can be an important part of recovery. Psychotherapy can provide support, education, and guidance to people with PTSD and their families. This type of treatment can occur one on one or in a group and usually lasts 6 to 12 weeks but can last longer. Some types of psychotherapy target PTSD symptoms, and others focus on social, family, or job-related problems. Effective psychotherapies tend to emphasize a few key components, including learning skills to help identify triggers and manage symptoms.

One common type of psychotherapy, called cognitive behavioral therapy, can include exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring. You can learn more about different types of psychotherapy on the NIMH website. SSRIs and other medications may be prescribed along with psychotherapy.

Other medications may help address specific PTSD symptoms, such as sleep problems and nightmares. Health care providers and patients can work together to find the best medication or combination of medications, as well as the right dose.

Check the U. Food and Drug Administration website for the latest information on patient medication guides, warnings, or newly approved medications. If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at TALK It is important to know that, although it may take some time, you can get better with treatment. Here are some things you can do to help yourself:.

If you know someone who may be experiencing PTSD, the most important thing you can do is to help that person get the right diagnosis and treatment. Some people may need help making an appointment with their health care provider; others may benefit from having someone accompany them to their health care visits.

If a close friend or relative is diagnosed with PTSD, you can encourage them to follow their treatment plan. If their symptoms do not get better after 6 to 8 weeks, you can encourage them to talk to their health care provider. You also can:. PTSD occurs following a disturbing or traumatic event. Symptoms often show in the first few months, but for some, the signs are not experienced for several months or even years following the event.

Adapted from: Weiss,D. The impact of event scale-revised. Y: Guildford, Speak with a member of our friendly staff in complete confidence and arrange a consultation, either face-to-face or online, at your earliest convenience. Take another of our online tests.