How does PTSD affect you physically?

People with PTSD may also experience physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches, back pain or other types of pain. The person in pain may not realize the connection between their pain and a traumatic event.

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What are the mental and physical effects of PTSD?

Many people with PTSD also have a number of other problems, including: other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or phobias. self-harming or destructive behaviour, such as drug misuse or alcohol misuse. other physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains and stomach aches.

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What to do when PTSD is triggered?

Try grounding techniques.
  1. Get to know your triggers add. You might find that certain experiences, situations or people seem to trigger flashbacks or other symptoms. ...
  2. Confide in someone add. ...
  3. Give yourself time add. ...
  4. Try peer support add. ...
  5. Find specialist support add. ...
  6. Look after your physical health add.

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Can someone with PTSD live a normal life?

Yes, living a healthy life with PTSD is possible. A person struggling with PTSD should seek out a treatment plan that will work for them to get them on track to managing their PTSD.

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Why does PTSD cause physical symptoms?

The fight-or-flight response is your body's way of protecting itself. But being in fight-or-flight mode too often can actually be hard on your body systems, causing health problems. This may be the reason that PTSD is connected to other health conditions.

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Complex PTSD affects the brain long-term and can affect your closest relationships

18 related questions found

What are the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD?

Changes in physical and emotional reactions
  • Being easily startled or frightened.
  • Always being on guard for danger.
  • Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Trouble concentrating.
  • Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior.
  • Overwhelming guilt or shame.

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How does PTSD affect a person's daily life?

PTSD can affect a person's ability to work, perform day-to-day activities or relate to their family and friends. A person with PTSD can often seem uninterested or distant as they try not to think or feel in order to block out painful memories.

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What does a PTSD episode look like?

vivid flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening right now) intrusive thoughts or images. nightmares. intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma.

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What not to do with someone with PTSD?

Don't:
  • Give easy answers or blithely tell your loved one everything is going to be okay.
  • Stop your loved one from talking about their feelings or fears.
  • Offer unsolicited advice or tell your loved one what they “should” do.
  • Blame all of your relationship or family problems on your loved one's PTSD.

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Is PTSD a permanent mental illness?

PTSD is not necessarily permanent. If you have it, it can improve. Whether you seek professional help or not is up to you, but know that it can and often does get better. And importantly, you can help that process along.

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What does PTSD look like in a woman?

Women with PTSD may be more likely than men with PTSD to: Be easily startled. Have more trouble feeling emotions or feel numb. Avoid things that remind them of the trauma.

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Does PTSD ever go away?

PTSD symptoms usually appear soon after trauma. For most people, these symptoms go away on their own within the first few weeks and months after the trauma. For some, the symptoms can last for many years, especially if they go untreated. PTSD symptoms can stay at a fairly constant level of severity.

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What medication is best for PTSD?

There are 4 SSRIs/SNRIs that are recommended for PTSD:
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

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How does PTSD affect a person socially?

Trauma survivors with PTSD may have trouble with their close family relationships or friendships. The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness, communication, and problem solving which, in turn, may impact the way a loved one responds to the trauma survivor.

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Why do people with PTSD push you away?

If you find that your loved one is pushing you away when you try to communicate with them or show support, it may be because those experiencing PTSD often: Find it difficult to regulate emotions. Distance/isolate themselves from others. Experience intimacy challenges.

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Who does PTSD affect the most?

Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. Certain aspects of the traumatic event and some biological factors (such as genes) may make some people more likely to develop PTSD.

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What aggravates PTSD?

Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event in some way. Some PTSD triggers are obvious, such as seeing a news report of an assault. Others are less clear. For example, if you were attacked on a sunny day, seeing a bright blue sky might make you upset.

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What can make PTSD symptoms worse?

What Causes PTSD To Get Worse?
  • Long-lasting trauma.
  • Instances of trauma as a child.
  • An occupation that puts you in harm's way.
  • Other mental health issues.
  • No support system.
  • Substance abuse and many others.

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How do people with PTSD treat their partners?

Be sensitive and empathetic to their emotions. Offer comfort and warmth, especially during flashbacks or times of intense anxiety. Know that it is OK to walk away. Romantic partners and other loved ones are not trained therapists and are not equipped to deal with all of the issues that PTSD may bring.

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What does a PTSD trigger feel like?

A PTSD trigger is anything—a person, place, thing, or situation—that reminds you of your traumatic experience. PTSD triggers can be internal (flashbacks, visions, nightmares, intrusive thoughts) or external (sights, sounds, weather, smells, touch, or anything else in the environment).

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What are the top 3 PTSD symptoms?

Common symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD include:
  • avoiding situations that remind a person of the trauma.
  • dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma.
  • hyperarousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert.
  • the belief that the world is a dangerous place.
  • a loss of trust in the self or others.

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How can you tell if someone has PTSD?

How Can You Tell if Someone You Know May Have PTSD?
  • Intrusions – reliving the event with upsetting memories, nightmares, or flashbacks where it truly feels as if the event is happening all over again.
  • Avoidance – trying very hard to avoid any reminders of the trauma, including talking about what happened.

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How do you know if you are traumatized?

Emotional Trauma Symptoms

Psychological Concerns: Anxiety and panic attacks, fear, anger, irritability, obsessions and compulsions, shock and disbelief, emotional numbing and detachment, depression, shame and guilt (especially if the person dealing with the trauma survived while others didn't)

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Can someone with PTSD fall in love?

Yes, a man with PTSD can fall in love and be in a relationship. PTSD does present its own set of challenges, such as the man feeling like he is unlovable, but if two dedicated partners work hard enough, they can conquer those emotions.

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How does PTSD affect relationships?

Intimacy in relationships can be affected when you live with certain symptoms of PTSD, such as: lack of interest in enjoyable activities. negative self-image. feelings detached from others, or an inability to emotionally connect.

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