PTSD is very simple and yet very complex. It is both a mental condition and a physical condition. Physically is the body continuing to activate the fight or flight reflex over and over. Mentally however you are reliving the trauma over and over. As you can imagine this leads to a host of other issues. Most people with PTSD have reliving episodes, this is a very vivid flashback. Most will also have nightmares, nightmare is a bit of a misnomer, as memory processing from short term to long term is involved in any type of dream. In this case the memory is being relived. Then we have Night Terrors, night terrors are the same as a nightmare except in a different stage of sleep. Many people have night terrors and are unaware as people don't remember them unless awakened during an episode.
So now that you understand the mechanisms in play you can began to understand why the symptoms are what they are. In terms of the symptoms we have a host of them, GAD(General Anxiety Disorder), SAD(Social Anxiety Disorder), OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Depression, and so on.
Then when you look at the physical side, high heart rates and high blood pressure. When your body is always on high alert you have issues with adrenaline dumping, a small trigger can cause your body to just dump adrenaline. So you have a mental issue at the same time as a physical rush.
It becomes very clear that PTSD is not a nice thing, it is stressful, robs you of so much.
The real kicker is that there is no cure.
This is how the Mayo Clinic describes PTSD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks.
PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.
Intrusive memories
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
- Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
- Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event
Avoidance
Symptoms of avoidance may include:
- Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
- Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
- Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
- Hopelessness about the future
- Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Feeling detached from family and friends
- Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Feeling emotionally numb
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:
- 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
For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include:
- Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play
- Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event