What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD?

National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD?

The only way to know for sure if you have PTSD is to talk to a mental health care provider.

The provider will ask you about your trauma, your symptoms and any other problems you have.

Talk to Someone You Trust

After a traumatic event, it's normal to think, act, and feel differently than usual. Most people will start to feel better after a few weeks. If your symptoms last longer than a few months, are very upsetting, and disrupt your daily life, you should get help. Whether or not you have PTSD, treatment can help if thoughts and feelings from the trauma are bothering you. Talk to:

  • Talk to your family doctor.
  • A mental health professional, such as a therapist.
  • Your local VA facility or Vet Center, if you are a Veteran
  • A close friend or family member who can support you while finding help
  • A clergy member
  • Fill out a PTSD questionnaire or screen (see below).

Take a Self-Screen for PTSD

A screen is a brief set of questions to tell you if it is likely you might have PTSD. Below is the Primary Care PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, or the PC-PTSD-5 screen.

PC-PTSD-5 screen for DSM-5

Sometimes things happen to people that are unusually or especially frightening, horrible, or traumatic. For example:

  • a serious accident or fire
  • a physical or sexual assault or abuse
  • an earthquake or flood
  • a war
  • seeing someone be killed or seriously injured
  • having a loved one die through homicide or suicide

Have you ever experienced this kind of event? YES / NO
If no, screen total = 0. Please stop here.

If yes, please answer the questions below:
In the past month, have you ...

  • had nightmares about the event(s) or thought about the event(s) when you did not want to? YES / NO
  • tried hard not to think about the event(s) or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of the event(s)? YES / NO
  • been constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled? YES / NO
  • felt numb or detached from people, activities, or your surroundings? YES / NO
  • felt guilty or unable to stop blaming yourself or others for the event(s) or any problems the event(s) may have caused? YES / NO

If you answer "yes" to any three items (items 1 to 5 above), you should talk to a mental health care provider to learn more about PTSD and PTSD treatment.

Answering "yes" to 3 or more questions on the PC-PTSD-5 does not mean you have PTSD. Only a mental health care provider can tell you for sure. And, if you do not answer "yes" to 3 or more questions, you may still want to talk to a mental health care provider. If you have symptoms that last following a trauma, treatment can help - whether or not you have PTSD.


Seek Help

It's common to think that your PTSD symptoms will just go away over time. But this is unlikely, especially if you've had symptoms for longer than a year. Here are some of the reasons why you should seek help.

Early Treatment Is Better

Symptoms of PTSD may get worse. Dealing with them now might help stop symptoms from getting worse in the future and lead to a better quality of life for you.

It's Never Too Late to Get PTSD Treatment

Treatment can help even if your trauma happened years ago. And treatment for PTSD has gotten much better over the years. If you tried treatment before and you're still having symptoms, it's a good idea to try again.

PTSD Symptoms Can Affect Those You Love

PTSD symptoms can get in the way of your family life. You may find that you pull away from loved ones, are not able to get along with people, or that you are angry or even violent. Getting help for your PTSD can help improve your relationships.

PTSD Can Be Related to Other Health Problems

PTSD symptoms can affect physical health problems. For example, a few studies have shown a relationship between PTSD and heart trouble. By getting help for your PTSD, you could also improve your physical health.

It May Not Be PTSD

Having some symptoms of PTSD does not always mean you have PTSD. Some of the symptoms of PTSD are also symptoms of other mental health problems. For example, trouble concentrating or feeling less interested in things you used to enjoy can be symptoms of both depression and PTSD. And, different problems have different treatments.

When you seek help, your mental health care provider can determine whether you need treatment for PTSD, or another type of treatment.

Find the Best Treatment for You

Today, there are several treatment options for PTSD. For some people, these treatments can get rid of symptoms altogether. Others find they have fewer symptoms or feel that their symptoms are less intense.

You can learn about effective PTSD treatment options using the National Center for PTSD's Treatment Decision Aid. It includes videos to explain how the treatments work.

You can also build a chart to compare the treatments you like most. Both psychotherapies (also called talk therapy or counseling) and medications are included in the decision aid.

Posted on BrainLine November 28, 2017. Reviewed November 2, 2022.

From the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, US Department of Veterans Affairs. www.ptsd.va.gov.

Comments (71)

Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

I never feel safe. I wish things would get better but I don’t how? I just graduated and even though I’m supposed to feel better, I don’t. I’ve always dealt with anxiety and troubles keeping any kind of relationships, romantic or friends. But it’s gotten so much worse.. I don’t have the energy to plan to do anything all I do is spend my days online and going to work. If this is how my life is going to be, I can’t do this.

I am so sorry you are going through that! I know it feels like things will never get better but try not to lose hope. Some things are really hard to get over and maybe they even get worse after the event. Jesus loves you so much, He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Please don't give up, you are worth so much more than you could ever know. <3

Hello, I am so sorry you are going through this. There are many programs for free or low cost therapy.. I can help you find the programs in your area. VA should be able to help if this came about in the Line O Duty (LOD).

You are not alone. Sorry to sound Cliche. It is 3:05 am and I am crying. Would it help if I said it will get better? I try to tell myself that, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Do you know what could be causing it? It could be something you didn't even realize that contributes to it. I feel alone. I isolate myself. I get angry at myself for feeling this way. Mine has gotten bad lately, really bad. I can think of many things that have contributed and I feel overwhelmed. It does seem to help when I use these comment boxes to journal. I have no one to talk to, no one that cares, except for everyone I push away. It sucks. Some days are alright, and some are not. I can think of a million positives but can't help to focus on negatives. I get irritated easily. I must look like a different person. My boyfriend does not care, and has let me cry for days without batting an eye. I get angry because I am with someone who puts more effort into hurting my feelings, than ever doing anything to help, like comfort me, or not talk about me to others. I get even madder at him for not realizing something could be wrong, because I never seriously made an issue of it. He just feels that I am a crazy b@#*$, who cries a lot. That part is not his fault, but to he let's me cry and has never enough to even try to comfort me. He is a contributor, and perhaps we would be good, but I doubt it. We have different morals and ethics. I hope you have found comfort in reading this, again I apologize for journaling my issues to you and thank you for the same. I feel it is better to show understanding when and relate with real life experience. Also, the guidelines and practices on here forbid any clinical advice. A holistic treatment would be to find laughter, lots of it. I promise it helps. Hang in there. You've got this! And all that other stuff. Life is hard, it doesn't come with a manual. Join a group or something. Have fun. We have amazing technology that allows you to be whoever's you want to be online. Have FUN. Good night.

Had Complex. Ptsd for 40yrs and have had no help.
Live in North Scotland
Like the middle ages.
I suffer greatly in all aspects off existence. Its not a life.
I don't know how I'm still alive.

Barry I just wanted to say that you obviously are a strong person & you seem to be very smart... you can get through this & above this PTSD. Keep your head up.

You're not alone. Never stop struggling. Love you.

I have thought about talking to a therapist to sort through the trauma that happened in my life. I was sexually abused very young by a neighbors son, pushed into a room by his siblings and they held the door closed. Another incident a family member tried to force me to have sex but i said i would scream if he didn't stop and I ran out and i traumatically lost a child to a miscarriage at home in my bathroom 16 years ago. I am 35 now and I was diagnosed with PTSD by a therapist_ I sometimes notice that i get more angry then i used to if i have to repeat myself more then once or if i feel like the person I'm talking to isn't listening. I have had more anxiety in the last year then I've ever had in my life, I get anxious riding on the expressway while others are driving and traffic makes me nervous. I used to love driving but now all i think about is the reckless drivers(i was in a small fender bender while driving). Recently my ex was hit by a car and i began to hyperventilate immediately, which has never happened before in my life. I do not know much about PTSD other than for someone who is a VET, but i am not. I don't want to be labeled but i want to know my triggers and the symptoms so i can understand the changes I see within myself. I was just really anxious reading comments about people being in a rage due to PTSD. Sometimes i feel like i wish i wasn't told this because now I keep trying to separate what is me before PTSD and what is me after.

[TW: sexual assault]

My family doctor believes I may have PTSD after a miscarriage. Since the miscarriage I've been very down about myself. If it's not my loss, it's my living conditions, it's my relationship and finally my anger about my epilepsy and how it could be connected to being sexually abused (licked to the point of orgasm) when I was in grade 1 by another girl my age. Kept that a secret for so so long. I'm tired. So much is wrong with this world, whether it's covid or saving for your first house. We are vultures.

I don't really want to talk about what happened to me but I keep on getting flashbacks and mini nightmares and they upset me a bit but not like today. I can barely breathe properly, my heart is beating out of my chest, I'm crying a lot and I'm having a really bad headache. the flashbacks wont stop and they're gonna drive me crazy if they don't. please tell me its something because if its not then I'm gonna feel even worse for "over reacting"

I think I have PTSD. I was sexually abused and assaulted when I was 7 years old; I'm now 13. I was in a class once, in the past 3 months and we were talking about slavery with black people. We were told that slavery is over; it's not. Hundreds of thousands of people are being human sex trafficked. I had a huge panic attack. I was sweating, trembling, shaking, and out of breath. Overall, I was also very angry. I get short of my breath quite often. I don't know if this is PTSD, or if it was a PTSD attack, but if someone could let me know that would be amazing. Thanks. -P.E.M.

That sounds like a panic attack, which could be connected to PTSD. If you have been evaluated for PTSD you might try PTSD-specific or trauma-informed therapy?

I'm not really sure if this counts as a valid trauma, but what if you had seriously strong urges to grab out a knife and run at somebody with it and anger beyond control, but it wasn't your fault that you were angry and the person threatened to fake call 911 to piss you off, and then get yelled at and hit, and threatened to be sent to military school without a choice, and you still think about it to this day even if it happened 3 years ago? Does this count? I'm just wondering. And yes, I have flashbacks and nightmares, I can't even look at, even use knives anymore, I use a butter knife for almost everything.

In January my mom died, and I was the one who found her body. I was then home alone until the cops and coroner got there. I had to relay what happened to the 911 operator, sherriff, and coroner all in the same day, all while my moms dead body was still in the hallway, in my sight. Ive had nightmares about it and im pretty sure I have symptoms of ptsd. I have therapy tomorrow and have no clue how to bring it up with my therapist to see about getting diagnosed. But at the same time I feel like if I bring it up it'll seem like I'm just trying to get more mental illness diagnoses to get attention. It also doesn't help that the 8 month anniversary of her death is gonna fall on my 16th birthday, where I'll be getting her car as a birthday gift.

Talk to your therapist about it or show them this post. You are already ahead of the curve by having a therapist. Just say, "I think I may have PTSD" and start to talk about your symptoms. If your therapist dismisses you or does not speak to you seriously about evaluation, then you may need to find another therapist.

I have nobody to talk to. I only have my brother but he cant face this kind of talk. No matter how hard ivtry to give people a hint... Im brushed off without ana simple recognition. Ive kinda learnt to stay in the background coz no one even notices my plea for help. If it weren't for my kids i wouldnt be here. I have to try and be strong for them, but all i want is to sleep

I really feel like i have ptsd but i don't want to self diagnose. i want to seek help from a professional but i'm only 17 years old. i was sexually harassed by my cousin. it happened for almost 3 years. he was really horrible. he stopped the harassment 2 years ago. i couldn't tell anyone because i'm really afraid. i still live with that person up until now since nobody knows about it. sometimes when i'm lying on my bed i feel like someone's touching me. it's like reliving the horrible experiences. my heart would pound like crazy. i live in this house where i experienced those sexual harassments. i can't use the bathroom unless i make sure that he wasn't here because i feel like he's watching me secretly just like before. when i think something similar was happening or something reminds of those moments or i feel like i'm in danger my heart would beat so fast like i'm having a heart attack. my whole body would shake and i found out that it's a panic attack. the last panic attack that i had was just last week. it's so frightening because i think i might die. sometimes when i feel that he was walking around the house, i would wake up and once i wake up i won't be able to go back to sleep anymore because that's how he was able to harass me for almost 3 years. there were times where i can't pee and go to the bathroom at night because he's still awake. i would endure it until morning so that there's lower possibility that he's watching me again while using the bathroom. maybe some people might think that it's also my fault for not leaving this house but i don't have a choice. for the first months that he was harassing me i told my parents that i don't want to sleep in this house anymore but they kept on asking me why and i don't want to tell them since i'm really scared that they might not believe me or it might cause trouble between our families. i don't want that to happen that's why i endured it for years. i want to get better and have a normal life. i really want to seek help but i still need parent's consent to go on therapy. maybe i will endure this until i'm on legal age.

Hey, I was sexually assaulted, too. I am 13 years old. It happened when I was 7. My great uncle did it to me. I had a similar panic attack 2 months ago; they really suck. And the worst part is that I was in school when I had the attack. I know what you're going through. I think I have PTSD, too. But, I went to therapy for 3 years and it did nothing. Maybe I went to the wrong therapist. Stay strong; you're gonna get through all this. Hope this helped. -P.E.M.

Hey, I can get a grasp of what you are going through. I just want to let you know that you have done nothing wrong and none of this is your fault. Yes, at some point you will have to tell your parents so you can get out of that house, but that is purely on when you feel comfortable to do so. You are not alone. There are people out here that will help you no matter what is going on, just remember that.

Hey, I’m not certified to give advice.. I’m currently in my last year of becoming a Social Service Worker & counsellors cannot give advice either. I really believe that having a full support system can help you. I cannot diagnose you either but I can absolutely see from what you described, you are experiencing PTSD symptoms. It must be hard to live in the same house as your cousin. I know how scared you must be every night. Please tell your parents or contact someone you trust. Coming out with the truth is scary but now its time to think about yourself. That is the only way to live a “normal” life. It does not mean that you should move on from this, it means you should stand up for yourself. I know you have the strength in yourself because you came onto this website seeking for something. It is never too late to come out with it. You are very caring to prioritize the relationship of your family. That characteristic should also go towards caring for your own safety. When you experience another panic attack, remember to take deep breaths and try to think about something that makes you happy. You can do this, and I believe in you.

Im scared to speak to a doctor about what I believe to be PTSD from sexual assault from high school. My mom still likes to go with me every time I go to the doctor and she still doesn’t know I was assaulted. I know that my mental health is declining daily, but confronting that trauma after not speaking about it in years and having to do it in front of a parent makes me feel so much panic and not even want to consider speaking with someone because I’d have no choice but to relive that time in front of someone I care about that I don’t want to know about it.

I feel like i either have ptsd or anxiety. In october of 2020, i got into a car accident. I was sitting in the passengers seat and the person who was driving (who i will not subject) was making a left turn and we got T-Boned, it was a tramatic experience because i was hit on my side, the passenger door. When it happened i immediately started crying, panicking, and worried for the other people. A little boy ended up getting hurt in the other car because he had a disability that caused him to have a seizure. I think what affected me from that accident was that 1. I was hit from my side at about 25 mph (it doesnt seem that fast but its definitely fast enough to make airbags deploy and make a lot of damage), 2. A little boy had to be taken into the hospital, and 3. Me and the driver were both underaged and i was mostly scared for what was going to happen with the police. The reason this accident happened, was because the driver (same one who made the left turn aka the car i was in) made an improper left turn because he did not check for the car that hit us, so there for, it was the drivers fault. About a little over a month later. I get into another accident with the same driver. We’re on the highway headed towards a mall. This time it was not the drivers fault. Okay in getting tired of saying driver so im just going to say zach whenever im talking about the driver. Zach, me, a cousin and my sister were all in the accident. This highway was a 5 lane highway. The car who caused it was in the middle of the highway (the middle lane) we were in the lane to the right of the middle and then there was another car in the lane next to us the right of us (farthest right lane). And im mentioning this car because it was a three car accident. What happened was we were directly next to the car in the middle lane (im going to call the driver Tim). Tim was getting too close to the car in front of him, and instead of braking, he decided to change lanes and when he did that, he hit us, and then we hit the car to our right, the car in the farthest right lane. The car was damaged all around. One thing i forgot to mention in the other accident, was that, thar car was not drivable, and now this car was not going to be drivable either. What made me start being scared of everything with being in a car, was that 1. I got into another accident and i didnt want to be in another one 2. Every time i have to leave the house and go onto the highway. Im constantly looking behind us to make sure that we wont get rear ended, wont get crashed into, looking forward at the car in front to see if they’re going too slow or braking quickly and could cause an accident. And constantly being alert of other cars. (I dont have my license if your wondering if i do this if i was driving, i do this if im in the passengers seat or i just dont trust the way the person drives). To me these accidents felt very different. The first one was more traumatic but less damage to the car. But the second one was more quick and just the feeling of being crushed but no one was hurt, and then the damage on our car was worse. I dont know how im supposed to express to my family that i want to get checked out because i dont want to seem like im exaggerating and they know im traumatized by this but its like they think i wouldnt be really traumatized to be diagnosed with a disorder like ptsd.

Hi,

You definitely sound like you should ask to see a doctor about the trauma of being in two auto accidents. I was afraid to tell my doctor what happened, largely because, like you , I thought it would not be worth asking. Medical professionals these days know all about PTSD. It is heavily studied, and very possible to feel better with help. I take medication when I am feeling particularly afraid and anxious, but a lot of the healing help comes from my medical team, and they are so great.. PTSD is actually a type of brain injury! Being afraid during accidents/assaults/battle/witnessing someone die or have a major medical incident, (the little boy having a seizure), and more are all incidents that can cause PTSD. Don't be ashamed, your trauma is NOT your fault, and you l will feel better when you work through it and talked it out with ppl I trust.

"Dad/mom, spose etc., do you remember the the car accidents that happened to me? I've been feeling traumatized about it. I am afraid to drive, and I think need help to make sure I can drive safely. Could I please just check with my doctor and explain my feelings to them to see if they can help me drive safely and calmly?"

You can also tell them this. October 2020 was 3 months ago. If you could "just get over it" (ugh I HATE when ppl say that...), then it wouldn't be affecting you months after. It's actually your brain's response to trauma/dangerous situations. Like when a caveman has to run from a saber-tooth tiger. but with bad traumas, our brains get stuck being scared because they witnessed or experienced something so awful that the brain has trouble resetting.

Here is a resource I found helpful: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Postt... this will maybe help you understand PTSD.
Here is one for family on how to help a loved one with PTSD: https://www.brainline.org/article/how-help-family-member-who-has-ptsd

Good luck. Remember, you are a warrior and a survivor. You are very brave, and I know you will feel batter once you talk about it (I know I did), and I think you will feel a lot better talking to your doctor about how they can help you. You are not responsible for any traumas that happen to you. There is absolutely zero shame in asking for help and having an injury. I's ok to ask for help. You will get through this and you will be a stronger person after (and maybe help others feel better, too :).

You matter, you are a warrior, you've got this!
xx,
~j

I feel like I have PTSD. I have tried to kill myself many times and started in childhood. In the 80's parents used to beat you and some did it every day. Then I started to stay away from people but tried still to fit in. I was beaten up at school and then at home!!!
When I got older I was beating up sometimes by other guys.
One day I became a murderer (he was a bad guy but didn't deserve it). And paid for it big time and I'm glad I did. But I don't know why I did it. I always avoided fights.
Now near 40 and have been out for 5 years. I have no friends because I can't stand people. I have depression heavily. I think of dying every day but I can't leave my animals alone. They need me.
I am stressed almost all the time and stay at home away from people. Can't trust anyone, can't talk to people without feeling awkward.
I study animal medicine but it is hard to be at the university. I can't have a relationship and hurt people that love me by being distant.
Every time I smile it feels awkward.
Can't talk to people or relate with them whoever it is.
I don't have nightmares. At least I can't remember them but many times I wake up angry and it's hard to find peace in my mind.
I try not to remember my past because I just can't find anything good, just bad memories and sadness. I want to die so bad, so bad but can't yet. I don't know what is going to happen to me but I have to pay some more. The world isn't finished with me! And I'm going to leave this world feeling like I was never supposed to live. That's what I feel.

You should try medicinal psylocibin

Hope you see this comment
I see that everyone is going through something and those who succeed are seen as successful people in life so hold on until you reach the end you never know what waits for you tomorrow

Hi, I came across this article because of something that happened to me through my childhood. Then I scrolled down and read your comment. I’d just like for you to know that even if you can’t find peace within yourself there are pieces around you that you need. Now, I feel I’m too young to say this too you but from what I’ve learned from others is that the hardest thing to do is often the right thing for you. Anyway, I hope you find peace in the chaos. That’s all I wanted to say.

My trauma started the day I was born. {early 60's} Born into this world alone .... unwed person gave her info about her life to people and left me there .... just walked out. The trauma that day of my adoption have screwed me up. I am having a problem just holding on. Going on 60 soon and All i am looking for is PEACE in my life. Everything in my life triggers me.

when i was 14, i got raped and the person who done it i didnt really know him and couple of months after that i got attacked who was friends with the rapeist and some of my family and friends didnt believe me, i was self-harming myself and i was hearing voices in my head it got worser i had to go couselling for 6 weeks and that really helped but now i live near where it happened and still giving my flashbacks and nighmares , i lost all my friends i was getting bullied everyday outside and inside of school social media and i couldnt bare going one foot outside the door to go but one day my mum forced me to go and i did and it was scary and frightening and there was these gang of boys and they were harressing me calls me names and that and i run away for acouple of hours t nearest one of my family members who did believe me and i was getting harressed on house-phones, getting intimadating and that and once on christmas it was snowing at both of those people i said in the first bit they were throwing snow-balls with stones in and cuttting telephone wires and everything so my life really havent much been the same but i have got my confidence bk and my life has been pretty much okay im happy with my daughter theres nothing more makes me happy then seeing my daughter smile everyday

My suggestion... take some Jujitsu classes and teach it to your daughter, or if she is old enough get her involved to take classes. Confidence is a powerful thing for a woman. Especially if you have technique.

Yes I think I got ptsd but I want to be very sure. I have experience not only is one life threatening situations where I fear for my life or the one I loved. After some time I got so easily startled that I pick on things so easily things that aren't there. I started hearing voices in my head, intrusive thoughts, started avioiding people and all. Felt shame and guilt at the same time I because cold I was then getting cold to everyone around me. Pls I need help I'm from Nigeria.

I am so very thankful for all the heroes in these posts. I'm truly saddened by all your traumatic events and looking over mine even the ones I had therapy in the past although growing up in the 70s mental health wasn't a big priority. And apparently bullying makes you tougher? That coupled with many many instances of traumatic events in various contexts beginning with separation anxiety I was adopted at a young age. I had a physical deformity that required surgery but was bullied all through school because of it. All the while, my pediatrician was molesting me (he later killed himself after other families accused. Add being raised by a narcissistic father who was very abusive and abused my mother in front of me. I was an endangered runaway for many years also because of it just trying to run away from the abuse and the no advocacy. Fast Forawrd a few years my fiance was murdered by a drunk cop only got five days off suspended pay . I feel like I'm just one walking PTSD on and off like it is never goes away even after I get counseling and therapy. I thought building walls was going to be the thing that would help me keep me insulated and really it just made me to distracted and I couldn't pick up on other things like terrible past relationships with men and the workplace bullying I've been undergoing for a while and I'm in an essential worker I can't afford to quit. So one of my narcissist at the school i work at is a screaming, cursing, misogynistic, very racist man that gets in my face and I went to HR I filed complaints, but not much was done and harm happened. The other 2 passive-aggressive narcissists I work with have undermined me, sabotage my work threatened my job, bullied, lied and started of rumors I was racist when I'm not, and gossip and drama. I'm kind of numb I'm really sick of it. And just when it can't get any worse, in February 2018 my daughter was molested by The Stepbrother at the dad's house it went on for nine months until she was able to tell me about it. Boy, talk about re-traumatizing. I went immediately to the authorities and followed up swiftly with counseling for my daughter but the CPS didn't do enough and the boy & mother weren't forced to take any classes or get any help and she is a terrible mother and refuses to get help, even victim-blaming my daughter. Just trying to stay strong sometimes as the daily sure but I got to do it as a single mom make it work never give up.

I have ptsd. It hasn't been diagnosed yet but I know from doing lots of research. I know I need to talk to someone now before my ptsd gets worse. But the hospital misdiagnosed me with bipolar. Another long story. Trying to get seen for ptsd being a non-veteran and dirt poor is next to impossible. Especially during this pandemic. Any advice? Also, have ptsd from police officers long story. But the protests keep triggering me. Full of rage and anger. What do i do? Is there a number I can call now after experiencing terrible nightmares? Like a hotline, if I'm not a veteran ?

I am so sorry to each and all of you. Yes there are lots of help lines. Just google them. There are people who will talk to you pray with you and lead you to services that may give you some support. If you go somewhere and do not get the help you need go to as many places as it takes until you do. I was sexually abused as a child. I was kidnapped and raped at 15 for 3 days. I spent two weeks in ICU. My brother committed suicide about 10 years ago. If a cricket crawls across my bed floor I wake up and know it’s there and yes I kill it. I even woke up while having my pacemaker/defibrillator put it of course they blamed me rather then understand it takes a lot to knock me out. The mind is very powerful and not even close to be fully understand. I to was mis-diagnosed with bi-polar and I am not at all. I know what is wrong with me and why. I’ve had malignant hypertension starting also at age 15 and that was due to the trauma I suffered and you are right if your poor and not a vet well good luck. So I married a doctor. I get better care now but still I have found not all doctors are equal. They do not all have the same level of intelligence nor more importantly Common Sense! Shop around never get one person opinion if it feels wrong to you then it probably is. If someone drops something and you jump or have what others would say is an exaggerated response to be startled then you are suffering more then likely from PTSD. There were many amazing drugs being put on the market to help people like us but the government in all its infinite wisdom decided they had no medicinal values because they actually gave people relief as the number one side effect. I have found that as long as a drug has horrible side effects and no one wants to take it then it is readily available and doctors are happy to give it to you. But if there’s a chance the drug may actually help you and God for bid you do like it then it will pulled off the market. mdma was one such drug. tHC and several more. But hey as long as the war on drugs is out there and we are clearly losing it who cares about the personal wars many of us suffer from everyday. God Bless you all and may you find the help you need.

My family physician retired, she use to give me 30 Ativan a year. I could take half of one if my anxiety got to bad. Well I have seen 3 other doctors in the practice, no one will even give me five. Recently when I'm having an episode my blood pressure skyrockets. It bothers me that there is something that will help me and no one will prescribe it.

I am sorry you are experiencing these issues. I think I am too. Mine are from having been the victim of long term (25+ yrs) stalking and harassment by multiple people. Aka gang stalking, which is a counterintelligence program designed to suppress the target, remove all means of social support, instill mental illness, cause paranoia, health issues and the ultimate, suicide. I am a law abiding citizen so I can only assume that I must have inadvertently stepped on someone's toes who has connections because there is police involvement and very little forensic evidence.

PS- I believe Aaron Alexis and others like him were also targets of gang stalking.

I was bullied a lot in G4 for having a phase of liking Justin Bieber (not anymore). I was called gay, a girl & some other things. it gave me suicidal thoughts and things just about came to an end, but i lived! and back in late September 2019 my uncle jumped in front of of a subway. also my friend who came out in 2017 was not supported by his christian parents and started having suicidal thoughts. his sister also did and unsuccessfully attempted by slashing her wrist. i wasn't there for the events but i keep seeing an image, especially my uncle who succeeded. and i keep having flashback to my depression and suicidal thoughts. not sure if this means anything.

I don’t remember a large chunk of my childhood. Still don’t. My dissociation was really bad when I was younger, it still is I suppose. Growing up I thought I was an evil person for the things I did till later I found out I did those things because they were done to me and that’s all I knew. I can’t sleep and when I do I have really bad dreams. I wake up constantly because of certain sounds. I have bad thoughts and flashbacks when I hear the sounds. I’m hyper vigilant all the time. Also, I have an extreme aversion to sex and all things related. When I read stories of abuse I for some reason find a sort of comfort in it. Perhaps it’s because I find it relatable? I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do. I want to get help but I don’t know how.

I really think I have PTSD but my trauma is not one single event. It's stretched out. Neglect, narcissistic parents, abuse at the hands of 'friends' for two years. I hardly even have any memories of my childhood or those two years. It's like I draw a blank when I try to recall specifics. Does this still count?

complex ptsd? i’m not very educated on CPTSD but i think it’s ptsd from a series of traumatic events

It sounds more like complex post traumatic stress google it it’s similar but different as it is usually based in young childhood and involves many incidents good luck with getting some help I hope you recover lots of love x

Yes of course sweetie! We are all suffering from similar in these last days. The Most High God bless you in Jesus's Almighty Name!!!

I don't want to self-diagnose but I strongly feel that I have PTSD. It's in my gut feeling. Just like how when I had a gut feeling that my diagnosis was OCD back in 2017.

During my childhood years, I was traumatized by some boy who made me watch all the graphic things he did (I'll save you from the details. It's pretty gross).

In the year 2013, I was sexually assaulted. It scarred me for life and it made it hard to trust men. I felt helpless I couldn't even scream. I was petrified.

Years have passed and I saw a murder happen right before my eyes. Gunshots. Blood. The dying person. That taumatized me even more. I used to enjoy fireworks... but now I'm scared of any gunshot-like sounds...

I steer away from all the places or things that remind me of these events.

Oh btw, I have a Psychiatrist. We'll start EMDR after the pandemic right now. But she hasn't told me if I have a new diagnosis.

I was diagnosed OCD(2017), Bipolar Disorder Type 2 (2018), and Borderline Personality Disorder (2019).

You really should add a few things to your list, you can get PTSD from anything perceived as life threatening. It’s under studied but women do get it from traumatic birth or pregnancy loss as well as other medical procedures. Post partum ptsd does exists but is confused with post partum depression. I developed signs of PTSD from having a baby surgically removed in order to prevent my death from internal bleeding (I almost didn’t make it), it was pregnancy loss as well. 5 years ago but still suffer daily

Thank you for posting this, sorry for your loss. I had a horrific birth experience with a bad epidural that left me angry and and blaming myself. It was considered PPD at the time. It got dramatically worse when I got pregnant again (daughter was born in Jan) and again was considered anxiety and PPD. However, when the masks started being forced on people I started freaking out and having flashbacks of that first birth. I have been bullied at work about it and they are now threatening to fire me for not wearing a mask (I sit alone in a closed office and distance). Hopefully seeing the doctor this week will allow me to work from home.

I don’t know whether I have PTSD or not, when I was for my 14 year old cousin forced me to make out with him I kind of never thought about what happened after the police were involved but didn’t do anything. When I was 8 tho I started getting flashbacks and nightmares, something’s they're worse than others. Now I’m older and having had a history of self harm I’ve started talking about it. I don’t want to seem stupid or pathetic because it’s not like he raped me, all we did was kiss, but he took advantage of how young I was. I constantly feel alone and confused but I also feel a burning rage towards him. My counsellor mentioned to my mum the possibility of me having PTSD and then I started researching about it and the more I read the more I feel like I relate. But I’m still scared

Hi, I don’t think your stupid nor pathetic but I see how you may feel that way, when I was 11 a guy a few year older than me put his hand inside my shirt and touched my breasts and told me he loved me, I didn’t even know the guy and i didn’t know what to do. I’m 13 know and last year I started to understand how horrible it was what he did. I started having a few symptoms of ptsd, I couldn’t stop looking over my shoulder, thoughts consumed me almost everyday about things I could have done to avoid what happened, I flinched when people touched me or hugged me, I was so angry at myself for not been able to hug my parents without feeling this fear but worse than anything was the feeling of stupidness and how pathetic I was being, he didn’t rape me or anything that traumatic. And as I was reading this article I got scared because it seems I may have ptsd. I don’t want to tell anyone I may have ptsd my family is going through a financial problem it’ll only make things worse. When it happened my mom said that at least now I know I’m beautiful i didn’t know whether to scream or cry or laugh, I know she was just trying to make me feel better but it didn’t and at this point my family has probably forgotten it except my sister I talk to her about it sometimes. Somedays I can’t shake the anger and hate and bitterness. And I hate myself for being this stupid coward.

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you. A stranger rape is awful but has clear lines. Incest has blurred lines. You were taken advantage of at a young age. The shame is on the abuser, not you. Then you had to face them at family functions & pretend all was good. Please know you didnt do anything wrong. Your abuser did. I've been through the same. But standing up for yourself gives you a personal power you never knew you had! Your 1st step in taking your power back, is this forum. Good for you! Find a support group - it can really help. I'll be praying for you!

I feel the same way right now, I was abused by someone with pats and now that I have it in worried I can't be taken the same way

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