If you’ve lived through a traumatic event, it’s natural to think that as time passes, you’ll get over it and move on with your life. But that doesn’t always happen. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur right after a terrible event, or they can emerge weeks, months, or even years after a traumatic incident. PTSD can also be chronic after years of abuse or growing up in an unpredictable and stressful home, such as with an alcoholic or drug-abusing parent. Persistent early childhood trauma can set kids up for PTSD later in life.
Because PTSD symptoms may not emerge immediately, you may not connect your distressing symptoms with the trauma you experienced.
5 Types of Symptoms that May Indicate You’re Suffering from PTSD
1. Memory Issues
PTSD can impact your memories in a number of ways. You might experience recurrent upsetting thoughts or dreams of a past traumatic event. Flashbacks can pop up at any time—even when you’re in a familiar place—and make you feel like you’re experiencing the trauma all over again. You may find that you’re unable to stop thinking about the event, and distressing thoughts loop incessantly in your head. In other cases, you may have lapses in your memory regarding certain aspects of a traumatic event.
2. Increased Anxiety
It’s common for people with PTSD to feel constant anxiety or to experience panic attacks. You may be easily startled or feel like you’re always on guard, expecting something bad to happen at any moment. Some people with PTSD say they feel “jumpy” or “jittery.”
3. Avoidance
If you purposely steer clear of anything—people, places, or things—that reminds you of the traumatic event, it could be a sign of PTSD. You may avoid talking about the event and refuse to share your feelings about what happened.
4. Mood Changes
If you experience a persistent sense of hopelessness, feel emotionally numb, or lose interest in things you used to enjoy, it could be connected to the trauma. You may not make that connection though and might mistake these symptoms as depression rather than PTSD. You may also feel shrouded in a strong sense of guilt and shame.
5. Behavioral Issues
Having PTSD can change the way you behave. You may isolate yourself from your friends and family, which robs you of an important support network and compounds your other symptoms. Increased irritability can cause you to lash out at others in anger. Or you may engage in self-destructive behavior, such as abusing drugs or alcohol.
If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek help. However, because many of these symptoms are also associated with other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or even traumatic brain injury (TBI), it can make it more challenging to diagnose PTSD based on symptoms alone. If PTSD is misdiagnosed, you may be given medication or other treatments that not only don’t help, but that also make your symptoms worse.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is critical to healing from PTSD. Brain imaging can help. Brain SPECT studies can identify patterns associated with PTSD so you can get the right treatment plan to help you begin the healing process.
SPECT Imaging of PTSD Before & After Treatment
If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic event and is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to seek help. At Amen Clinics, we perform brain SPECT scans as part of a complete evaluation to diagnose and treat PTSD with the least toxic, most effective solutions.
Don’t let PTSD steal your life. Call one of our patient care specialists at 888-288-9834 to see how Amen Clinics can help or schedule a visit online.
Hi I live in ireland and im interested in getting the scan done .what is the cost of such a scan.
Thank you.
Comment by Derek — August 26, 2019 @ 4:05 AM
No one can escape from PTSD…everyone (if you live long enough) will experience some sort of trauma in their life…getting help for it is the key…..if you dont you will be sharing your bad energy with all your people you associate yourself with and everyone will suffer. Please see the signs and get help so everyone can heal…
Comment by Mariann — August 26, 2019 @ 7:14 AM
Too bad it’s not affordable! Should have died!, I did lose my life, this isn’t living, it’s torture! I’m sorry if your PTSD effected loved ones are interfering with your life. Give them what they truly need, not what you think they need!
Comment by Alexandra — August 26, 2019 @ 8:17 AM
You can add hypervigilant behavior to the list. When I was in my early 20’s, I was stalked and harassed by a sociopath and a group of his friends, who got into my house and turned the gas on to the stove and blew out the pilot lights, filling the house with propane. Twenty-one years later, a year and a half after having brain surgery and suffering serious brain damage as a result, and as I was getting my memory back (this was first long term one that I got back), I had flashbacks of this time and exhibited the same hypervigilant behaviors of setting noise-maker traps all over my house so that if he got in again, I would at least be able to hear him if he got trapped. Again, twenty-one years later, I went days without sleeping and was strung out on caffeine, yet managing an hour here or there when my body just shut down from complete exhaustion. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to hear or see anyone get into my house. I was still terrified by a threat that no longer existed! The police said that there was nothing they could do, when it first happened in the 80’s, unless he physically harmed me. I was defenseless!
Comment by Sandra Lawton — August 26, 2019 @ 12:49 PM
Alexandra I agree it’s very hard to live with PTSD. I too have lost everything and the worst part is my ptsd came to the surface because I was a 1st responder who worked a mass shooting scene here in the US. You would think that employers would be more supportive but you are tossed out like trash and viewed as broken. I’m currently in treatment but am losing hope. I think that Amen clinic will be my last attempt at getting better. Wish you the best and you are not alone!
Comment by Mary — August 27, 2019 @ 6:07 AM
I’m so very sorry! I wish I had the words or the ability to heal you. God bless you. Sending you my love. Thank goodness that we actually have some good options now in regard to mental health. First, being able to scan and properly be diagnosed. Second, we have options as emdr, tms, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, supplements, and even a few new controversial modes of therapy such as ketamine injection, taking Ayahuasca or mdma with a guide. Threes also a Dr in iowa that has a new injection for PTSD that is having amazing results. Google it. He’s the only Dr doing it. It is 2k but considering your situation…. The best advice I can give you is get in a Hbot!!! I have one at my house in Georgia. I wish you were close. You could use mine. Never stop trying!!!!! Loveu
Comment by Lisa Handley — August 27, 2019 @ 6:47 AM
Hi, I am 28 and I live in Israel. I am diagnosed with post-trauma but wanted to know if I can get your opinion or even treatment
Comment by Sapir — August 27, 2019 @ 8:03 AM
I too have suffered from PTSD. I have lost almost everything in my life. I have had it for some time, but did not face it until the last few months. The initial trauma was devastating and I saw no way out. My help has been found in hanging onto my Lord and Savior no matter what, literally choosing daily to live and understanding I had to never give up, realizing this a biological brain problem that needs help and resting my brain is the way out, continuing in mental health therapy, and key to it all is using brain wave optimization treatments or HIRREM.
The book PTSD Self Help by Huppert has helped once I was beyond the initial trauma, which HIRREM got me out of. I want to go to Amen Clinic as well.
Never give up and hang on to God and cry out to Him. He will lead you and walk with you through this hell and out the other side.
Comment by Sonya — September 6, 2019 @ 3:54 AM
Do you have any experience with methadone withdrawal symptoms? I have been suffering with them for 4 years. I took Methadone for 21 years for chronic pain from an work injury when I was 20. I am 71 now.
I know from your book Magnificent mind at any age that every lobe of my brain has 2 problems, my ganglia has one and my prefontal cortex has 5 problems. There is so much of me that is missing. It has changed my personality.
Is there any hope of getting ME back like I was before?
Comment by Cher Bourque — October 21, 2019 @ 2:22 AM
Three things helped me to transform my life:
1) Neurofeedback training through New Mind Center (literally brought my brain back from the brink and calmed me down considerably)
2) Amen center SPECT scan (validated severe PTSD and provided treatment and supplement recommendations and coaching support)
3) HBOT as recommended by Amen center (I rented a chamber with a friend and did it 4x weekly for 8 weeks)
My life is sooo much better, my relationships have improved, I’m able to work again and I’m profoundly and eternally thankful to the entire staff at the New Mind Center and the Amen Center.
Comment by Jess — October 21, 2019 @ 5:22 AM
Hello Cher, thank you for reaching out. We’d be happy to contact you directly to discuss further. We look forward to speaking with you!
Comment by Amen Clinics — October 22, 2019 @ 7:02 AM
Mary, if you are in the US there are organizations that focus on treating PTSD in First Responders. And yes, it is all too common for the employer to not treat their injured employees with the respect they deserve.
It’s been two years since my scan. The focused supplement routine helped me regain some elements of brain health that were sorely missing.
Regardless of what path you’re following, you need to stay the course. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when sometimes you can’t even see the tunnel up ahead.
But it does get better.
Linda
Comment by Linda Green — October 22, 2019 @ 10:13 AM
Have tried neurofeedback? It is noninvasive and an awesome brain training program to help move you out of your fight or flight mode, calming the subconscious brain like very little can. There are affordable options1
Comment by has anyone tried neurofeedback? It is noninvasive and an awesome program to help move your brain out of its fight or flight mode. — October 22, 2019 @ 12:28 PM
I am 59 yrs old and was diagnosed with Complex PTSD 1 year ago. Before that I was never truly diagnosed with anything more than anxiety and depression. I was sexually abused as a child by 2 family members, been in car 2 accidents with head injuries, have been held at gun point, recently shot at, and my daughter threated my life twice once with a butcher knife, and then with an huge icicle.
My son (whose 30 yrs old now) was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and my daughter (whose 39 yrs old now) with Bipolar ll 5 yrs ago. She blames me for everything in her life, and refuses to except anything that she’s done wrong. She’s currently cut me out of her life again. I am fine with that actually, because she triggers my PTSD and figure its best until we can come together again. My husband was also diagnosed with ADHD yrs ago when they diagnosed our son with it. It seems no matter where I turn I can’t find relief from the chaos and drama that amps my PTSD. There’s a place close to me that does the SPECT imaging, but it’s expensive and I can’t afford it. But if I could win the lottery I would pay for my husband, children, and myself to have it done. I believe that doctors , and clinicians are diagnosing and prescribing meds for things that they truly don’t know what they are treating. Which is not helping in most cases.
Comment by Deborah A Webb — October 30, 2019 @ 7:17 AM
I suffer from three different your neighbors are out and there’s problems at a young age was diagnosed with an extreme case of depression in an extreme case of PTSD on both caused by me being abused as a child. Also which was never looked into by my family nor a psychiatrist or a counselor I also suffer from gender dysphoria having to hide myself has also caused me to have my depression at a heightend level. I I have learned to cope with my depression but the PTSD is still a big issue that I struggle with on a day-to-day basis. Since I have admitted that I I’m transgender I have noticed that I also have a heightened level of anxiety that also causes me to get depressed when I am Miss gendered. But I also try to remember that I am happier now that I am the woman that I’ve always known I should have been and I try to find joy in everyday but due to be PTSD it is very hard 2 maintain all the time
Comment by Madylin Long — May 4, 2020 @ 3:10 AM