PTSD

You may have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) if you were exposed to one or more event(s) that involved death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or threatened sexual violation.

The symptoms below have lasted for more than one month after the traumatic event. The symptoms bring about considerable distress and/or interfere greatly with a number of different areas of your life and it is not due to a medical condition or some form of substance use. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) has been shown to be the most effective treatment for trauma. 

1. You experienced the event
2. You witnessed the event as it occurred to someone else
3. You learned about an event where a close relative or friend experienced an actual or threatened violent or accidental death
4. You experienced repeated exposure to distressing details of an event, such as a police officer repeatedly hearing details about child sexual abuse

1. Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations that bring up memories of the traumatic event
2. Avoidance of people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations that bring up memories of the traumatic event

1. The inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event
2. Persistent and elevated negative evaluations about yourself, others, or the world (for example, "I am unlovable," or "The world is an evil place")
3. Elevated self-blame or blame of others about the cause or consequence of a traumatic event
4. A negative emotional state (for example, shame, anger, or fear) that is pervasive
5. Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
6. Feeling detached from others
7. The inability to experience positive emotions (for example, happiness, love, joy)

1. Irritability or aggressive behavior
2. Impulsive or self destructive behavior
3. Feeling constantly "on guard" or like danger is lurking around every corner (or hypervigilance)
4. Heightened startle response
5. Difficulty concentrating
6. Problems sleeping

1. Unexpected or expected reoccurring, involuntary, and intrusive upsetting memories of the traumatic event
2. Repeated upsetting dreams where the content of the dreams is related to the traumatic event
3. The experience of some type of dissociation (for example, flashbacks) where you feel as though the traumatic event is happening again
4. Strong and persistent distress upon exposure to cues that are either inside or outside of your body that are connected to your traumatic event
5. Strong bodily reactions (for example, increased heart rate) upon exposure to a reminder of the traumatic event