Do I Have PTSD? Signs, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
Do I Have PTSD? Understanding the Signs and When to Seek Help
If you've experienced something traumatic and find yourself having disturbing thoughts, trouble sleeping, or feeling constantly on edge—even weeks or months after the event—you might be wondering: do I have PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual assault. This includes experiences like car accidents, physical or sexual assault, combat, natural disasters, or witnessing violence.
Here's what's important to understand: having some distressing reactions after trauma is completely normal. Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops when these reactions persist, intensify, or significantly interfere with your daily life for more than a month. Approximately 6% of adults develop PTSD at some point in their lives, even though far more people—about 61% to 80%—experience traumatic events.
This guide will help you understand PTSD symptoms and recognize when it's time to seek professional evaluation. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose PTSD, but knowing what to look for can help you make informed decisions about getting help.
What Are the Main Symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms typically begin within one month after a traumatic event, though sometimes they appear months or even years later. PTSD symptoms may start within the first three months after a traumatic event happened, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years later. The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:
Re-experiencing Symptoms
Re-experiencing symptoms are a key symptom of post traumatic stress disorder and include:
Unwanted, distressing memories that intrude into your thoughts
Nightmares about the trauma
Flashbacks—feeling like the traumatic event is happening again right now
Strong emotional or physical reactions when reminded of the trauma (racing heart, panic, sweating)
These aren't just occasional memories. They're intrusive, distressing, and feel like they hijack your present moment. A typical symptom involves feeling like you're reliving the dangerous event even when you're safe.
Avoidance Symptoms
People with PTSD often go to great lengths to avoid anything connected to the trauma:
Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations about what happened
Avoiding people, places, activities, or situations that remind you of the event
Avoiding as much detail as possible when you must discuss it
This avoidance might seem helpful at first, but it actually maintains PTSD symptoms by preventing your brain from processing the traumatic experience or traumatic situation.
Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood
PTSD often involves negative mood symptoms and changes, which might include:
Difficulty remembering important parts of the traumatic event
Persistent negative thoughts and beliefs ("I can't trust anyone," "The world is completely dangerous," "I'm damaged")
Ongoing negative emotions like extreme fear, anger, guilt, or shame
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Feeling detached from friends and family members
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions—feeling emotionally numb
These mood symptoms can be confusing because they don't seem directly related to the trauma, but they're a core part of how PTSD affects day-to-day life and how people experience PTSD on a daily basis.
Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions
Reactivity symptoms reflect your nervous system stuck on high alert. These arousal symptoms include:
Being easily startled or feeling extreme alertness to danger
Difficulty falling asleep or trouble sleeping through the night
Irritability or angry outbursts
Difficulty concentrating on everyday tasks or work
Self-destructive behavior
Feeling constantly on edge or unable to relax
To be diagnosed with PTSD, you need to experience at least two arousal symptoms along with symptoms from the other categories.
You might also experience physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, chest pains, dizziness, or other physical symptoms. Your body is reacting to traumatic stress even when you're not in danger, and you may feel stressed emotionally along with these physical sensations.
In our work with Providence-area clients, we've noticed that people often feel confused about whether their reactions are "normal" after trauma or indicate something more serious. What we tell clients is this: if your symptoms last longer than four weeks, interfere with your relationships or work, or make you feel like you can't move forward with your life, that's when professional evaluation becomes important. PTSD is highly treatable, and earlier intervention typically leads to better outcomes.
How Is PTSD Different from Normal Stress Reactions?
After any traumatic situation, it's completely normal to feel stressed, scared, or have trouble sleeping for days or even weeks. This is your body's natural response to danger—not PTSD.
Post traumatic stress disorder develops when these reactions don't ease up or when they get worse instead of better. To diagnose PTSD, symptoms must:
Last for more than a month
Cause significant distress or problems in your daily functioning
Not be better explained by substance abuse, medication, or another mental health condition
If you've been struggling with disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, that's a clear sign to seek professional evaluation from a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.
Who Is More Likely to Develop PTSD?
Research shows that while many people experience traumatic events, only about 5% to 10% develop PTSD. Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood:
Factors related to the trauma:
The event was particularly severe or life-threatening
The traumatic event involved interpersonal violence (physical abuse, sexual assault)
The trauma was intense, whether in the recent or distant past
Personal factors:
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event
History of other mental health problems or previous trauma
Lack of support from family and friends after the trauma
Additional life stress when the event occurred
Biological factors:
Genetics and brain chemistry may influence stress response
Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters and hormones
Resilience factors that may help prevent PTSD include strong support from family and friends, effective coping strategies, and seeking help early. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an essential part of recovery and may help prevent the development of post traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic event.
From a trauma-informed perspective, we approach PTSD with the understanding that developing this condition isn't about weakness or failure to cope. Your brain and nervous system are responding to an overwhelming event in ways that made sense for survival at the time. The intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and emotional changes are your system's attempt to protect you from future danger. Treatment helps your brain learn that it's safe to move forward.
What Does PTSD Feel Like on a Day-to-Day Basis?
People with PTSD often describe feeling like they're living in two worlds: the present moment and the traumatic past. You might:
Feel stressed or frightened even when you're no longer in danger
Experience physical sensations similar to what you felt during the dangerous event
Have upsetting and confusing thoughts that won't leave you alone
Feel emotionally numb or disconnected from people you care about
Struggle with day-to-day life, finding it hard to concentrate at work or maintain relationships
Feel like you're constantly waiting for something bad to happen
PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You might have periods where symptoms are less noticeable, followed by times when they worsen—especially during stressful periods or when you encounter reminders of the traumatic event.
PTSD can be diagnosed at any age, from children to older adults. Children with PTSD may have difficulty expressing how they're feeling or may seem restless and fidgety. Older children and teens usually experience symptoms more like those seen in adults, including feelings of guilt or thoughts of revenge.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
You should seek help if:
You have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month
Your symptoms interfere with work, relationships, or daily activities
You're experiencing constant severe symptoms that aren't improving
You have thoughts of self-harm or suicide (people with PTSD have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts—call 988 immediately)
You're using alcohol or substance abuse to cope with symptoms
You're noticing other mental health problems developing, like depression or anxiety disorders
Don't wait for symptoms to become unbearable. If you're asking yourself "do I have PTSD?"—that question itself is a valid reason to seek evaluation from a mental health professional or mental health specialist.
How Is PTSD Diagnosed?
A healthcare provider or mental health specialist can diagnose PTSD through a clinical interview and assessment. The process typically involves:
Discussing the traumatic experience or events you went through
Reviewing your symptoms in detail, including when they started and how they affect your life
Using validated screening tools like the Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD-5), a validated screening questionnaire for assessing PTSD symptoms
Ruling out other conditions that might explain your symptoms
Sometimes conducting a physical exam to check for other health issues
Being honest with your provider is crucial. You don't need to provide as much detail about the traumatic event as you might fear—the focus is on understanding your current symptoms and how they're affecting you.
In Providence, evaluation for PTSD typically starts with a mental health referral to a qualified professional.
Can PTSD Be Treated?
Yes. PTSD is highly treatable, and most people can recover with appropriate care. Evidence-based treatments exist that effectively reduce symptoms and help many people achieve remission. Clinical trials have validated these treatment approaches, showing they can effectively treat PTSD.
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
Psychotherapy is the preferred treatment for PTSD and should be offered to all patients. Specialized trauma-focused psychotherapies have the strongest evidence for reducing symptoms of PTSD.
The most effective approaches include:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Helps you identify and change unhelpful beliefs about the trauma, such as guilt, self-blame, or viewing the world as completely dangerous.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): Involves gradually and safely confronting trauma-related memories and situations you've been avoiding, which helps reduce fear and distress.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Helps you process traumatic memories while focusing on external stimuli, combining elements of exposure therapy and cognitive work.
These therapies typically involve weekly sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes over 8 to 12 weeks. Research shows they produce significant improvements in symptoms.
Medications
Medications can be helpful, especially if trauma-focused therapy isn't available, you also have depression, or symptoms remain after psychotherapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two SSRIs (paroxetine and sertraline) specifically to treat PTSD. Health care providers may prescribe SSRIs and other medications along with psychotherapy for PTSD. Other effective medications include fluoxetine and venlafaxine.
While medications can reduce symptoms, research shows trauma-focused psychotherapy generally produces larger improvements than medication alone.
What About Co-occurring Conditions?
People with PTSD often experience other mental health problems such as depression, substance abuse, or one or more anxiety disorders. Having other conditions doesn't mean PTSD can't be treated. In fact, treating PTSD often helps improve these other conditions too. An experienced mental health professional can help people find the best treatment plan for their PTSD symptoms and needs.
We've worked with many clients in Providence and throughout Rhode Island who initially hesitated to seek PTSD treatment because they thought their situation wasn't "bad enough" or that they should be able to handle it on their own. What we consistently observe is that people who get help earlier—when they first recognize persistent symptoms—tend to recover more quickly than those who wait until PTSD has disrupted major areas of their lives. There's no prize for suffering longer before getting help.
What Can You Expect from Treatment?
With appropriate treatment, most people experience significant improvement:
Reduction in intrusive memories, nightmares, and flashbacks
Decreased avoidance and ability to participate in life again
Improved ability to manage distressing emotions
Better sleep and concentration
Improved relationships and daily functioning
For many people, they may no longer be PTSD diagnosed (remission)
Recovery isn't always linear—you may have good days and difficult days. This is normal and doesn't mean treatment isn't working.
Getting Started with Help in Providence
If you think you might have PTSD:
Contact a mental health professional or your primary care doctor to discuss your symptoms and traumatic experiences
Be honest about what you're experiencing, including how long symptoms have lasted and how they're affecting your life
Ask about trauma-focused psychotherapy options available in Providence, such as CPT, PE, or EMDR
Don't delay seeking help. Early intervention can prevent symptoms from worsening
Crisis resources available:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for immediate support, available 24/7
Veterans Crisis Line: Veterans can call or text 988 and select option 1
BH Link: 24/7 behavioral health assistance for Rhode Island residents
National resources:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Provides information and treatment referrals
National Institute of Mental Health: Offers educational resources about PTSD
National Center for PTSD (part of the Department of Veterans Affairs): Provides research-based information and resources
If you're struggling with PTSD symptoms after a traumatic event, the therapists at Providence Therapy Group are here to help. We provide evidence-based trauma treatment in a supportive environment. Schedule an appointment to get started.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition. If you are in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.