Providing In-Person PTSD Counselling in Vancouver and Virtually Across BC
What is PTSD?
It’s natural to experience fear during and after a traumatic event. Fear activates the body’s “fight-or-flight” response—a built-in survival mechanism designed to help protect us from danger. Many people who experience trauma may initially struggle with adjustment and coping; however, with time and proper self-care, these reactions often improve. If symptoms persist for months or years, intensify, or begin to interfere with daily life, they may indicate the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Signs & Symptoms of PTSD
- Symptoms of PTSD typically arise within the first three months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they may begin years afterward. To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least one month:
- At least one re-experiencing symptom
- At least one avoidance symptom
- At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms
- At least two cognition and mood symptoms
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Re-experiencing symptoms include:
- Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating
- Bad dreams
- Frightening thoughts
- Re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine. The symptoms can start from the person’s own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing symptoms.
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Avoidance symptoms include:
- Being easily startled
- Feeling tense or “on edge”
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Having angry outbursts
- Arousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic events. These symptoms can make the person feel stressed and angry. They may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating or concentrating.
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Cognition and mood symptoms include::
- Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
- Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
- Distorted feelings like guilt or blame
- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
- Cognition and mood symptoms can begin or worsen after the traumatic event but are not due to injury or substance use. These symptoms can make the person feel alienated or detached from friends or family members.
It’s natural to have some of these symptoms for a few weeks after a dangerous event. When the symptoms last more than a month, seriously affect one’s ability to function, and are not due to substance use, medical illness, or anything except the event itself, they might be PTSD. Some people with PTSD don’t show any symptoms for weeks or months. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse or one or more types of anxiety disorders.
