

Once a physical issue has been ruled out, they may refer you to a mental health professional for further evaluation. Your primary care provider will begin with a physical exam to be sure that your symptoms aren’t being caused by a physical illness. PTSD can be diagnosed by your primary care provider or a mental health professional. This includes speeding, using drugs, or drinking too much alcohol. It may also cause people to act in ways that are self-destructive. PTSD can cause unusual emotional outbursts, like being easily startled or frightened, angry, or irrational. You might also feel detached from other people, including friends and family. You may also be hard on yourself, with a great deal of guilt or self-loathing.

Moods change regularly, but if you have PTSD, you may feel down, numb, and hopeless frequently. To do this, you may avoid people, places, or events that remind you of the stressor. You may try to keep from talking or thinking about the event. This may include flashbacks or intrusive memories about the event, nightmares, and unwanted memories.

Instead, they may appear several weeks or months later, after any physical scars have likely healed. Symptoms of PTSD don’t typically show up immediately after the event. This can occur after witnessing or experiencing a disturbing event, including physical or sexual assault, natural disaster, war, accidents, and domestic violence. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma and stressor-related disorder that can develop after a traumatic or stressful event.
