What Is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – An Introduction

Principal Category: Recovery Psychology

Authors:
•  National Center for PTSD
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. PTSD can only develop after you go through or see a life-threatening event. It’s normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, and most people start to feel better after a few weeks. If symptoms last longer than a month and are causing problems in your life, it could be PTSD. Learn about PTSD symptoms and treatments to help you recover.

PTSD & Psychological Trauma in Scam Victims and Its Lingering Effects

By: Dr. Tim McGuinness

PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Basics

By: U.S. National Center for PTSD

Who Develops PTSD?

Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. Some factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control. For example, having a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event or getting injured during the event can make it more likely that a person will develop PTSD. PTSD is also more common after certain types of trauma, like combat and sexual assault.

Personal factors—like previous traumatic exposure, age and gender—can affect whether a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the traumatic event is also important. Stress can make PTSD more likely, while social support can make it less likely.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD.

There are 4 types of PTSD symptoms. To be diagnosed with PTSD, you need to have each type. That said, everyone experiences symptoms in their own way.

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). Memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. They can feel very real and scary. For example:
   • You may have nightmares.
   • You may feel like you are going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
   • You may see, hear or smell something that causes you to relive the event. This is called a trauma reminder, cue or trigger. News reports, seeing an accident, or hearing fireworks are examples of trauma reminders.
2. Avoiding things that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid situations or people remind you of the trauma event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event. For example:
   • You may avoid crowds because they feel dangerous.
   • You may avoid driving if you were in a car accident or if your military convoy was bombed.
   • If you were in an earthquake, you may avoid watching movies about earthquakes.
   • You may keep very busy or avoid getting help so you don’t have to think or talk about the event.
3. Having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event. The way you think about yourself and others may become more negative because of the trauma. For example:
   • You may feel numb—unable to have positive or loving feelings toward other people—and lose interest in things you used to enjoy.
   • You may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them.
   • You may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.
   • You may feel guilt or shame about the event, wishing you had done more to keep it from happening.
4. Feeling on edge or keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. You might suddenly become angry or irritable. For example:
   • You may have a hard time sleeping.
   • You may find it hard to concentrate.
   • You may be startled by a loud noise or surprise.
   • You might act in unhealthy ways, like smoking, abusing drugs or alcohol, or driving aggressively.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD in Children?

Children may have symptoms like those above or other symptoms. As children get older, their symptoms are more like those of adults. Here are some examples of PTSD symptoms in children and teens:

• Children under 6 may get upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping, or act out the trauma in their play.
• Children ages 7 to 11 may also act out the trauma through play, drawings or stories. Some have nightmares or become more irritable or aggressive. They may also want to avoid school or have trouble with schoolwork or friends.
• Children ages 12 to 18 have symptoms more similar to adults: depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or reckless behavior like substance abuse or running away.

Read more about PTSD in Children and Teens.

Do People With PTSD Get Better?

After a traumatic event, it’s normal to think, act, and feel differently than usual–but most people start to feel better after a few weeks. Talk to a doctor or mental health care provider (like a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor or social worker) if your symptoms:

• Last longer than a month
• Are very upsetting
• Disrupt your daily life

“Getting better” means different things for different people. There are treatment options for PTSD. For many people, these treatments can get rid of symptoms altogether. Others find they have fewer symptoms or feel that their symptoms are less intense. Your symptoms don’t have to interfere with your everyday activities and relationships.

What Treatments Are Available?

Both trauma-focused psychotherapy (sometimes called counseling or talk therapy) and medication are proven to treat PTSD. Sometimes people combine psychotherapy and medication.

Trauma-focused psychotherapy

A few trauma-focused psychotherapies are the most highly recommended treatments for PTSD. “Trauma-focused” means that the therapy focuses on the memory of the traumatic event or its meaning. The 3 most effective types of trauma-focused psychotherapy are:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) where you learn skills to understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings. Changing how you think about the trauma can change how you feel.
• Prolonged Exposure (PE) where you talk about your trauma repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. This will help you get more control over your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. You also go to places or do things that are safe, but that you have been staying away from because they remind you of the trauma.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while you talk about the trauma. This helps your brain work through the traumatic memories.

Learn more about these and other Talk Therapies for PTSD.

Medications for PTSD

Certain medications can be effective for treating PTSD symptoms. Some specific medications are used to treat PTSD symptoms. These include sertraline, paroxetine and venlafaxine. Learn more about Medications for PTSD.

What Constitutes PTSD

PTSD and DSM-5

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association revised the PTSD diagnostic criteria in the 5^th edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; 1). PTSD was included in a new category in DSM-5, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. All conditions included in this classification require exposure to a traumatic or stressful event as a diagnostic criterion. DSM-5-TR was published in March 2022 to include scientific advances since the release of DSM-5. No changes were made to the PTSD diagnostic criteria for adults in this update (2).

For a review of the DSM-5 changes to the criteria for PTSD, including resources for DSM-5-TR updates, see the American Psychiatric Association website on educational resources for DSM-5 and DSM-5-TR.

DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD

Full copyrighted criteria are available from the American Psychiatric Association (2). All of the criteria are required for the diagnosis of PTSD. The following text summarizes the diagnostic criteria:

Criterion A (1 required): The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

• Direct exposure
• Witnessing the trauma
• Learning that the trauma happened to a close relative or close friend
• Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics)

Criterion B (1 required): The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced, in the following way(s):

• Unwanted upsetting memories
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders
• Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders

Criterion C (1 required): Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):

• Trauma-related thoughts or feelings
• Trauma-related reminders

Criterion D (2 required): Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

• Inability to recall key features of the trauma
• Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world
• Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma
• Negative affect
• Decreased interest in activities
• Feeling isolated
• Difficulty experiencing positive affect

Criterion E (2 required): Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

• Irritability or aggression
• Risky or destructive behavior
• Hypervigilance
• Heightened startle reaction
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping

Criterion F (required): Symptoms last for more than 1 month.

Criterion G (required): Symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g., social, occupational).

Criterion H (required): Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use or other illness.

Two specifications:

1. Dissociative Specification. In addition to meeting criteria for diagnosis, an individual experiences high levels of either of the following in reaction to trauma-related stimuli:
   • Depersonalization. Experience of being an outside observer of or detached from oneself (e.g., feeling as if “this is not happening to me” or one were in a dream).
   • Derealization. Experience of unreality, distance, or distortion (e.g., “things are not real”).
2. Delayed Specification. Full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least 6 months after the trauma(s), although onset of symptoms may occur immediately.

Note: DSM-5 introduced a preschool subtype of PTSD for children ages six years and younger.

SCARS NOTE:

The above describes the basics of PTSD resulting from Psychological Trauma. This is not intended to be used to diagnose PSTD, just to provide an educational introduction. See a licensed mental healthcare provider to any questions regarding how PTSD might apply to yourself.

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology, neurology, and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in these articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

SCARS Resources:

• For New Victims of Relationship Scams www.ScamVictimsSupport.org
• Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
• Sign up for SCARS professional Support & Recovery Groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
• Find competent Trauma Counselors or Therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
• Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
• Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
• Learn More about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
• Scammer Photos on ScammerPhotos.com
• SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
• Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
• Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org

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