If you encounter something terrible in life like a severe accident, you are likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder. The incident will keep on replaying in your mind, and this will impact you in different ways. Many things can tell you that you’re suffering from PTSD and you need help. Check out these hidden signs of PTSD to look out for after going through a traumatic event.
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are probably the most common symptom of PTSD. They come in the form of distressing and unwelcome memories about what happened to you in the past while you are busy with your daily routine. This usually happens when you find yourself in a similar setting. For instance, you may suddenly panic while driving if you survived a serious car crash.
Secretive Behavior
If you find yourself covering for suspicious activities and you can’t give a coherent explanation for your whereabouts, you might be suffering from PTSD. It may be difficult for you to interact with other people, and you will end up confining yourself in a secluded area. When you’re undergoing this kind of situation, you don’t want other people to know what you’re going through. Therefore, self-isolation becomes the order of the day, but this kind of behavior won’t solve your problem.
Drug and Substance Abuse
Many people turn to drugs and alcohol to try to avoid the memories of the bad things they experienced in their lives. If left untreated, drug abuse and addiction can cause life-changing events. Some of the obvious signs of addiction you should know include an unlimited desire for intoxicating substances and drugs. When you reach this point, you may still be in denial, and your issues are only escalating. Some of the problems you may have include job loss, failure to maintain stable relationships, and legal issues.
Memory Loss
Traumatic incidents can impact the functioning of your brain in many ways. As your body tries to cope with what happened, you are likely to experience memory loss which can be viewed as a defense mechanism. Many people wish they could forget everything that happened in their lives, but they may end up forgetting useful things in life. If you don’t get proper treatment, the negative thoughts can resurface, and they will impact your mind.
Negative Thoughts
PTSD can lead to negative thoughts about yourself, everyone around you, or situations because you will see the world differently. You’ll find it difficult to trust people because you may think that they are the ones who caused your problems. In some cases, you feel hopeless and even fail to trust yourself. It’s common for people suffering from PTSD to blame themselves for the misfortune that befell them. You may end up regretting why you embarked on the move that led to your current situation in the first place.
Anger and Agitation
PTSD can lead to a state known as hyperarousal which means your brain can be suddenly kicked into a state of “flight or fight” over small things. Hyperarousal can lead to emotions like irritability and anger daily. If you have been traumatized, you may find yourself lashing at others for no apparent reason. This kind of behavior can further strain your relationship with the people around you, and you could end up disregarding your family and friends.
Reduced Interest in Your Favorite Hobbies
When you’re experiencing negative life events, you may find it difficult to enjoy the activities you once loved. PTSD can cause mood changes and low interest in your work or hobbies. For instance, if you love swimming and you gradually find yourself no longer interested in this hobby, it shows that your mind is not stable. You may be experiencing hidden challenges that are not immediately apparent to people close to you.
Insomnia
Lack of sleep is another symptom of PTSD you should look out for. When bedtime comes you should be grounded, but this may not be possible if you have experienced trauma. You can also have nightmares that may disrupt your sleep. Most people experiencing this situation usually turn to alcohol and substance abuse, but this can only worsen the situation.
Many people with PTSD often blame themselves after traumatic events, and this is common. If the incident caused the death of your loved one, you may blame yourself for the rest of your life, especially if you were the driver when the accident happened. Additionally, the survivors may lay the blame on the driver, and this will only worsen the situation.
If you experience a traumatic incident in your life, you’re likely to live with it for a long time. Unfortunately, this can haunt you and affect your normal functioning. If you want to address the situation, you should know the symptoms of PTSD. These are some of the signs you should look out for if you are going through a difficult situation.
