Signs You May Have PTSD And Could Benefit From Counseling
If you are like most people, you do not know much about PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). Many people believe that PTSD is something experienced only by war veterans who have seen combat. However, this is not the case at all. Anyone can have PTSD from a traumatic event in their life. Because a lot of folks do not realize this, PTSD can go on untreated and unaddressed for years in some cases. Get to know some signs that you might have PTSD. If you do this, and find you have issues, you can benefit from counseling services. Then, you can be sure to call a counseling service right away if you show signs of having PTSD.
You Have Flashbacks
One of the telltale signs of PTSD is flashbacks. Flashbacks are mental recurrences of traumatic events in part or in full. The person feels as if they are experiencing the event all over again and will dissociate from reality during those times.
Flashbacks can last a matter of seconds or for several minutes at a time. If you have times where you feel like you are reliving your trauma, whether it is one single event or a series of several events, then you may be having PTSD flashbacks without even realizing it.
You Have Nightmares
Nightmares, especially frequent nightmares, are another sign of PTSD that often gets overlooked. People think that nightmares are normal and just disregard them. However, having nightmares often is not "normal."
If you are having nightmares in any way related to the traumatic events in your life (a loss of a loved one, abuse, a natural disaster, etc...), then you may be having PTSD symptoms. Even nightmares that seem to not be about the trauma could be related to PTSD if you have them often. Seeking counseling services for nightmares will help you determine exactly what is going on in your subconscious.
You Have Severe Anxiety
Anxiety is another common sign and symptom of PTSD. People with PTSD tend to be overly anxious in general. They may even be originally diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD.
Anxiety involves a heightened sense of dread, frequent worrying, or severe fears that may affect a person's daily life. If you find yourself overly worried, constantly on edge, or even having panic attacks, you may have anxiety related to PTSD.
Now that you know some signs of PTSD that should send you to a counselor, you can contact a counseling service right away if you have any of these symptoms.
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