Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by delayed onset and persistent mental illness after experiencing, witnessing, or encountering one or more events involving the actual death of oneself or others, the threat of death, serious injury, or a threat to one's physical integrity.
PTSD symptoms primarily include the following four categories:
- Re-experiencing trauma
① Involuntary recurrence of trauma-related scenes in thoughts, memories, or dreams;
② Flashbacks, feeling as if the traumatic event is recurring;
③ Feeling anxious or agitated in situations that might evoke memories of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance or numbing symptoms
Long-term and intensive avoidance of people and events related to trauma,
- Refusing to participate in related activities;
② Some patients may even experience selective amnesia, forgetting details of the traumatic events;
③ Estrangement from family and friends, decreased interest in the outside world, and a feeling of numbness.
- Increased alertness and anxiety
① Easily startled, always on high alert;
② Irritability, irritability, or aggressive behavior;
③ Self-destructive behavior, such as excessive drinking or driving;
④ Restlessness and difficulty concentrating;
⑤ Intense feelings of guilt or shame.
- Other symptoms
① Substance abuse;
② Aggressive behavior;
③ Suicidal or self-harming behavior;
④ Depression is also a common comorbidity for many patients with PTSD. Children's reactions to post-traumatic stress disorder differ from those in adults.
5 Symptoms of PTS in Children
① Re-experiencing trauma in children manifests as nightmares, replaying the traumatic event, and engaging in trauma-themed games.
② Avoidance in children manifests as dissociative anxiety, clinginess, and a reluctance to leave their parents.
③ Hyperarousal manifests as excessive startle reflexes, hypervigilance, attention deficit disorder, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.
It is important to note that the presence of PTSD symptoms within one month does not constitute a diagnosis. The prevalence of PTSD is approximately 7% to 12%, and some individuals experience stress symptoms that resolve spontaneously after trauma.
Of course, diagnosing PTSD is not a simple symptom comparison. It requires rigorous screening and careful diagnosis by a psychologist or qualified psychiatrist. Do not make a self-diagnosis based solely on suspected symptoms.