As many as 70% of people go through some type of trauma in their lifetime. It can take many different forms. Sometimes it’s a single event, like a violent assault, a car accident, a natural disaster, or losing someone. Or something that happens over time like sexual abuse or domestic violence.
What a trauma response can look like
People have many stress responses following trauma. Sometimes it’s feeling thankful to be alive. Or feelings of overwhelming stress, fear, and anger.
Even if you don’t realize it’s happening, trauma can lead to many emotional and physical changes:
- Loss of hope for the future
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling jumpy or on guard
- Nightmares or upsetting memories
- Feeling tired or having trouble sleeping
- Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more
- Loss of appetite or eating too much
- Feeling shocked or numb
- Overwhelming negativity about yourself or the world
It can help to understand what’s going on when you or someone you care about is reacting this way. And most of the time, things get better with time and self-care. For some people, though, they go on and on and even get worse. When that happens, it may be PTSD.
Why do some people get PTSD?
Of people who experience severe trauma, only 1 in 4 go on to develop PTSD. What makes the difference? Many factors affect how we deal with trauma. Some of it has to do with who we are, from genes to past experiences of trauma or abuse.
Research suggests there may be differences in hormones released from people’s bodies in response to stress. For example, people with lower levels of these hormones may have changes in their sleep. This can affect memory. It may also affect their recovery from the fear surrounding a traumatic event.
The type of trauma matters too. For example, as many as 75% of survivors of sexual assault or abuse develop PTSD. Keep in mind that abuse isn’t always violent. People can be forced into sexual contact against their will in many ways. And the resulting trauma can still lead to PTSD.
When to seek treatment
When symptoms go on for more than a month, treatment can help. Freespira is a home-based treatment that can relieve PTSD symptoms as well as anxiety attacks in one month. Check your symptoms using our online tool to see if Freespira is right for you.
