Research indicates early intervention after a traumatic event can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This infographic from the USC School of Social Work outlines the symptoms, causes and treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Most people who experience a trauma do not develop post-traumatic stress disorder. However, it is not clear why some people get post-traumatic stress disorder and others don’t.
Research indicates that genetics, neurobiology, and personal factors probably affect whether someone gets PTSD after a trauma.
In fact, it appears that many risk factors play a part in whether you will develop PTSD. For example, women are more likely than men to develop PTSD.
Other risk factors have been identified in research for increased risk of developing PTSD.
- History of childhood trauma
- During the trauma, feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
- If the traumatic event lasted a long time
- Having little or no social support after the event
- Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
- Having a history of mental illness or substance use
If you are struggling in the aftermath of a trauma, then please know that there is help available. I regularly treat clients in therapy for trauma-related issues. Many therapists specialize in treating trauma, and there is a wide variety of treatment options for trauma.
If you would like to discuss treatment options for trauma, please feel free to reach out to me for a free 15-minute phone consultation. If I’m not the right therapist for you, I can help you find someone who is.