Trauma – PTSD
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing something frightening, overwhelming, or deeply distressing. Many people assume PTSD only comes from extreme or life‑threatening events, violent assaults, witnessing death, military combat, serious road traffic accidents, terrorist attacks, prolonged abuse, or natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods. These experiences can certainly lead to PTSD, but trauma isn’t limited to the most dramatic events. PTSD can arise from any situation where you felt terrified, powerless, overwhelmed, or deeply unsafe, even if others might not see it as “serious.”
People often ask questions such as: “Can you get PTSD from something that wasn’t violent?” and “Why am I still thinking about what happened?” and “Why do I feel on edge all the time?”
These questions make sense. How someone responds to a distressing event depends on many factors, previous life experiences, coping skills, the support available at the time and their overall wellbeing. Two people can go through the same event, but only one may develop PTSD. Trauma is about how the experience felt, not how it appears from the outside.
Alongside more widely recognised traumatic events, PTSD can also develop after:
- Sudden loss – the unexpected death of someone close
- Bullying or harassment – prolonged fear, humiliation, or feeling unsafe at school or work
- Relationship trauma – emotionally abusive relationships or coercive control
- Childhood trauma – neglect, instability, or growing up in an environment where you didn’t feel protected
- Medical and birth trauma – frightening hospital experiences, invasive procedures, unexpected complications, feeling unsafe or unheard during procedures
- Witnessing distressing events – even if you weren’t directly harmed
- Overwhelming life events – being trapped, threatened, powerless, or suddenly unsafe
These are the kinds of experiences where people can be left feeling stuck, on edge, or unable to “move on.”
Symptoms of PTSD include;
People experiencing PTSD often describe a combination of emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms. These can include:
Reliving aspects of the trauma
- Flashbacks
- Intrusive thoughts
- Nightmares
- Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, breathlessness, or a racing heart
Many people search for phrases like “Why does it feel like it’s happening again?” or “Why do I keep seeing it in my mind?”
Avoidance
- Keeping busy to avoid thinking about what happened
- Using alcohol or drugs to block out memories
- Avoiding reminders of the trauma
- Feeling numb or disconnected
- Difficulty recalling details of the event
People ask: “Why can’t I remember parts of it?” or “Why do I avoid things that remind me of it?”
Alertness, hyper‑arousal and hyper‑vigilance
- Feeling constantly on edge or being easily startled – being constantly on the look out for danger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Panic symptoms or general anxiety symptoms
- Irritability or anger
- Sleep disturbance
These often show up in questions like “Why do I feel jumpy all the time?” or “Why can’t I relax?”
Difficult beliefs and emotions
- Feeling unable to trust others
- Feeling nowhere is safe
- Guilt or self‑blame
- ‘Survivor guilt’
- Loss of enjoyment or interest in things
- Feeling angry, detached, or hopeless
People frequently ask: “Why do I feel guilty when it wasn’t my fault?” or “Why don’t I enjoy anything anymore?”
PTSD can make you feel isolated, confused, or unsure where to turn. Talking with a therapist can help you understand what’s happening, why your mind and body are reacting this way and how to begin feeling more grounded again.
