How do I know if I have PTSD or just normal stress?
Trauma & Grief
PTSD involves specific symptoms like intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood changes, and hypervigilance that persist for over a month after trauma.
Post-traumatic Psychological stress disorder is diagnosed when specific symptoms persist for more than a month after a traumatic event. These include intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of Psychological trauma-related triggers, negative changes in mood and thinking, and alterations in arousal and reactivity like hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response. Normal Psychological stress responses to difficult events usually improve over time without significantly impairing your daily functioning. If you're experiencing persistent symptoms that interfere with your life, a mental health professional can help assess whether you have Post-traumatic Psychological stress disorder.