By: Kathy Hubbard
Post-traumatic stress syndrome. PTSD. Wars. Sexual assaults. Gun violence. Natural disasters. Medical illness. Car crashes. Sudden death of a loved one. Every day we hear about events that can cause long-lasting mental health issues. PTSD occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event or a series of traumatic events.
The American Psychiatric Association says that most individuals who experience traumas do not go on to develop PTSD. “Many people who are exposed to a traumatic event experience symptoms similar to PTSD in the days following the event. However, for a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, symptoms must last for more than a month and must cause significant distress or problems in the individual’s daily function.
“Many individuals develop symptoms within three months of the trauma, but symptoms may appear later and often persist for months and sometimes years. PTSD often occurs with other related conditions, such as depression, substance use, memory problems and other physical and mental health problems.”
They tell us that PTSD can occur in anyone. Any sex, any ethnicity, any culture, and at any age. They estimate the prevalence at four percent of adults and eight percent of adolescents ages 13 to 18 in the U.S.
Cleveland Clinic says that symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically fall into four groups, each of which affects how you think, feel, and react. The first is called intrusion symptoms.
“These bring the negative memory back into your mind, even when you don’t want to think about it. You might have flashbacks, where the event feels like it’s happening again. You might have nightmares about what happened, or you might have repeated, unwanted memories of the event.”
Avoidance symptoms are when you try to stay away from reminders of the trauma. This might include avoiding people, places or activities that remind you of the event; or not wanting to talk about your feelings and trying not to even think about it.
The third category is changes in thinking and mood. Cleveland says, “These affect how you feel about yourself, others and the world around you. You might blame yourself or others for what happened, even when it’s not accurate. You may feel ongoing fear, anger guilt, shame or horror. You may forget important parts of the event. You may feel distant from other people or find it hard to feel positive emotions. You may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed.”
And the fourth category is changes in arousal and reactivity. You may act in a risky or self-destructive way, like using drugs or alcohol to excess or driving recklessly. You may feel
irritable, have angry outbursts, have trouble concentrating or sleeping, startle easily or often stay on high alert and over watchful of your surroundings.
Symptoms in children are often different, and often children are unable to explain how they feel. Cleveland says that common PTSD symptoms in kids may include: “Acting restless, fidgety or having trouble paying attention; acting unusually fearful, sad or angry; avoiding people places or activities that remind them of what happened; being easily startled or always alert; having bad dreams or trouble sleeping; having strong emotional reactions or frequent temper tantrums; pulling away from others or losing interest in play and activities; repeating the situation during play.”
They caution that symptoms often look like ADHD, thereby making it extremely important for a child to be seen by a mental health specialist for evaluation. “If you notice theses symptoms lasting or getting worse a pediatrician can help you determine the next steps,” they say.
Triggers, something that reminds you of the trauma, are a normal part of post-traumatic stress syndrome. “Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, places or situations. For example, a loud noise or fireworks may bring back memories from a war zone, or a song may remind you of someone who hurt you. Even certain dates or times of the year can cause symptoms to flare. When a trigger happens, symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks or strong emotions may return, even if you were feeling better before,” Cleveland explains.
Treatment for PTSD can include therapy and medications. Often therapy is the first choice to help you process negative experiences and build coping skills. Your healthcare professional will explain all the available resources.
Kathy Hubbard was a charter member of Bonner General Health Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on June 18, 2026.