PTSD in Adults: How to Move Forward After Trauma

Many individuals experience trauma at some point in their lives. Sometimes trauma can follow you from your childhood into adulthood. Other times it can be birthed by situations that we encounter as adults. Any encounter with trauma should be addressed to prevent ongoing negative effects that can alter one's ability to cope with the uncertainties of life moving forward.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is caused by the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. PTSD in adults has a large range of symptoms and effects. There was a time when you might hear more of veterans who experience PTSD than it was associated with any other demographic. However, anyone can experience PTSD. Many people suffer from PTSD unknowingly. Regardless of the origin of the trauma in your life, there are ways to face those wounds and move forward.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional response or reaction to a dangerous, terrifying, or violent event. Some of these traumatic events can be a car accident, sexual assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. No matter what an event entails, it is the "fight-or-flight" response that it birthed that causes it to be traumatic.

Trauma is not subject to any one gender, race, or career field. Veterans, new women, children, and anyone else can experience trauma. Understanding trauma for what it is enhances one's ability to see it when it takes place and take action.

How to Move Forward in Life After Trauma and PTSD

Trauma is very common. Some experience it and are able to navigate their feelings surrounding it in a positive manner. Others may notice their struggle to cope with their feelings derived from those traumatic events, while some may not. Maybe those who notice decide to seek help. However, that is not always the case, as even when noticed it can be overlooked.

You can find yourself being affected by past traumas as they continue to influence you later in life. These findings are the long-term effects of traumatic experiences in your life that are now presented as PTSD. Carrying the weight of your trauma is not your responsibility. Working through it means to eliminate the weight it can attach to your life.

To move forward and overcome the mind-crippling tortures of PTSD and trauma, you must first recognize its presence in your life. There are signs and symptoms that can help you to determine that trauma has lingered from its origin and initial moment of impact and gown. In recognizing the signs, you can then seek help from a doctor, seek support from family, and learn about options for treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder shows up in various ways. It can change the lens through which you view life and especially yourself. A confident individual can go from looking forward to each new day to having a completely negative perception of themselves and the world. That is how powerful untreated trauma can be.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of PTSD can be life-changing. Trauma changes you, and if PTSD creeps in, it has likely changed you a lot. However, knowing what it looks like means that you can address it head-on. You do not have to spend months or years wondering why you feel the way you do. Some may not know the signs, and their trauma develops into PTSD and continues to go untreated.

Signs of PTSD include:

Flashbacks or reliving the trauma repeatedly, which can evoke physical symptoms and reactions to an event

Avoidance of places, events, or even thoughts and emotions related to a traumatic event

Reactivity and an imbalance of emotions cause anxiety, insomnia, and being tense

While these are just a few signs and symptoms of PTSD, they cover a multitude of areas and ways in which it can be seen. PTSD in adults can surface in a number of ways. The key to knowing what you are suffering from is to be open and pay attention to what you see in yourself that you maybe did not see prior to a traumatic event.

Being open and recognizing negative patterns in your behavior can lead you to get a medical assessment. This is how you can get an actual diagnosis and begin looking into a plan for treatment.

Treatment Options for PTSD and Trauma

Treatment for PTSD can help you navigate the wounds of your past and get back to being a healthier version of yourself. There are therapy programs and psychotherapies used to help individuals with PTSD. Various evidence-based treatment approaches have proven effective for trauma recovery.

Talk therapy or psychotherapy is a platform where you can speak with a therapist alone, with family, or in a group setting. It provides you the safe space to speak on what you feel, examine where those feelings came from, and heal. Trauma-informed therapy specializes in the care of individuals suffering from PTSD. The focus of this form of therapy is to ensure that those suffering from trauma and PTSD do not become retraumatized in the treatment process.

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is another highly effective treatment specifically designed for trauma and PTSD. This approach helps process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be beneficial in helping individuals develop healthier thought patterns and coping strategies.

For those dealing with both PTSD and substance use issues, co-occurring disorders treatment programs can address both conditions simultaneously, which is essential for comprehensive recovery.

Levels of Care for PTSD Treatment

Treatment intensity can vary based on individual needs and the severity of symptoms. Outpatient treatment allows individuals to receive therapy while maintaining their daily routines and responsibilities. For those needing more intensive support, intensive outpatient programs provide structured therapy sessions multiple times per week.

In cases where symptoms are severe or when safety is a concern, partial hospitalization programs offer day-long treatment with the ability to return home each evening. For acute situations requiring 24-hour care, inpatient residential treatment provides a safe, structured environment for stabilization and intensive therapy.

Family therapy can be an important component of PTSD treatment, as trauma often affects entire family systems. Family members can learn how to provide appropriate support and understand the impact of trauma on their loved one.

Many treatment programs also incorporate holistic treatment approaches that address the whole person, including physical wellness, mindfulness practices, and alternative therapies that can support the healing process.

Special Populations and PTSD

Different populations may experience unique challenges related to trauma and PTSD. Veterans often face combat-related trauma and may benefit from specialized programs that understand military culture and experiences. Women may experience trauma related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or other gender-specific experiences that require sensitive, specialized care.

First responders frequently encounter traumatic situations as part of their work and may need treatment approaches that address occupational trauma while helping them continue in their careers.

Moving Forward: Hope and Healing

If you or someone you know has experienced traumatic events and the side effects have yet to subside, there is help available. Trauma that is left untreated can develop and grow into post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD in adults is common due to many being unaware of their trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and responses. Gaining knowledge of the signs associated with trauma and PTSD can save your life. So do not be discouraged by those feelings and fears that you simply cannot control.

Recovery from PTSD is possible with the right treatment and support. Many individuals who receive appropriate care go on to lead fulfilling, productive lives while managing their symptoms effectively.

Use our comprehensive treatment directory to find qualified mental health professionals who specialize in trauma and PTSD treatment. Our directory helps you locate providers experienced in evidence-based trauma therapies and can guide you toward programs that offer the specific level of care and specialized services needed for your recovery journey.