Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can lead to PTSD. Examples include childhood neglect or abuse, domestic violence, a violent event such as rape, an accident, military combat, terrorism as well as emotional and physical abuse, illness and complex grief. PTSD may be a cause of relapse if left untreated.
Alcohol and drugs are often abused as a coping mechanism following psychological symptoms of trauma and PTSD may be a cause of relapse if left untreated.
PTSD symptoms include:
- Flashbacks
- Emotional instability and mood swings
- Nightmares
- Sleep disturbance
- Anxiety
- Numbing
- Avoidance of anything that reminds the person of the trauma
- Hyperarousal
- Hypervigilance.