• Contact Now Schedule an Appointment

    1570 The Alameda | San Jose, CA 95126
    mcarlisle@criticalpathcounseling.com | 408-893-4032

  • Critial Path Counseling

    • Home
    • About
      • Resources
        • Recent News
        • Mental Health Links
        • Physical Health Links
      • Getting Started
        • FAQs
        • Insurance: Now Accepting Lyra Health
        • Client Forms
        • Appointment Request
    • Work Stress
      • Work Relationship Consultation
      • Work Stress Management
    • CBT
      • What is CBT?
      • Anxiety Therapy & Treatment
      • Depression Therapy
      • OCD Therapy
    • Relationships
      • Communication Skills Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
      • Parenting Skills Counseling
      • Christian Counseling Services
    • Our Approach
      • Problems We Treat
        • Neurodiversity: Adult ADD and Adult Autism
        • Anxiety Treatment
        • BiPolar Disorder Treatment
        • Depression Treatment
        • Divorce Transition
        • Infidelity
        • Personality Disorders
        • Prolonged Grief
        • OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
        • Trauma / PTSD
        • Workaholism
      • CBT and DBT: A Customized Strategy for Professionals
      • Our Clients
    • Assessment Login
    • Contact
    • Tools
    • Blog

    Do I Have PTSD? Recognizing the Signs

    August 24, 2019

    As shocking instances of mass shootings continue to occur all over the United States, we often hear people talk about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Frequently associated with post-war veterans and victims of mass violence, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can develop in people who’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic or life-threatening event.

    However, there are many other instances of trauma that can cause someone to develop PTSD besides combat or witnessing a terrorist attack. Anyone of any age that has experienced a violent or sexual assault, a natural disaster, a car accident or any other shocking or dangerous event is at risk of developing PTSD. If you’re concerned you or a loved one may be suffering from PTSD, here are some signs to look out for.

    Reliving the Event

    Someone with PTSD will have involuntary re-experiences of the trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, triggers, and unwanted thoughts or memories. Sounds or smells may take them back to the traumatic experience, or they may develop physical ailments when they’re reminded of or remember the event.

    Symptoms of Arousal and Reactivity

    PTSD sufferers will frequently feel on edge, unsafe or be easily startled. They may be prone to anger, agitation, or sadness. It’s also common for victims of PTSD to have trouble sleeping or concentrating, and they may develop changes in their eating habits by either eating too much or too little.

    Avoidance Behavior

    An individual suffering from PTSD may begin to avoid the area where they experienced the event, or areas that remind them of what happened. They may also avoid people, events or objects that bring negative memories forward. It’s also common for people with PTSD to avoid talking about the situation, or avoiding feelings related to the event.

    Negative Thoughts and Feelings

    Feelings of shame, self-blame, and exaggerated negative beliefs are common in people with PTSD. They may lose interest in things they once enjoyed, and isolate themselves from friends and loved ones. It’s also not uncommon for people with PTSD to entirely lose trust in people, or to believe that the world is a dangerous place.

     

    After experiencing a traumatic event, it’s natural for someone to have any of the symptoms listed above. However, for people suffering from PTSD, the symptoms persist for weeks, months, or even longer and begin to affect their ability to function.

    If you’re worried you might be suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and need the help of a licensed professional, please call my office today and let’s set up an appointment to talk.

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

    Related

    Filed Under: Trauma / PTSD

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


    1570 The Alameda
    San Jose, CA 95126

    408-893-4032
    mcarlisle@criticalpathcounseling.com

    Contact Today

    By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.

    Schedule an Appointment

    Critical Path Counseling
    mcarlisle@criticalpathcounseling.com | 408-893-4032

    A Website by Brighter Vision | Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 - Brighter Vision