There are many ways someone can get PTSD. It can happen at any time to anyone. It’s not to be mistaken as shell shock, which appeared in soldiers who had experiences in war. With PTSD, its more wide ranging. Anything be the reason behind someone’s PTSD, anything could be a trigger. Both shell shock and PTSD can be the same thing, they are different in regards of someone’s past and what they’ve experienced, but not everyone that as experienced a tragic or traumatic event may not suffer from PTSD. Some PTSD will go away after a few weeks, but for others, they can last for many years, especially if they don’t get help.
If symptoms of PTSD last for more than a month and/or is starting to affect your personnel life, you could have PTSD and with treatment, you can get it under control, but the longer you wait, the worse you’re going to be. Even if you don’t think you need help, it’s better to speak up about your mental health and acknowledge that there is something going on than you can get support from the people around you. They will understand what’s going on and try and help you in any way they can. Having PTSD is not a sign of weakness. When someone is ashamed or embarrassed about having PTSD, they begin to withdraw and isolated from everyone. They keep quiet about their struggles.
When someone develops PTSD, their reactions to past trauma may be too severe and it starts to effect/disturb their everyday life. Some people are able to move past painful memories, but for someone with a more severe case, will have a completely different reaction to the same memory and they start to doubt everything around them. They begin to think that “nowhere is safe” or “no one can be trusted.” Stress or reminders of past trauma can be a trigger for someone. Anniversaries of the trauma can be a trigger.
If you get the right help, then your PTSD will remain under control, you have to find what’s right for you. The longer you wait, the worse it’s going to be. You’re not going to get the tools and the resources you need to help you when an attack happens. You need a good support system around you to help you. You need people in your life that will guide you and support you. You are not alone.