One of the most significant things I’ve learned as a trauma and grief recovery coach (specializing in PTSD recovery) is that people have life-changing psychological trauma and do not realize it.

I’m on a personal and professional mission to change that, one screening at a time!

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Basically, PTSD happens when we see or experience a traumatic event that is shocking and/or dangerous and we are not able to process it in real time.

There might be many reasons that we aren’t able to process it. For instance, we might have come out of an abusive childhood where we had to be shut down in order to survive, which results in complex trauma responses and PTSD. Or there might be a regional or global catastrophe – like September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, or a pandemic – that affects a large population with little to no resources for processing the trauma.

The 17 Symptoms to Choose From

In this trauma & ptsd post, I outlined an acronym to help remember and explain the symptoms of PTSD: MANS! Each letter stands for one of the four main symptoms of this condition.

Within each of these four main symptoms, there are more specific symptoms. Here’s a breakdown:

Memories

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event

Avoidance

• Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

Negative Thoughts & Feelings

• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
• Feeling emotionally numb

Startled

• Always being on guard for danger
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
• Overwhelming guilt or shame

Fortunately, psychological trauma does not have to be lifelong! Building awareness can lead to a variety of treatments that can help heal up the effects of traumatic events.

Screening Options

First, though, do you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – or, like me, Complex PTSD?

There are a few ways to screen for trauma and PTSD. Each of these has value and offers something a little different.

First, there’s the Aces Too High study by CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study that measured 10 types of the most common childhood traumas. The study found that,

The CDC’s Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study) uncovered a stunning link between childhood trauma and the chronic diseases people develop as adults, as well as social and emotional problems. This includes heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and many autoimmune diseases, as well as depression, violence, being a victim of violence, and suicide.

https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/

Go here to find YOUR Ace score and more about this groundbreaking study.

The FREE PTSD Quiz

The VA has declared that June 27th is PTSD Self-Screening Day.

Self-screening promotes taking the first step in seeking PTSD treatment. The self-screen takes only a few minutes to complete and can help you discover if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD. All screening responses are private — they are not collected or shared.

Go here to take the PTSD Self-Screening.

Screen With Me

I’m happy to help you screen for PTSD for free. I use the PTSD checklist created by the VA and intended for civilians. This is – in my opinion – the most comprehensive screener currently available.

In addition to a free screening, we will discuss available treatment options and resources. While I offer two excellent treatment options, these are not the definitive word. In fact, a variety of treatment modalities helped me to experience healing from my psychological trauma.

Therefore, we will discuss what I know about seeking PTSD and CPTSD treatment and getting the support that is right for you.

The PTSD Screening appointment is 45 minutes and is completely free. Click or tap below to make an appointment.

June is PTSD Awareness Month! Find out more about this condition and what you can do about it every day this month!

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