current page PTSD symptoms & support how to recognise and get help
PTSD symptoms and support
How to recognise and get help
What is PTSD?
PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder.
This is a mental health condition that can occur after being exposed to a potentially traumatising event that was life-threatening or threatened the safety of yourself or others.
PTSD can profoundly impact how a person is able to live their life, how they feel about themselves, and their relationships.
PTSD affects people differently – symptoms can vary widely between individuals.
It’s not always easy to know that you have PTSD – very often veterans tell us they just knew ‘something’ wasn’t right. For over 100 years our specialist treatment has helped transform the lives of former service personnel with mental health conditions like PTSD.
You can find out more about the symptoms of PTSD by clicking here.
PTSD symptoms
PTSD symptoms can vary but may include:
• Feeling disconnected from others
• Feeling on edge and easily irritable
• Losing your temper more often than you’d like
• Avoiding things that you would like to be part of your life
• Feeling anxious or having panic attacks
• Having unwanted memories or nightmares
• Finding it difficult to trust others
• Feeling you are worthless or a bad person
How can PTSD affect veterans’ lives?
PTSD can overwhelm someone’s life.
Anxiety, anger, depression, isolation, alcohol, and drug misuse, and in some cases suicide – all can tear families apart, destroy relationships and devastate lives.
You can read more about the signs and symptoms of PTSD by clicking here
The specialist treatment provided by Combat Stress helps veterans with PTSD to recover and move on with their lives. Whilst it can take many years for a veteran to seek our help, our specialist treatment can change lives. After our treatment, many veterans tell us ‘I feel like I did before I developed PTSD’.
A six-month tour in Afghanistan left RAF veteran Lewis with Complex PTSD, but thanks to our expert treatment he’s now living his life to the full again:
“My treatment has been life changing. What might seem like little things for some are major steps for me, like being able to function in a normal society and go into crowds. I even took my little girl to a firework display last November; it all became possible because of Combat Stress. I have hopes and aspirations for the future, which I never had before and life isn’t dark grey anymore, it’s colourful. I’ve got a good job now and can provide for my family; I’m optimistic for the future.”
What does ‘traumatic’ mean?
Trauma means 'injury'.
When mental health professionals talk about trauma, they mean something very specific, that is an event that was life-threatening or threatened the safety of yourself or others.
Trauma can be something that happened directly to you, something you witnessed happening to somebody else or something you heard about that happened to a close friend or family member.
Some examples might include:
• seeing a friend or colleague injured
• coming under enemy fire
• witnessing the loss of comrades
• seeing the aftermath of war
• helping injured civilians including children
• being bullied or assaulted by military colleagues
You may have experienced trauma that isn't on the list and, for some people, difficulties arise due to repeated trauma over time.
Can you recover from PTSD?
The simple answer is yes.
It is possible to recover from PTSD.
Combat Stress delivers proven clinical treatment to veterans with PTSD, significantly changing their lives for the better.
70% of the veterans we treat no longer meet the clinical criteria for PTSD after our treatment.
PTSD treatment - is there someone I can contact if I need more help or information?
If you’re a veteran and need to talk to someone, or you’re a family member/carer worried about the mental health of a loved one who has served, please call our Helpline.
The Combat Stress 24-hour Helpline provides free confidential advice and support to veterans and their families.
Don’t struggle in silence. Call 0800 138 1619 Text 07537 173 683* *Standard charges may apply for texts, please check with your provider.
