Do you have involuntary repetitive and intrusive memories of the event, or nightmares in which the dreams are related to the traumatic event. How about flashbacks as if you feel the event is recurring which could be a complete loss of your current surroundings. Maybe cues that trigger the memories causing great distress.

It shouldn’t be surprising what I am speaking of since our title today is related to post traumatic stress disorder, or simply PTSD. I just described some of the criteria out of the DSMV. I was talking to Johnny on Monday and requested a topic he thought would be of benefit and this is what he threw my way. He made mention that many think PTSD is solely with people in the military and coming back from war. I educate on this topic in substance abuse treatment and he is right when he says that. I get that same response sometimes from our clients. The interesting part is that some of the people I work with were sexually assaulted as kids and fit that criteria and unaware that they fit that criteria as a diagnosis.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) lists four categories of symptoms that appear in a PTSD diagnosis:

• Intrusive. Symptoms that cause reexperiencing, such as distressing dreams, flashbacks, unwelcome memories, and intrusive thoughts.

• Avoidant. Actively working to avoid people, places, and things that may remind you of the traumatic event. You may also attempt to avoid talking about it or thinking about it.

• Cognitive or mood. Experiencing changes in mood, an inability to recall events around the trauma, or developing distorted beliefs.

• Arousal or reactivity. Feeling irritable or participating in risky behaviors. You may be prone to outbursts, be easily startled, feel constantly on edge, or experience hypervigilance or feelings of “high alertness.” You may also experience sleep disturbance.

PTSD, and the traumatic experience it arises from, can be very personal. You may not have every symptom listed in the DSM-5.