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PTSD UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder – no matter the trauma that caused it.
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What can cause PTSD?
PTSD & C-PTSD can affect anyone who has been exposed to trauma – an event or events which provoked fear, helplessness, or horror in response to the threat of injury or death and therefore can affect anyone.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD & C-PTSD can cause a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional symptoms such as hypervigilance, irrational anger & fear, panic attacks, flashbacks, digestive issues, feeling numb, nightmares and exhaustion.
What are the treatments for PTSD?
It is possible for PTSD & C-PTSD to be successfully treated with psychotherapies such has EMDR and CBT, even many years after the traumatic event occurred, which means it is never too late to seek help.
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Do you need more information about PTSD?
Our website has lots of information about PTSD & C-PTSD to arm you with the knowledge and details you need to understand the condition, be able to explain it to your friends and family better and, ultimately, to help guide you to the support and treatment you may need. Below are some direct links to some of the most common questions we are asked.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Anyone exposed to trauma can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it can cause a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional symptoms – find out more about PTSD on this page here.
I think I might have PTSD, what should I do?
If you recognise some of the symptoms of PTSD or C-PTSD in yourself, it’s really important to speak to someone if you feel you can. This might be a friend or loved one initially, but seeing a medical professional will also allow you to get a full diagnosis, understand your condition better, and most importantly, find out what treatment options are available for you. Find out more about what to do if you think you have PTSD or C-PTSD on this page here.
I think my loved one has PTSD, what can I do?
If you think your partner may have PTSD or C-PTSD, its important to let them know you care and are there to listen when they are ready to talk. The changes in you loved one, and the relationship you have, can understandably make you worried, and even perhaps angry, frustrated or hurt, so it’s important that you are patient with your loved one, and deal with this together – they may not have PTSD or C-PTSD, but just need more time to process a trauma they went through. Find out more about how to help support your loved one here.
I've just been told I have PTSD, what can I do next?
If you have recently been told you have PTSD or C-PTSD then you might feel worried or frightened by what this diagnosis means. Perhaps having a name for how you have been feeling up until now has given you some comfort. No matter how you feel, the biggest thing to know is that you aren’t alone. Find out more about the next steps you might want to take after your diagnosis here.
What treatments are available for PTSD & C-PTSD in the UK?
It is possible for PTSD & C-PTSD to be successfully treated many years after trauma occurred, which means it is never too late to seek help. For some, the first step may be watchful waiting, then exploring therapeutic options such as individual or group therapy. NICE guidance recommends treatments such as EMDR, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Find out more about the treatment options for PTSD and C-PTSD in the UK here.
What can I do to ease my PTSD or C-PTSD symptoms?
There are several therapies, activities or practices which can be useful in easing and reducing PTSD & C-PTSD symptoms, you can find out about some of these here. Our PTSD UK blog is also full of suggestions which many people find that useful to alleviate the symptoms of PTSD & C-PTSD, particularly anxiety related ones. You can also read about some practical tips to help with PTSD symptoms (particularly relating to hypervigilance) here.
How photography helped me manage my PTSD – Guest Blog
How photography helped me manage my PTSD – Guest Blog Matt Dolinski discovered that photography helped him managed his PTSD and other mental health issues. Starting by taking photos on his mobile phone, Matt is now organising ‘Photo Walks’ to
PTSDawarenessmonth
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month June is PTSD Awareness Month. Together, we can make this PTSD Awareness Month a turning point – a time when we come together as a collective force to raise awareness of PTSD and Complex-PTSD.
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Maternal mental health Funding
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Emotional numbness
Emotional numbness in PTSD & C-PTSD One of the most damaging assumptions about someone who has experienced trauma, or has a PTSD or C-PTSD diagnosis is that they don’t seem to be upset by it. In fact, their apparent disassociation
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Rebecca
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Rebecca PTSD UK Supporter Rebecca initially shared her EMDR experience on her own website, but has given us permission to share her story of her ‘long and confusing road towards rediscovering a traumatic experience so
Beyond the Stereotypes: PTSD and Anger
Beyond the Stereotypes: PTSD and Anger It is incredibly unhelpful, and potentially damaging, to stereotype people who are experiencing mental health issues. It is even worse to make assumptions and hastily judge their behaviour or symptoms based on their condition.
Keeping it together – Guest Blog
Keeping it together – Guest Blog “You wake up one morning wanting to hide from the world. Before long you wake up every day a prisoner to anxiety and fear.” This guest blog from Kim Price, author of the book
Government Alert system test
Government Emergency Alert system test – and what it means On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service. This will test the service created to warn you about events such as
Can childhood PTSD be mistaken for autism?
Can childhood PTSD be mistaken for autism? As any parent or teacher knows, interpreting a child’s behaviour isn’t always easy, especially if it goes outside the ‘norm’. Sometimes a child’s behaviour is a sign of a cognitive disorder, but since
Simon Brown Golf
Golf for a Good Cause: Charity Golf Day at Goodwood Simon Brown from Chichester is organising a Charity Golf Day at Goodwood in October to help raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and fundraise for PTSD UK. Simon was
Treatments for PTSD
It is possible for PTSD & C-PTSD to be successfully treated many years after the trauma occurred, which means it is never too late to seek help. For some, the first step may be watchful waiting, then exploring therapeutic options such as individual or group therapy – but the main treatment options in the UK are psychological treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting and understanding your feelings and seeking professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD & C-PTSD. You can find out more in the links below, or here.