Tomorrow CAN be a New Day

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.

What can cause PTSD?

PTSD can affect anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event – an event 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 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 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.

Are you looking to fundraise for PTSD UK?

THANK YOU!! We are a small charity so our main goals at the moment are to increase awareness that we exist (so people can get the support and information they need) and to maximise fundraising to allow us to achieve our mission of supporting everyone in the UK affected by PTSD, no matter the trauma that caused it.

Do you need more information about PTSD?

Our website has lots of information about 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 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 on this page here.

I think my loved one has PTSD, what can I do?

If you think your partner may have 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, 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 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 in the UK?

It is possible for PTSD to be successfully treated many years after the traumatic event 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 in the UK here.

What can I do to ease my PTSD symptoms?

There are several therapies, activities or practices which can be useful in easing and reducing 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, particularly anxiety related ones. You can also read about some practical tips to help with PTSD symptoms (particualrly relating to hypervigilance) here.

What is Japanese “forest bathing” or Shinrin-Yoku and how can it improve your mental health?

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today, you’d better… be aware of the scientifically proven healing benefits of ‘forest bathing’. Okay, okay, so that’s not

How art therapy has helped those with PTSD

The experience of going to counselling is often described as walking into a room with a bag of jumbled up colouring pencils. Each pencil you take out is a point of conversation with a trained practitioner. After dealing with it,

Virtual Runner UK | Half Marathon Challenge

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to run the Great North Run – but I’ve never been successful in a ballot place, yet. But one of our incredible supporters, Stacey, nominated PTSD UK to be the chosen

How horse riding and ‘equine therapy’ has helped PTSD sufferers

It has long been reported that household animals like cats and dogs can be fantastic for those suffering from anxiety and depression, offering natural support and comfort. But have you ever considered how horses may be able to help those

Why we need to discuss mental health on the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack

Mental health is something Her Majesty the Queen is very aware of; she has spoken previously about the psychological repercussions of suicide attacks and how they may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In particular, in the days following the

PTSD UK and Mental Health Awareness Week 2018

Created in 2001 by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event aiming to educate the public and raise awareness of mental health issues, helping to promote better mental health. This year, the event runs from

When a loved one offers to help you

How do you tend to answer when someone says, “What can I do to help?” or ‘is there anything I can do?” For most PTSD sufferers, the answer is often, “Oh nothing, I’m ok” or “ I don’t know what

How ‘TRE’ helped this PTSD sufferer

Katherine Meehan, 37, from Kent has published a book about her self-healing journey in the hope it will help others to find their own profound wellbeing and happiness. In ‘Brushing My Teeth with Baby Lotion’, published last month, she shares

You can now donate to PTSD UK through AmazonSmile

We’re super excited to announce that PTSD UK is now part of AmazonSmile’s charity list. This means your normal online purchases can help people affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – with no extra cost to you – every time

Living Nightmare | Bella Magazine feature

One of the main aims of PTSD UK is to raise awareness of PTSD: it’s causes, symptoms and the treatments available. Where we can, we work with publications for them to be able to share this information with their readers

How surfing and ‘ocean therapy’ has helped PTSD sufferers

For those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder – or PTSD – one of the most important things is finding ways to heal and recover. While waiting for treatment for PTSD, there are physical activites you can explore that may help

What I learnt from having PTSD

It’s now been 2 and a half years since I got back to the ‘old me’ following EMDR treatment for my PTSD. My daily suffering with PTSD was easily the worst time of my life – I honestly had no

Treatments for PTSD

It is possible for PTSD to be successfully treated many years after the traumatic event 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. You can find out more in the links below, or here.