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.
Please help us continue the work we do by donating today (thank you!)
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.
PTSD UK Supporters Store
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.
Suicide amongst people with PTSD
Suicide amongst people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder This is an extremely tough topic, and this article contains triggers and some very hard truths. However, it’s crucial to explore and discuss the link between PTSD & C-PTSD symptoms and suicidal
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
EFT ‘tapping’ for PTSD
EFT ‘tapping’ for PTSD Leading EFT expert urges use of ‘tapping’ to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as doctors predict a surge in COVID-related PTSD. A UK expert in psychological treatments for veterans with PTSD is calling for EFT tapping
Purple Tinged Skin Discolouration
Purple Tinged Skin Discolouration PTSD UK supporter Mel, has written this incredibly powerful poem ‘Purple Tinged Skin Discolouration’ – many people feel that there would be less stigma, or more understanding if PTSD was a physical condition that people could
How solution focused hypnotherapy can help people with PTSD
How solution focused hypnotherapy can help people with PTSD There’s a well-used expression in business, that there’s “a solution to every problem”. It certainly doesn’t feel that way when you have post-traumatic stress disorder and struggle with daily symptoms and
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Abby
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Abby Abby witnessed the suicide of a stranger and went on to develop PTSD along with enormous amounts of guilt. Realising she needed to do something, she started CBT treatment which she says ‘changed her
How to find the right therapist for PTSD recovery
How to find the right therapist for PTSD recovery Your experience of PTSD or C-PTSD is personal to you. From its causes, to the way it impacts your daily life, right through to the best way to achieve sustainable recovery.
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Rachael
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Rachael Rachael was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of the horrific symptoms she experienced following a surgery. Unfortunately, Rachael had a few ‘false starts’ with EMDR, where the services provided had a specific timeframe
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Emily
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Emily Emily underwent EMDR treatment over Zoom to treat her PTSD following a trauma in her job as a Police Officer. Here, Emily explains more about her EMDR treatment, and how it changed her crippling
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how can it help PTSD?
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how can it help PTSD? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing in pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, to increase the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood. It works in a similar way
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Alani
Case Study: EMDR Treatment – Alani After her son was hit by a distracted driver, and in ICU for 6 weeks, Alani developed PTSD. She underwent EMDR treatment and in this case study, she explains her experience with EMDR and
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Darren
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Darren Darren lived with PTSD for 8 years before he opened up to his wife about how he was feeling following a trauma experienced through his work as a Police Officer. He underwent CBT treatment
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.