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.

Help us continue the work we do by donating today (thank you!)

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 donate or 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.

Physical scars from PTSD stress symptoms

A large number of skin diseases including dermatitis and psoriasis, appear to be caused by, or exacerbated by, psychological stress, and scientists have long confirmed the role that the stress hormone, cortisol, plays in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – however

OCD and PTSD – and the relationship between the two

Studies have shown that it’s really common for patients to suffer from both Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) simultaneously. It’s thought that in some circumstances, obsessive behaviors such as repetitive washing or checking may be a

Yogic breathing to reduce PTSD anxiety

Nadi Shodhan Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique which helps to calm and centre the mind, to keep it happy, relaxed and peaceful and rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit – incredibly useful for PTSD sufferers. It’s said that a

Remember remember… those with PTSD

We’ve mentioned before that people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can often develop difficulties with sounds such as an exaggerated startle response, fear of sound (phonophobia), aversion to specific sounds (misophonia), and a difficulty in tolerance and volume of sounds that

My Story: Going through EMDR treatment for PTSD

When I had PTSD, my biggest fear was ‘If I can’t really even explain how I feel, how can somebody ‘fix’ me?’ I couldn’t understand how they could get rid of my PTSD without somebody going into my skull and rewiring

Is it possible to heal from PTSD?

Back in 2009, when I ran the Edinburgh marathon with no training (very bad idea!), I didn’t eat for three days afterwards. If I told you that scientifically it’s cause my body was so busy repairing my muscles and dealing

How can you reduce nightmares from PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sufferers experience nightmares much more frequently than the general population (52-96% compared to 3% ). Generally, nightmares are thought to be a normal reaction to stress, and some clinicians believe they aid people in working through traumatic events

Could PTSD sufferers benefit from eating blueberries?

The potential powers of the ‘superfood’ blueberries have been in the spotlight for the last 20 years, as studies are increasingly showing their various health benefits such as reducing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and memory loss. New research has shown that blueberries

Can herbal teas help PTSD symptoms?

While any hot drink promotes relaxation, some herbal teas have been scientifically proven to help alleviate anxiety, and so can reduce some elements of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We’ve listed some of the best herbal teas below to help

10 ways to relax when you have PTSD

So often, I see some great articles on how to reduce stress, or tips for anxiety sufferers, but more often than not, these don’t relate to people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It’s all well and good suggesting ‘go for

how to fall asleep in one minute with ptsd

How to fall asleep in under 1 minute

We’ve discussed previously why Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can make you physically and mentally exhausted (see the blog post here). But, unfortunately, regardless of how tired you are, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to get to sleep. Infact, for someone

Hyperacusis and PTSD

Those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can often develop difficulties with sounds such as an exaggerated startle response, fear of sound (phonophobia), aversion to specific sounds (misophonia), and a difficulty in tolerance and volume of sounds that would not be

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.