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.

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

Using Yoga Nidra to reduce PTSD symptoms

Yoga nidra or ‘yogic sleep’ is an ancient but little-known yogic practice that’s becoming increasingly popular as both a form of meditation and a mind-body therapy for PTSD sufferers. The guided technique induces a complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation through

Zentangle Meditation for PTSD

Zentangle is a form of art meditation which is used to relax the mind by falling into a state of ‘flow’ by drawing repetitive patterns, and having no end goal in mind while you draw. Created by Rick Roberts and Maria

‘Put the Glass down’ – a story to share

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she

Understanding PTSD if you’ve seen Pixars’ Inside Out

PTSD is so difficult to explain to someone else. It’s hard to explain how it makes you feel, as most of the time, you don’t even understand it yourself. To those who have an analytical mind, you can try to

10 unexpected physical symptoms of PTSD

Cortisol is a vital element in our bodies as it converts proteins into usable energy – it’s what gets us out of bed in the morning, and it’s also used by our bodies for balancing insulin effects to maintain normal sugar levels,

Does The Hunger Games’ Katniss have PTSD?

Katniss Everdeen, heroine of The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, is said to have PTSD, demonstrated by the psychological effects of her traumatic journey through life. This decision by Collins goes some way to de-stigmatizing (and perhaps demystifying) something

Running can help reduce PTSD symptoms

According to a 2014 study, exercise, and particularly running can help reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. After a 12 week study, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin concluded that participants who ran for 30 minutes immediately

Can talking therapies heal PTSD?

The role of talking therapy in PTSD treatment ‘Studies have proven that the body and mind record, process and hold onto trauma in several ways. This fact has large implications for PTSD recovery. When approaching posttraumatic stress disorder recovery it helps

Why does Post Traumatic Stress Disorder make you so tired?

“I always thought napping was the past-time of children and the elderly… now I know it’s for people with PTSD too.” Your mind and body are more connected than you may realise: It’s been estimated that the human mind is capable

Scientists say Tetris can reduce risk of PTSD

Although there are several effective treatments for diagnosed PTSD sufferers, nothing exists to help prevent it from developing in the immediate aftermath of the trauma, but scientists now believe a dose of Tetris could be the answer. ‘Lead researcher Emily Holmes

The effects of Yoga on PTSD Symptoms

A ground breaking study in 2004 revealed that yoga practice actually changes core physiology related to PTSD. An unpublished study by the centre has shown that 10 weeks of a Hatha yoga class resulted in clinically decreasing the symptoms of

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.