What are PTSD flare ups?

A PTSD flare-up, or relapse, is a sudden increase in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, often triggered by reminders of a past trauma, leading to intense emotional distress, flashbacks, nightmares, physical reactions like shaking or a racing heart, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors, making daily life difficult and feeling like the trauma is happening again. These flares can happen weeks, months, or years after the original event and vary in severity, but they signal a need for attention to manage symptoms effectively.

What does a PTSD flare up look like?

A PTSD flare-up involves intensified symptoms like intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares), extreme alertness (easily startled, irritable), avoidance of reminders, emotional numbness, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, and physical reactions (sweating, rapid heart rate), often triggered by stress or reminders, leading to overwhelming distress, anger, or self-destructive behaviors.
 

How to calm down PTSD symptoms?

To reduce PTSD symptoms, combine professional therapies like Trauma-Focused CBT with lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, good sleep hygiene, and mindfulness/grounding techniques (like the 5-4-3-2-1 method) to manage triggers, while also building a strong support system and avoiding substances. Gradual, safe exposure to triggers and engaging in demanding cognitive tasks (like puzzles) after trauma can also help rewire the brain's response, but always seek support from a doctor or therapist for personalized treatment. 

What causes PTSD to flare up?

PTSD flares up due to triggers, which are internal (thoughts, feelings, memories, physical sensations) or external (people, places, sounds, smells) reminders of trauma, activating the brain's threat response, often worsened by general stress, anxiety, or even specific times of year, leading to heightened hyperarousal, flashbacks, or panic. Anything that feels unsafe or reminds the nervous system of the original danger can cause a surge in stress hormones, overwhelming the person. 

How long do PTSD flare ups last?

PTSD episodes can last for different periods, depending on the individual and the severity of their symptoms. Some people may experience PTSD symptoms for a few weeks or months, while others may experience symptoms for years.

6 Signs of Complex PTSD | CPTSD

How to handle a PTSD flare up?

Coping with the Symptoms of PTSD

1. Remind yourself that they are just that, memories.
2. Remind yourself that it's natural to have some memories of the trauma(s).
3. Talk about them to someone you trust.
4. Remember that, although reminders of trauma can feel overwhelming, they often lessen with time.

What triggers PTSD episodes?

PTSD episodes are triggered by internal or external cues that resemble or remind someone of a past trauma, like specific sights (fireworks), sounds (sirens), smells (smoke), feelings (being trapped), dates (anniversaries), places, or even certain words or media, leading to flashbacks or intense reactions as if the trauma is happening again, notes WebMD, Mayo Clinic, PTSD UK, Verywell Mind, National Center for PTSD. These triggers are unique to each person and can range from obvious to subtle, causing symptoms like intrusive memories, avoidance, or heightened emotional responses. 

How to tell if your PTSD is triggered?

When PTSD is triggered, you might experience intense emotions (fear, anger, sadness), physical reactions (racing heart, shaking, sweating, nausea), or re-experiencing symptoms like flashbacks or intrusive memories, often alongside hypervigilance, irritability, sleep issues, or avoidance, as your brain mistakes a reminder for actual danger, flooding your body with stress hormones. These reactions can feel overwhelming and sudden, even without an obvious threat. 

What is the best medication for PTSD?

The best PTSD medications are typically SSRIs and SNRIs like sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and venlafaxine (Effexor), which help manage core PTSD symptoms, with FDA approval for Zoloft and Paxil, while others like fluoxetine (Prozac) are also used. For specific symptoms like nightmares, prazosin is often prescribed, and while other meds (e.g., quetiapine, risperdal) can help some, benzodiazepines are generally discouraged for long-term use due to worsening symptoms. Medication choice depends on individual response, and it's crucial to work with a doctor, as effective treatment often combines medication with trauma-focused therapy.
 

Is PTSD brain damage?

Yes, PTSD causes significant structural and functional changes in the brain, essentially acting like a form of brain injury by rewiring neural circuits, particularly affecting the amygdala (fear center), hippocampus (memory), and prefrontal cortex (thinking), leading to a hyperactive alarm system and difficulties processing fear, memory, and emotions, though neuroplasticity means these changes aren't always permanent with treatment.
 

What are the 5 F's of PTSD?

When our brain then recognises similarities between our present situation and our past trauma (e.g. a colour, smell or noise), it can activate the fight, flight, freeze, flop or friend response, even if we're not currently in danger.

What not to do around someone with PTSD?

avoid crowding the person. don't touch or hug them without permission. try not to startle or surprise them.

What helps PTSD the most?

The most effective treatments for PTSD are Trauma-Focused Psychotherapies, primarily Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), often combined with medications like SSRIs (Sertraline, Paroxetine) for symptom relief, though therapy is the first line. These therapies help you process trauma, change negative thought patterns, and gradually confront triggers, while medications manage symptoms like depression, anxiety, or nightmares, with prazosin sometimes used for nightmares.
 

What does PTSD burst look like?

Symptoms of a PTSD Episode

Some of the most common symptoms include: Flashbacks or vivid re-experiencing of the traumatic event. Sudden bursts of anger or irritability. Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response.

What worsens PTSD symptoms?

PTSD gets worse due to avoidance (of triggers, memories), ongoing stress/trauma, social isolation, substance abuse, and lack of effective treatment, all of which intensify hyperarousal, re-experiencing, negative emotions, and disconnection, creating a vicious cycle of distress and worsening symptoms. Anything that keeps the nervous system in "fight or flight" mode, from constant threat to unhelpful coping, fuels the disorder. 

What does high functioning PTSD look like?

High-functioning PTSD symptoms include excelling outwardly (work, family) while internally struggling with anxiety, irritability, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and avoidance, often masked by overworking or perfectionism, leading to burnout, sleep issues, and intense stress reactions like flashbacks or panic, showing the nervous system is stuck in survival mode despite outward success. 

Is PTSD a serious mental illness?

Yes, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental illness that significantly impacts daily life, causing debilitating symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety after experiencing or witnessing trauma, affecting relationships, work, and overall functioning, though effective treatments are available. 

What is the fastest way to calm PTSD?

10 ways to relax when you have PTSD

1. Drip Cold Water On Your Wrists. ...
2. Meditate. ...
3. Eat some Chocolate. ...
4. Try Aromatherapy. ...
5. Progressive Relaxation. ...
6. Write It Down. ...
7. Give Yourself a Hand Massage. ...
8. Run on the spot.

What medication is not recommended for PTSD?

Sleeping pils and sedatives (benzodiazepines) aren't suitable for the treatment of PTSD, because there's a risk of becoming dependent on them and they hardly relieve the symptoms.

What does a PTSD flashback feel like?

A PTSD flashback feels like you're reliving a traumatic event, not just remembering it, bringing intense emotions (fear, panic, anger) and physical sensations (racing heart, sweating, trembling) as if the trauma were happening now, often triggered by sounds, smells, or sights, and can include vivid sensory details or a feeling of being detached (dissociation). It's a powerful, involuntary experience where your mind loses connection with the present, making it hard to distinguish the past from reality.
 

Does crying release trauma?

Yes, crying is a natural and vital way your body releases pent-up energy and stress from trauma, signaling your nervous system to shift from "fight-or-flight" to a calming, healing state, allowing you to process deep emotions, reduce tension, and find relief, often accompanied by physical signs like shaking or muscle relaxation as the stored pain surfaces. 

How can I confirm I have PTSD?

Knowing if you have PTSD involves recognizing persistent symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, feeling on edge, trouble sleeping/concentrating, irritability, and negative moods, which significantly disrupt your life for over a month after a traumatic event. To get a diagnosis, a mental health professional must evaluate if these symptoms, stemming from trauma exposure (direct, witnessing, or learning about), meet diagnostic criteria, as self-screening isn't enough. 

How do I snap someone out of a PTSD episode?

To help someone out of a PTSD episode, stay calm, remind them they're safe in the present, use grounding techniques like naming objects or deep breaths, respect their space (no sudden touch), and gently coach them back to reality by describing their surroundings and affirming their safety. Reassure them their feelings are real but they are not in danger, and encourage professional support when they are calm, according to resources from the National Center for PTSD and Mind. 

What do PTSD panic attacks look like?

Panic-Like Symptoms

For some, a PTSD episode can feel like a panic attack. They might breathe heavily, sweat, shake, or feel very scared, even if they're in a safe place. It can be hard for them to calm down because their body feels like something bad is happening.

What happens in the brain with PTSD?

In PTSD, the brain's amygdala (fear center) becomes overactive, the prefrontal cortex (regulation) underactive, and the hippocampus (memory) shrinks and struggles to distinguish past from present, creating a "perfect storm" where the body stays in high alert, causing flashbacks, hypervigilance, anxiety, and avoidance, as the brain's alarm system (amygdala) can't be properly shut off by the executive controls (PFC).