PTSD

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is the longer-term symptoms in response to a traumatic event like an accident, assault, military combat, or natural disaster. It can have lasting impacts on a person’s mental health. PTSD symptoms often co-exist with other conditions such as substance use disorders, depression, or anxiety.

What are the Risk Factors?

PTSD can occur at any age and happens with exposure to trauma. A group of adults and children exposed to trauma develop PTSD. Risk factors can also include prior experiences of trauma.

What are Common Symptoms?

These symptoms are a result of the body’s inability to return to normal in the months after a response to a traumatic event.

Symptoms of PTSD in adults include:

• Re-experiencing distressing memories: Flashbacks, bad dreams, and intrusive thoughts
• Avoidance: Sidestepping reminders of the traumatic event
• Cognitive symptoms: Trouble recalling the event and negative thinking
• Mood symptoms: Feelings of numbness, guilt, worry, depression or out-of-body experiences
• Hypervigilance: When something intensely startles a person like it’s the original the trauma
• Behavior changes: Trouble sleeping or outbursts of anger

Symptoms in Young Children?

• Behavior: Clinging to parents
• Reversions: Things like bathroom accidents and bed-wetting

How Can I Get Tested?

Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months after experiencing a traumatic event. Sometimes, symptoms may emerge years afterward. For a diagnosis, symptoms must last more than a month. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, or substance use often go with PTSD.

What are Some Ways to Manage PTSD?

Though PTSD cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed through:

• Psychotherapy
• Medications
• Self-management strategies, such as self-soothing and mindfulness
• Service animals—especially dogs—can soothe symptoms

What does TRICARE Cover?

Mental Health Care | TRICARE

Videos

PTSD Videos VA.gov

Resources

About Face – National Center for PTSD

CBT-I Coach – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia App - Android

CPT Coach – Cognitive Processing Therapy Mobile Phone App - Android

Mindfulness – Mobile Phone App

Psychological Health Center of Excellence - Health.mil

PTSD Family – Mobile Phone App

PTSD Therapies

Understanding PTSD and PTSD Treatment Booklet

 

There is care and support for qualifying beneficiaries that want to improve their PTSD symptoms. Our experienced staff will help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life. For questions or to enroll, call toll-free at 800-881-9227.