PTSD is treatable. Recovery is possible.
Clear, trustworthy answers about post-traumatic stress disorder: what it is, the signs to look for, the treatments that work, and where to get help today, for yourself or someone you love.
A normal reaction to trauma that gets stuck
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after you live through or witness something terrifying: combat, a physical or sexual assault, a serious accident, a natural disaster, or the sudden loss of someone you love.
Almost everyone has strong reactions after a trauma, and for most people they ease over a few weeks. With PTSD the fear does not fade. Memories intrude, the body stays on high alert, and daily life starts to shrink. PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and it is not your fault.
Read the PTSD basicsSource: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD.
The four groups of PTSD symptoms
Symptoms usually start within three months of a traumatic event, but sometimes they appear months or even years later. With PTSD they last more than a month and get in the way of work, relationships, or daily life.
Reliving the event
Unwanted memories, nightmares, or flashbacks that make it feel like it is happening again. Reminders can set off a pounding heart, sweating, or panic.
Avoiding reminders
Staying away from people, places, conversations, or thoughts that bring it back. Keeping busy so there is no time to remember.
Negative thoughts and feelings
Guilt, shame, or blame. Feeling numb or cut off from others, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, or believing the world is completely dangerous.
Feeling on edge
Being jumpy, irritable, or always on guard. Trouble sleeping or concentrating, angry outbursts, or risky and self-destructive behavior.
Wondering if it could be PTSD?
Our self-check uses the five questions VA clinicians use to screen for PTSD (the PC-PTSD-5). It takes about two minutes and gives you clear next steps based on your answers.
- ✓Five yes-or-no questions about the past month
- ✓Your answers never leave your device
- ✓A starting point for a talk with a professional, not a diagnosis
Effective help exists, often in months, not years
Trauma-focused talk therapies have the strongest evidence of any PTSD treatment, and many people notice real change within about 8 to 16 weekly sessions. Some medicines help too, on their own or alongside therapy.
- ✓Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- ✓Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- ✓Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- ✓Medicines such as sertraline, paroxetine, and venlafaxine
Start with the guide you need
Living with PTSD, worried about someone, or not sure what you're dealing with yet? Pick the guide that fits. Each one takes about five minutes to read.
PTSD basics
What PTSD is, what causes it, who is most at risk, and the myths that keep people from getting help.
Read the basicsSymptoms and diagnosis
Every symptom, how PTSD shows up in children and teens, and how professionals diagnose it.
Know the signsTreatment options
How CPT, PE, EMDR, and medicines work, what to expect in therapy, and how to find the right provider.
Explore treatmentCoping skills
Grounding, breathing, sleep, and trigger plans you can use on hard days, starting today.
Build your toolkitVeterans and service members
VA care, Vet Centers, military sexual trauma, and support built for the military community.
Support for VeteransFor family and friends
How to talk about it, what helps, what to avoid, and how to look after yourself too.
Help someone you loveLatest articles
Practical, research-based guidance on coping, treatment, relationships, and recovery.
If you need to talk to someone right now
These lines are free, confidential, and open day and night. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, whenever you are in emotional distress.
Or text 838255. For Veterans, service members, and the people who care about them.
Text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor about anything overwhelming you.
Quick answers about PTSD
Can PTSD go away?
Yes. Many people recover, especially with trauma-focused therapy. Even people who have lived with PTSD for years can get much better with the right treatment.
How long after a trauma does PTSD start?
Symptoms usually begin within the first three months. When the full set of symptoms appears six months or more after the event, doctors call it PTSD with delayed expression.
Do only Veterans get PTSD?
No. Anyone can develop PTSD, including survivors of assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and violence, and people who lose a loved one suddenly. First responders and health care workers face higher risk too.
Is this PTSD or a normal stress reaction?
Feeling shaken, jumpy, or unable to sleep for days or weeks after a trauma is common. When symptoms last longer than a month and disrupt your life, it is time to talk to a professional.
What is complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD, recognized in the World Health Organization's ICD-11, can follow long-lasting or repeated trauma such as childhood abuse. It adds lasting problems with emotions, self-worth, and relationships to the core PTSD symptoms.
Who should I talk to first?
Your primary care doctor can screen you, rule out other causes, and refer you to a mental health professional who treats trauma. You can also contact a trauma-trained therapist directly.