Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

People with PTSD experience symptoms of anxiety. These symptoms fall into three categories:

Re-experiencing of the event
- Dreams/nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Anxious reactions to reminders of the event
- Hallucinations
Avoidance
- Avoiding close emotional contact with family and friends
- Avoiding people or places that are reminders of the event
- Loss of memory about the event
- Feelings of detachment, numbness
Arousal
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Anger and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Being easily startled

Physical symptoms may also occur such as:

Stomach and digestive problems
Chest pain
Headaches
Dizziness

People with PTSD may also abuse alcohol or drugs .

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. This could be done by a structured interview and/or a questionnaire. You will also likely be given a psychological assessment. PTSD will be diagnosed if you have the specified symptoms, they last for more than one month, and they result in both emotional distress and disturbed functioning (problems at school, work, and/or in family and peer relationships).

PTSD is categorized according to when symptoms occur and how long they last. There are three types of PTSD:

Acute—symptoms last between 1-3 months after the event
Chronic—symptoms last more than three months after the event
Delayed onset—symptoms don't appear until at least six months after the event

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.