3 things to know about PTSD

Plus, the difference between PTSD and CPTSD

by Vivian Nunez

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Living through a traumatic event doesn’t usually end with the event itself. Like living through an earthquake, you may still feel the aftershocks and aftermath of trauma long after your experience has ended.

Below, we’ll dive into different facts about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But first, it’s important to remember that your experiences are valid and don’t need to fit into a perfect box for you to validate what you went through or what you may still be going through.

If your curiosity brought you to this article for your own sake or in researching to support a loved one, it’s also helpful to remember that these facts are the tip of the iceberg.

Medical research has defined PTSD and other anxiety disorders, but even so, each person’s experience with these mental health conditions is nuanced and unique. The best thing to do then is to listen to your experience with an open mind, and seek support if need be. Our [INSERT MODULE NAME HERE] may be a good place to start.

In the meantime, here are three facts about PTSD.

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PTSD diagnosis only happens after a specific amount of time

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder.

Doctors can only label your experience as PTSD if you’ve been living with a specific combination of symptoms for more than a month and those symptoms interrupt your day-to-day life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, you would need to be experiencing at least:

• One re-experiencing symptom (like flashbacks or physical signs of stress)

• One avoidance symptom (whether this means avoiding a physical place or an emotion)

• Two arousal and reactivity symptoms (having difficulty sleeping, being quick to anger, or easily startled)

• Two cognition and mood symptoms (like negative thoughts or losing interest in everyday things)

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PTSD and C-PTSD are two different diagnoses

It’s not about PTSD vs C-PTSD, instead it’s about acknowledging that both of these are different diagnoses. PTSD is post-traumatic stress disorder, while C-PTSD is complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Both PTSD and C-PTSD have similar symptoms. Their main difference is the length of time you may have been subjected to the traumatic event. For PTSD, trauma is usually related to a single traumatic event (like a car accident or losing a parent), while C-PTSD is linked to persistent traumatic events (like long-term domestic violence).

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PTSD is more common among certain groups

You may ask, “How common is PTSD?” and the answer is: It depends.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in any given year, 5 out of 100 adults will have PTSD; in 2020, this was about 13 million American adults. The two groups of people who are at higher risk for developing PTSD after a traumatic event are women (they are 5x more likely than men to have PTSD) and veterans.

Navigating PTSD can feel overwhelming and complex. Understanding the ins and outs of the diagnosis can help identify the best steps to care for yourself or someone you love. If you’re looking for more ways to understand and seek support for PTSD, listen to our Support for Trauma and PTSD clinical program.

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Calm Health is not intended to diagnose or treat depression, anxiety, or any other mental or physical health condition. The use of Calm Health is not a substitute for care by a physician or other health care provider. Any questions that you may have regarding the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition should be directed to your physician or health care provider. Calm Health is a mental wellness product.