A Guide To The Five Stages of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health diagnosis. It develops after experiencing a traumatic event that threatens a person's safety. Sometimes, it develops after years of experiencing trauma.
What is trauma & PTSD?
Trauma refers to the emotional and psychological response to an extremely distressing or disturbing event. These events can include physical harm, threats to safety, abuse, accidents, natural disasters, war, or witnessing violence. Trauma often triggers feelings of helplessness, fear, and intense stress. While trauma is a natural response to such experiences, individuals may process and recover from it in different ways. For some, the impact can be short-lived, but for others, it may persist and evolve into more severe mental health conditions.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health diagnosis. It develops after experiencing a traumatic event that threatens a person's safety. Sometimes, it develops after years of experiencing trauma.
PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of age or background, and is especially common in people who have experienced violence, military combat, or prolonged traumatic situations like childhood abuse. Early intervention, therapy, and support are essential in managing trauma and PTSD, helping individuals regain control of their lives and emotions.
The Effects of trauma & PTSD
The effects of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be wide-ranging and deeply impact various aspects of a person's life. Trauma can influence emotional, physical, and mental well-being, often leaving lasting imprints on how an individual views themselves and the world around them.
Emotional Effects: Trauma often leads to intense emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame. It can cause mood swings, feelings of numbness, or emotional detachment. In the case of PTSD, individuals may experience extreme anxiety, panic attacks, or depression. Irritability, emotional outbursts, and a sense of helplessness are also common.
Cognitive Effects: Trauma and PTSD can disrupt how people think, leading to confusion, memory problems, or trouble concentrating. In individuals with PTSD, this may manifest as flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or distressing nightmares about the traumatic event. They may also develop negative beliefs about themselves or the world, often feeling a sense of danger or distrust.
Behavioral Effects: People coping with trauma or PTSD may engage in avoidance behaviors to steer clear of places, people, or activities that remind them of the traumatic event. They may withdraw from social interactions or develop unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse. Hypervigilance—constantly being on alert—or difficulty sleeping are other behavioral symptoms commonly seen in PTSD.
Physical Effects: The stress of trauma and PTSD can also manifest physically. This can include chronic pain, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, or cardiovascular issues. The body's fight-or-flight response may become overactive, leading to increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened stress levels.
PTSD is not just a mental health condition. Brain imaging shows that trauma changes the brain physiologically. It causes the sympathetic nervous system to be overactive, keeping a person locked in flight or fight mode. For this reason, PTSD is a physical injury that can be treated biologically.
Though everyone experiences PTSD differently, it generally involves five phases.
What Are the Five Stages of PTSD?
The five PTSD stages include:
1. Impact
The impact stage occurs immediately after experiencing or witnessing a trauma. A person hasn't yet processed the traumatic event in this phase, and they may feel shocked or overwhelmed by emotions such as:
- Fear
- Powerlessness
- Guilt
- Anxiety
The impact stage may last for a few hours or several days.
2. Denial
Some people may experience denial or feel numb after a traumatic event, which is completely normal. Our brains naturally block traumatic experiences to protect us from more pain.
However, denial won't aid long-term healing. A trauma-informed talk therapist can help you process the experience in a safe, comfortable space.
3. Rescue
During the rescue stage, a person confronts the traumatic experience and acknowledges it happened to them. They might ruminate over the event, trying to make sense of it. This phase can bring strong, complex emotions like confusion, despair or anger.
4. Acceptance
The acceptance stage comes when a person has established safety and can step back and look at the event in a new light. During the acceptance phase, they may recognize the trauma's impact. The person might also acknowledge they need help to move forward.
It's common to still experience challenging emotions during this phase and other PTSD symptoms, like insomnia and anxiety.
5. Recovery
Recovery is the final stage of PTSD. It occurs when a person takes action to heal from trauma. They might seek professional help and prioritize self-care. They may also gain a sense of hope and control over their lives.
Recovery from PTSD is a gradual journey for many people. Professional guidance can help someone heal effectively and holistically for lasting relief.
Explore PTSD Treatment Options With Stella
If you've experienced trauma, you don't need to carry the burden alone. At Stella, we recognize that trauma causes a physical injury, impacting the sympathetic nervous system and keeping it trapped in a fight-or-flight response. Our providers offer Dual Sympathetic Reset, an advanced Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) protocol, that can help reset your overactive sympathetic nervous system to its baseline and relieve PTSD symptoms.
Stella providers also offer ketamine-assisted therapy to help your brain heal from long-term stress and quickly relieve mood-related symptoms.
Call us today to learn more about our care approach or find a Stella Certified Location near you. To learn more about PTSD, take our symptoms quiz.
